The best running underwear for women, from £9.99.
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A pair of comfortable running underwear is the unsung hero of a runner's wardrobe. Choose poorly and your ill-fitting pair will be pulled out of place, becoming drenched with sweat and cause chafing. A smart choice, on the other hand, will allow you to run in comfort with nothing to distract from your goals.
Now, we don’t expect you to be able to pick the perfect pair of pants straight off the bat — far from it. That’s why we've tested a number of the best running underwear, putting them through their paces and assessing the design, comfort, performance and quality of each to bring you our ultimate round-up.
Best running underwear for women 2023
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What underwear should I wear for running?
The best type of underwear for you will depend on several factors, including your size and which activities you plan to use them for.
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Fit: For running, we've found a tighter fit provides more support. That’s not to say a looser fit doesn’t have its perks, proving to be a good match for slower practices such as yoga or mobility work, but if you'll mainly focusing on the miles you won't want a pair that move around.
Style: Though hipster underwear proved popular with our team, there are a few different options in this list, including thong, boxer and bikini fits. Smaller styles may be more discreet, though some runners opt for a fuller fit — again, this is largely down to personal preference. We also kept an eye out for VPLs in leggings when assessing each pair.
Material: While cotton may be the most common material when it comes to underwear, brands featured in this list have turned instead to alternatives such as nylon, polyester, polyamide and even merino wool to achieve flexibility and breathability. Speaking of…
Breathability: A sodden pair of pants are a catalyst for rubbing and chafing, potentially disrupting your training schedule. Many products we tested are made with lightweight materials, and have sweat-wicking properties to keep you dry and comfortable as you run.
Here's the best running underwear for women...
Their design may be understated, but there is plenty to shout about with these Lululemon hipsters. They fit true-to-size and the absence of gathering or VPLs under leggings ticks our boxes. The thin, lightweight fabric didn’t shift around and was able to quickly wick away sweat when we pushed the pace. Some people may prefer more coverage over the bum, but that's our only gripe.
Key specs
| Materials | 71% Best wireless headphones |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | XS-XXL |
If you’re after comfy underwear that’s suitable for all types of exercise and can’t be seen under leggings, this Gymshark seamless thong ticks every box. We found the material cool and lightweight, able to dry quickly after sweatier sessions and, thanks to their smooth outline, there was no bunching, chafing, falling down, digging in or moving around — even during vigorous interval sessions.
| Sizes | XXS-XXL |
|---|---|
| Material | 93% Nylon, 7% Elastane (Gusset lining: 100% Cotton) |
These boxers earned plenty of fans thanks to their snug, secure fit and full coverage. You may want to order a size up as the waistband can rub slightly and folded over during more intense training sessions. However, there was still plenty to like as they keep you cool, don't limit your range of motion, show no signs of bunching and dry quickly.
Key specs
| Material | 85% Lululemon Define Jacket vs £37 Amazon alternative |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | XS-XXL |
Tracksmith leads the pack regarding quality running underwear, and its Brighton Briefs are a perfect example of why. They’re seamless and tagless, making them easy to wear underneath tight-fitting clothing and reducing chafing. They’re made of silky smooth Merino wool, making them supremely comfortable. They’re highly breathable and have effective moisture-wicking, and blended with nylon, they’re reinforced for longevity.
| Material | 66% wool, 32% nylon, 2% elastane |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | XS-L |
The minimalist design and stretchy material of this underwear scores immediate marks from us, as does the reliable fit and smooth outline. They can move around during more stop-start sessions, but that's really our only criticism.
Key specs
| Material | 83% Runners World, Part of the Hearst UK Wellbeing Network |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | XS-XL |
Whether we were traversing trails or hitting the pavements, this Runderwear underwear barely budged, allowing us to concentrate on the task at hand, rather than any chafing or bunching. The flexible fabric gave them a sporty feel, which we liked. They were guilty of causing some prominent VPLs in leggings and some of our team found they came up a bit tight. So, it might be worth ordering a size up.
Key specs
| Material | 92% Sweaty Betty Black Friday 2024: Save 50 |
|---|---|
| Sizes available | S-XL |
Women's Under Armour Pure Stretch Hipster
The smooth outline makes these a great, discreet option to wear under leggings, and the super-soft stretch fabric means they are really easy to put on and take off. The lightweight material was a good match for more relaxed practices such as yoga, Pilates or mobility work, though, keeping our panel cool and comfortable throughout.
Key specs
| Material | 68% nylon, 32% elastane |
|---|---|
| Sizes | XS-XL |
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