Whether you're hammering out intervals on the track, cruising a chatty social run, or lacing up for the long haul on the trails, a good pair of running shorts is mission critical. The best running shorts offer killer comfort and total freedom to move. They wick sweat, dry fast, and ward off unwanted chafe. The only problem' There's hundreds of styles from dozens of brands, and not all shorts are created equal. Don't fear, we've got you'and your downstairs'covered. As one of WIRED's running gear experts, I've logged hundreds of miles testing the latest shorts, and I'm here to help you sort the winners from those that come up, well erm, short. Here's my tried and tested picks for your bottom half. Be sure to check out our other sport and fitness buying guides, including the Best Running Shoes, the Best Running Underwear, the Best Treadmills, and the Best Merino Wool. Running shorts come in a wide variety of styles. Shorter shorts tend to be suited to shorter, faster runs, while two-in-one shorts and longer lengths are often used for longer distances and trails. You may find that there's a lot of crossover. Long inseams and superlight fabrics are now suitable for speed while offering good coverage. Even short shorts now offer storage for a phone or gels....
The winning images and photographers of this year's World Nature Photography Awards have just been announced. Contest organizers have once more shared some of the winning images, shown below, from their 14 categories. Captions were provided by the photographers and have been lightly edited for style and clarity. First Place, Behavior, Mammals. "While cruising through the Svalbard archipelago, we encountered three polar bears feeding on several dolphin carcasses. Observing quietly from our boat at a respectful distance, we witnessed one of the bears starting to play with a stick. The bear was totally ignoring us in this moment of pure joy, revealing a surprising playfulness. The behavior reminds me of an energetic and playful golden retriever fetching a stick." # Winner, Behavior, Birds. "Tens of thousands of red knots and other coastal waders are forced from the remaining gravel bars and mudflats into flight by a high incoming spring tide. I had photographed this incredible event many times previously, but it was on this occasion only that the birds flew in a direction that was parallel to me, allowing me to get many of the birds in sharp focus." #...
Running is a sport packed full of lessons and motivational tropes. You are stronger than you think, routines build consistency, and consistency leads to results. Getting out the front door is often the hardest part of all. But no matter how far, or how frequently you run, one things is almost guarantee. If you don't prepare, your softest and most delicate bits will suffer from chaffing. Sometimes you only find out the full extent of the chafe when water hits your painful parts in the post-run shower, or you finish a run only to find you've bled all over your favorite top. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be that way. With the running gear and a bit of carefully applied, specifically engineered lube, you need never suffer the friction burns again. To help you beat the dreaded skin burn, I've rounded up the best running underwear for cruising in comfort, along with the best anti-chafe balms and nipple protectors. Be sure to check out our other sport and fitness buying guides, including our Best Running Gear, Best Trail Running Shoes, the Best Rain Jackets and Hiking Gear 101....
