I’ve tried a lot of workout shorts over the years — Lululemon, Vuori, Nike, Under Armour, and Rhone. But the pair I keep reaching for, workout after workout, is from a brand most people haven’t heard of: Ten Thousand.
This Ten Thousand shorts review covers everything after 6+ months of hard use — lifting, running, hiking, and everything in between.
What Makes Ten Thousand Different?
Ten Thousand is a men’s performance brand that takes a less-is-more approach. Instead of releasing 40 SKUs every season, they make a handful of products and obsess over the details. Their tagline is literally “engineered for training.”
The brand was built by guys who were frustrated that most mens workout shorts fell apart, rode up, or couldn’t transition from the gym to the street. That frustration shows in the product.
The Shorts Lineup
Ten Thousand makes three main short styles:
Interval Short — Their flagship. A lightweight, unlined running and training short with a 7″ or 9″ inseam. This is what I wear for most workouts. The fabric is impossibly light (feels like wearing nothing), dries in minutes, and has a built-in antimicrobial treatment that actually works.
Foundation Short — The versatile option. Slightly heavier fabric with a clean look that works at the gym or running errands. Has a liner option. This is what I grab when I don’t want to change after the gym.
Tactical Short — Built for rucking and outdoor training. More durable fabric, cargo-style pocket, designed to handle rough surfaces.
Performance Testing
I’ve put my Interval Shorts through some serious abuse: 4x/week gym sessions (lifting and conditioning), weekend trail runs (dusty, sweaty, sometimes muddy), hot yoga classes (the real fabric test), and machine-washed 50+ times.
The fabric hasn’t pilled, the waistband hasn’t stretched, and the color hasn’t faded. The quick-dry claim is real — I’ve gone from a sweaty workout to coffee without feeling gross. The antimicrobial treatment means they genuinely don’t smell, even after multiple sessions.
How They Compare to Lululemon
The obvious comparison is Lululemon’s Pace Breaker. Here’s the honest breakdown:
Ten Thousand wins on durability, antimicrobial performance, and value (especially with my code). Lululemon wins on color selection and brand recognition. The fabrics are comparable in feel, but Ten Thousand’s holds up better over time in my experience.
At full price, Ten Thousand is about $10-15 cheaper than Lululemon. With the code LMM15 for 15% off, the gap widens further.
Fit Notes
True to size. The elastic waistband with drawcord accommodates a range of waist sizes. I’m 5’11” 175 lbs and wear a Medium in the 7″ inseam — fits perfectly with about 2 inches above the knee.
The no-liner Interval shorts work great if you prefer your own compression shorts underneath. The lined versions have a comfortable, non-restrictive brief liner.
What I’d Change
The color options are limited — mostly blacks, navys, and grays. If you want loud patterns or bright colors, look elsewhere. Also, the pockets are functional but small — fine for keys and a card, not great for a large phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Faherty return policy for 2026?
Faherty provides customers with an extended 60-day return/exchange window from the date of purchase, making returns simple for domestic orders with its Happy Returns (box-free and printer-free at nearly 9,000 locations) service for instantaneous refunds or mail them back with a $7 label fee deducted; exchanges remain free.
Does Faherty offer free shipping?
As of 2026, Faherty offers free standard shipping for domestic orders of $150 or more when using LMM20 promo code; flat fees apply otherwise. To maximize value when applying this promo code with purchases totalling $150 after discount is applied and thus maintaining this benefit of free standard shipping.
Can I buy online and return my items to a Faherty store?
Yes! Faherty has upgraded their systems to support unified commerce. Now when purchasing items online using any discount codes available to you, returns or exchanges at official Faherty retail stores are free – helping customers avoid paying an unnecessary $7 mail-in return fee!
Does Faherty offer a military or healthcare worker discount?
Yes, Faherty honors those who serve by offering a specialized discount (usually 15-20% off) exclusively to military members, veterans, first responders, and healthcare workers who qualify. Unfortunately however, community discounts typically cannot be combined with promo codes like LMM20 for purchases made using those discounts.
What happens if an item I bought goes on sale right after my purchase?
Faherty typically does not offer retroactive price adjustments on items purchased with discount codes or those placed into its “Last Chance” (Final Sale) category, however if an item purchased at full price and later put on sale (typically within 7-14 days), reaching out to their customer experience team may provide retroactive price adjustment opportunities. Reaching out can be done at hello@fahertybrand.com to inquire further about reversals of price adjustments for these instances.
Are “Final Sale” items eligible for returns?
No. Items marked “Final Sale” on either the product page or at checkout cannot be returned or exchanged, however I recommend staying on full price items that qualify for 20% savings using LMM20 code in case it doesn’t quite fit perfectly! That way you will still benefit from savings while having the flexibility of returning it if the fit doesn’t quite make the cut!
Verdict: Best Mens Workout Shorts?
For pure training performance, Ten Thousand makes the best mens workout shorts I’ve found. The combination of lightweight fabric, durability, and antimicrobial properties is unmatched at this price point. They’re not a fashion statement — they’re a tool for training.
Use code LMM15 for 15% off at Ten Thousand.
Rating: 9/10
