SOAR 17CM SHORT

£85 ▶ A running short for year-round use?

Soar says the 17cm Short is designed as an alternative to the brand’s Three Season Shorts 4.0, losing the long inner liner to allow for a smooth and chafe-free run. With that, you will lose a certain amount of warmth, but we never felt this was a dealbreaker on our winter runs. The cut ensures a decent level of coverage, sitting just a few inches above the knee, but unless you’re particularly hardy, you may want to supplement them with some running tights in subzero temperatures.

When the mercury starts to rise, the lack of liner, lightweight fabric and ventilation holes help avoid overheating, while the material also proves to dry quickly, too. A zip pocket at the rear is large enough to house keys, gels or even a phone at a push, while reflective detailing helps boost visibility. Comfort is also top notch, with the smooth brief liner providing decent support and causing zero chafing.

Yes, they’re £85 and that’s a lot of money for a pair of running shorts. But if you’re happy to spend that much, you’ll be getting a top-quality, comfortable and versatile piece of kit that you can use throughout much of the year.

88 %

VERDICT PRICY, BUT A RELIABLE, COMFORTABLE PAIR OF SHORTS FOR YEAR-ROUND USE