I remember finally nailing down my first half-marathon race-day outfit like it was yesterday. Carbon fiber shoes that were already broken in and lightning-fast? Check. A sports bra that never chafed my skin? Double check. Comfy shorts that made my legs feel strong? Triple check. Five years later, only one item has survived the thousands of miles I’ve logged since then: my Nike AeroSwift Shorts ($80, nike.com).
Finding the right running shorts takes a lot of trial and error. “There are so many different styles and varieties out there,” says Melissa Kendter, a certified personal trainer and UESCA Running coach. She adds that each has a purpose: “There are shorts made for easy running, shorts designed for speed, shorts to be lightweight, and ones to be more functional. You have to think about whether you want spandex shorts, more flowy and airy shorts, or running shorts with pockets—and the specific length that suits you.”
Basically, it takes a small miracle to find the bottoms that work for you. For me (and hopefully for you), that miracle is the AeroSwifts.
The design
Every inch of these shorts is designed flawlessly. Let’s start with the waistband: The snug, mesh strip sits comfortably above my hip bones, making it less high-waisted than other running shorts I’ve tried, but still not low-rise jeans low (if you know what I mean). After five years of wearing and washing these shorts, the waistband still fits the same, doesn’t slip or slide as the miles wear on, and never irritates or chafes my skin.
Original photo by SELF writer Kells McPhillips
Original photo by SELF writer Kells McPhillips
Below the band, the legs are made from recycled plastic and have a large slit on each side that keeps the shorts breezy and flowy. While my older (ahem, vintage) version of the AeroSwifts is identical front and back, Nike has since added pleats to the new design, which makes me want to add another pair to my wardrobe. The shorts also have an inner lining—which is great because, otherwise, those slits would probably show a little bit more than just your lightning-fast legs.
Notably, they don’t have pockets. But I don’t mind, because I prefer to take my SPIbelt with me for easy access to my running gels, phone, and sunscreen.
The feel
The AeroSwift shorts are the closest thing I’ve experienced to running naked (in a good way). As someone who’s tested dozens of pairs of jogging shorts, sports bras, and sneakers, my take on all activewear is: If you forget you’re wearing it, it’s doing its job. Once I take off for my runs, I literally never think about these shorts again—I’m just enjoying the miles ahead of me.
I’ve run a marathon and four half marathons in them at this point, and I can honestly say I’ll wear them until they fall off my body. Since I purchased this pair I’ve bought a few others too. But they’re so good, I’ve gotten in the habit of giving them away to all my runner friends. It’s my Oprah moment. (You know, “You get AeroSwift running shorts! And you get AeroSwift running shorts!”)
The competition
You don’t need me to tell you that, when it comes to running shorts, you have options. On days when I don’t need to carry gels with me, I’ll sometimes slip on a pair of Hoka’s Elaro 5″ Bike Short ($54, hoka.com) because they have a large pocket for my phone. Pairs like these also tend to be Kendter’s preference: “Features that I personally look for are pockets on the shorts that will fit my phone, fit my key fob, and won’t slide down,” she says.
