How to Pick the Right Compression Short for You?

When you’re competing or even just practicing, it’s common for the skin and muscles of the groin and thighs to rub together. Not only is this irritating and painful, it wastes energy and can lead to raw skin that inhibits your performance. Picking the right compression short for you is the first step to getting rid of this painful problem.

1. Before looking at the wide variety of compression shorts available, take note of the conditions in which your sport takes place. If you work out in extreme heat or cold, there are compression shorts to help with either weather condition—they can wick heat away from the body or keep the muscles warm despite outside conditions. This should be one of your biggest priorities when it comes to selecting a compression short.

2. Determine whether or not you have a latex allergy. Some brands of compression shorts are latex-based, and having them so close to your body can cause an allergic reaction. If you do have a latex allergy, check the tags of any compression shorts you try on to make sure you avoid latex-based shorts—even wearing them for a short time could be very uncomfortable for you.

3. If you need to use compression shorts for multiple sports, consider buying a pair for each sport you play. They aren’t all the same! For example, Basketball compression shorts often have padding in frequently-injured areas, while cycling shorts are the same thin fabric throughout in order to increase speed. Using compression shorts during a sport they are not intended for could sabotage your performance or cause discomfort.

4. At this point, decide whether or not you want odor protection in your compression short choice. If you sweat a lot below the waist, you may want to consider getting shorts that provide odor protection.

5. Now that you know the sports, temperature, and fabric type you need, go to a sporting goods store and try on compression shorts. Be sure to try on as many as you can—include different companies, sizes, and fabric types. Even though the first pair you try on could feel fine, it might actually be a bad fit for you. You won’t know until you try more on!