T8 run shorts review

Guys are funny creatures. We have funny bits. And bobs. And odds. And sods. And all those unwieldy (some would say ugly) parts are weirdly shaped and of different presentations according every bloke. I won’t speak on behalf of women, but for us, sometimes all those sods start to rub, sweat, grind, and generally create great discomfort the longer a run wears on.

Or is that just me?

Don’t get me wrong. This is no boast post. It’s not necessarily a ‘size thing’. It may very well be for some. But, sadly, that’s not my story. I just know that there’s only ever been one pair of running shorts that has ever done the job on the jog. Now, make that two pairs.

The first was Patagonia’s Strider Pro. A great short that with its comfy , no rub inner and a plethora of pockets around the hip, meant gels and phone were all secreted away with comfort. It was a stretch to add a soft flask, though. That’s where the Naked running band came in. Between the two, a 20km run was a cinch, no pack required. [NB: And then they (Patagonia) went and changed the design - the pair I loved so much is now no longer - same name, different design].

This is where the T8 crew went one better. Their Sherpa short (combined with the Commando undie inner), added the stretch elastic waist band to the actual short, inbuilt. Win #1. And does it work as well as the Naked belt - yep! I’d say about 70-80% as well, with slightly less elastic force. The waistband stretch pockets (x 4) are enough to hold a phone, water, gels, even a rain jacket packed well. The key to the pack is using the flat laces to snug the band around your waist, allowing a carry capacity of around 2L or 1kg with minimal bounce.

Now, the real win (#2) in these shorts is the comfort factor. I will note that the shorts themselves don’t come with an inner. So don’t do what I did and forget that to begin with. Get the Commando undies to match! If you rock the pair, it’s almost a sublime running experience.

So light are the shorts and undies that they are barely-there kind of running. You almost feel nude. It’s kind of liberating. Most importantly it’s non-chafe. Anywhere. Usually, I get between-thigh and (close your eyes if squeamish) up the crack hot spots. Not with these. Even when it was warm. Humid. Sweaty. Like a 110km run along the Cooloola Trail in 28+ degrees in Queensland. No dramas. Best of all the super lightweight 4-way stretch 78gsm fabric wicks and dries off in a flash, aided by a water repellent coating.

Adding to confirm is a 6-inch in-seam and high side slit for extra mobility.

It’s an order online affair, so be careful with sizing - there are charts on the website, but if in doubt, go one size bigger than you usually would: says the website “your waist size could be larger than your regular pants size. Smaller runners with large quads or looking for a more comfortable fit should consider going up half a size.”

Distribution: www.enduranceedge.com.au