The North Face Better Than Naked Shorts Review

by Kevin_Fonger · Published September 28, 2011 , 10:39 am · Updated September 19, 2023 , 4:51 am

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The North Face Better Than Naked Shorts

While running shoes get all the publicity because runners go through so many pairs a year, running shorts sometimes get overlooked. Being a long time runner, I have gone through my fair share of running shorts among other things. One thing I know is that when I find a pair of running shorts that I like, I tend to where them at least a few times a week for many years. The nice thing about running shorts for the most part is that no matter how much you wear and wash running shorts, they still keep their form and integrity.

I’ve been testing out The North Face Better Than Naked Shorts for the past few months and these shorts quickly rose up to the top of my running shorts drawer. The Better Than Naked line by The North Face has a good thing going, no really! Besides a catchy name for the line, the products I have tested thus far rock. This includes The Better Than Naked Shorts. One thing that sets the Better Than Naked line apart from other apparel lines is the fabric. It is super soft and comfortable, which produced the name Better Than Naked. In specific, the fabric is 86% polyester and 14% Spandex. And while soft and comfortable are great, these shorts also perform like a rock star.

Testing out the Better Than Naked Shorts While Backpacking

The inseam of the Better Than Naked Shorts is 5 inches, which I think is a nice fit for runners. It’s not super short like a racing short, but it’s not super long like a basketball short. The sides of these shorts split up the sides to allow for an easy stride. Some people like this style of short and some don’t. I personally like them as they are less restrictive. These shorts have plenty of pockets including a zippered pocket to keep your valuables secure. For your other valuables, there is a seamless liner to keep you comfortable and supported. If you find yourself chaffing a lot, these shorts might be the trick. I chaff once in a while and these shorts are awesome. I haven’t experienced any chaffage at all and I ran up to 25 miles in them so far. For those of you running in the snow or colder inclement weather, the shorts have a DWR finish which will help repel water and snow which makes it much more enjoyable while running.

These shorts retail for $55 which is a little pricey for a pair of running shorts, but if you are able to get 10 years out of your running shorts like I have been able to do in the past, they are WELL worth it!

For more info on the Better Than Naked Shorts and other North Face products, visit www.thenorthface.com or www.amazon.com/thenorthface.