It’s the heart of summer and after extensive testing in our New England heat and humidity I review 3 distinct summer 2025 men’s run shorts choices from the huge capacity Chance Running AROW Ultra Short v3 ($220) to the just the essentials for fast the Puma RaceDay Ultraweave 3”with in between the daily driver basic black Gorewear Concurve 5” Short ($60)
Given their complexity and many features the Chance Running Ultra shorts from Spain has the longest write up!
Chance Running AROW Ultra Short v3 ($221)
Best for: Long runs where big carrying capacity is essential, and sun (and weather) protection and light compression is desirable
Ultra-soft, compressive half tight with fully inverted seams in the crotch and a front and rear shell panel
Recycled premium French Payen fabrics, made in Portugal
Proprietary BounceLess storage system
2 thigh pockets fit any phone with access from the outside
5 compartments 4” deep in a 360 mesh mesh waistband secure storage for flasks, gels, clothing, etc..
Laser cut hems and flat-locked seams reduce irritation
Sustainability: 200kg carbon offset, 2treesplanted, 1kg plastic removed, 1% for The Planet
I am not always a huge fan of 2-1 longer shorts. The inner can be over compressive and/or or not compressive at all, the shells flat in the breeze and can look goofy, and sometimes the storage at the waist and for phones on the thigh is poorly thought out and hard to reach.
The AROW solves all of these problems and wish list items, and brilliantly! The AROW T shown above (review) soon is a high performer with great subtle styling
Instead of having an inner short tight with an outer shell short attached around the waist, Chance makes the shell a front and back panel to the tight. This allows the thighs to be one layer of inner tight with the 2 deep 6” phone type pockets very easily accessible and also eliminating 2 layers of fabric where it is not needed .
Then they wrap the waist with a 4” deep stout but comfortable mesh storage system. 6 pockets as follows:
At the back a large 9.5” flask compatible we have, and I would say even 650ml flask or jacket compartment, flanked by 2 smaller but bigger than usual gel, small item storage pockets.
At the front we have slightly smaller than the rear 7.5” compartment. A 500ml flask will just fit with the rear compartment the preferred flask location
The two thigh pockets can hold any size phone (iPhone 15 on board below) or potentially 250ml flasks.
All compartments have large easy to find pull tabs. Why or why do most mesh waist storage systems have small puny tabs I don’t know.
Fabrics
The fabrics are from top notch supplier Payen of France. Anytime Payen is in the mix expect top quality ay, performance and comfort and that is the case here. The inner tight is a very thin soft and smooth mildly compressive material. No over compression and inability to lift the legs type feel. The outer woven shell is also stretchy. Both play together very well with truly excellent moisture transmission and even a cooling effect at the rear in the high heat and humidity I tested in. The waistband mesh compartments are stout with plenty of tight stretchy hold without over compressing the waist but this is not an easy going type waistband. Zero bounce from this mesh and construction even with the shorts fully loaded. The same applies to the 2 thigh pockets. Phones held securely and in a pinch a 250ml flask could be stored in them.
Fit and Style
I am 5’ 9” and 160 lbs with a 32” waist with my sample medium. This is the correct size and fit for me.
Style.
I really like the styling here. Not a short tight look or a baggy goofy overshort approach the overlook reminds me of a long hiking short if a somewhat more form fitting one. Not a lifestyle or hiking short look but I will not hesitate to wear them after runs or for hiking.
Performance and Conclusions
An ingenious front and rear panel over a tight construction, top notch materials and storage worthy of I might say a 4L vest joins not over the top styling to deliver a state of the art Ultra and more short with great versatility and comfort.
True to their marketing a full load is truly “BounceLess”
I have hiked, run and even worn them around town without blushing making the AROW Ultra despite their steep $220 pricing a very solid value. In addition to running they will be my go to shorts for our 8 trek in Europe around the Grand Combin.
Comparison
Salomon S/Lab Ultra 2025 shorts. A miss, as far as I am concerned, as the compression tight is over snug.and in a strange design choice all the compartments on its similar 360 mesh belt are small with no ability to store a phone a 500ml flask, 250ml the limit. The phone pocket is below the outer shell and far harder to access. I do give them strong scores for styling.
Gorewear Concurve 5” Short ($60)
Best for: Daily running and racing with traditional styling and mid 5" length
Reduced seams
Highly breathable 4 way stretch fabric with paneled construction
3 gusseted pockets at the back for phone, gel, key
In contrast to the elaborate Chance the Gorewear keeps things simple without compromising comfort and utility. Made from a 4 way stretch woven fabric that is very soft and stretchy with a brief that is made of interlocking knit fabric, the Concurve is the “daily driver” of the shorts here although they were perfect for a recent 5 mile race.
As now common in run shorts they have 3 small stretch pockets in the rear, one with a cord loop to attach keys.
Best for: Racing and daily runs in summer heat with a weightless feel and for when you are not afraid to show some leg!
Made with 100% recycled material excluding trims & decorations
dryCELL: Performance technology designed to wick moisture from the body
ULTRAWEAVE: Ultra-light, engineered fabric with a structured, 4-way stretch that reduces weight and friction.
3 small back gel key pockets inside
Reflective highlights
The short short of the bunch, the RaceDay is the lightest and easiest fitting of the 3 with a deep split for leg mobility The woven stretch waistband with a cord keeps them up, no matter what even when I tucked my phone (with POP Socket) inside it.
The dryCell tech wicks moisture very effectively and even in all our recent heat and humidity I never felt weighed down. Also shown above the most comfortable Puma Run Veloicty Tee, also wth dryCell and the Velocity Nitro 4 (RTR Review). Puma sent a nicely matching full outfit
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s,
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