Nike One 7″ Women’s Shorts Review

It’s no secret that bike shorts have made a strong comeback and are sort of all the rage these days. But as a child of the ’80s, I’ve been a bit reluctant to get on board with this trend. See, to me, tight-fitting bike shorts are still basically one step away from hot pink lamé leotards, layered scrunchies, and neon leg warmers. But who am I kidding? All this stuff is back in style.

At any rate—these Nike shorts completely changed my opinion. Not only are they comfortable and flattering, they were easy to style with a variety of looks. Ready to learn why these shorts earned their place in our 2020 SELF Certified Sports Bras, Leggings, and Shorts Awards? Let’s dive in.

How I Tested the Nike One 7-Inch Short

When testing these shorts, I used the expert criteria for buying and testing the best running shorts, which you can see here. Thanks to the pandemic, all of my workouts have been moved outside and are pretty much bodyweight only. I often run to the waterfront near where I live and do a quick bodyweight circuit using the benches on the piers. In all, it’s about three to five miles of running about five times per week, plus bodyweight circuits.

I wore these shorts for a number of those workouts throughout the month—and beyond. I’ve also worn them all day (as my job is entirely remote) and on stroller walks around the neighborhood.

Not only have they provided comfort and all-day ease, they’ve stood up to numerous washes without fading or stretching out, still feel brand new (no pilling or snags in the fabric), and wick sweat so I’ve been cool and dry.

Fit and Comfort

The shorts have a wider-than-average waistband (over an inch), but I wouldn’t call these high-waisted. I actually thought they struck a good balance of having a waistband thick enough to provide comfort and not roll down during my workouts, while also not being so tall that it covered my entire midsection.

Fabric Quality

These shorts feel like your typical workout spandex material—but super buttery. They’re smooth, and even after several washes they haven’t pilled or faded. Plus, although the fabric feels almost silky, it hasn’t snagged or caught on anything—despite the fact that I’ve sat on outdoor wooden benches while wearing them.

These also easily pass the squat test (I tested them in black, although they also come in maroon and heathered gray), and the fabric looks sufficiently opaque even when stretched.

Secure Fit

These Nike shorts fit well at my natural waist without digging into my skin or being too tight. They definitely didn’t fall down while running or jumping (as our experts advised testing fit during impact workouts), and they weren’t so tight as to be uncomfortable even when wearing them for hours.

One thing to note, I typically wear a small in Nike, but at the time of testing I was six months postpartum and didn’t quite feel like I was back to my pre-pregnancy size, so I tested a medium. They fit well and were a little roomy (making them extra perfect for lounging). I’d say these run true to size and if you’re going to wear them for your toughest workouts, get your normal size. If you’d also like to wear these for running errands, lounging, and working out, consider sizing up for a more generous fit.

Length

The length on these was just perfect! Another reason I’ve typically avoided bike shorts in the past is because they often seem to be too short—and ride up uncomfortably high once I start running. That’s not the case with these, that have a seven-inch inseam. For me (at five feet six inches), that was the perfect length, hitting mid-thigh.

Ease to Put On and Take Off

Since these are shorts (and not tights), they were super easy to get on and off. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, I sized up for a roomier fit, which also made dressing a cinch.

Sweat-Concealing Fabric

I tested these shorts in black, so they easily concealed all of the sweat. Because the shorts are a mix of polyester and spandex, I suspect they would be good at sweat-wicking and concealing in the other two available colors as well.

Activity-Specific Features

There are two small pockets on the shorts: one at the front above the swoosh logo that’s large enough to hold a keychain or rolled-up cash (frustratingly, I found the pocket to be just slightly too shallow to hold a credit card or ID vertically); and one at the back center that I could get my iPhone into. Neither of the pockets have zippers, but the spandex material helps keep them closed.

For me, this was great. I always bring my iPhone running, and I love having pockets built in so I don’t have to carry it. An extra place to stash my apartment keys meant my hands were free throughout my workout.

The Bottom Line

Overall, I felt stellar in the Nike One 7-Inch Short. Not only did they perform well during my workouts, but they were comfortable and hugged my body in all the right places, without being too tight. Perhaps most important, these shorts were so easy to style whether exercising or hanging out. I wore them with tank tops and sports bras, but also oversized sweatshirts and even a men’s button-down for a casual look while out for a stroller walk. Dare I say it? I’m a cool mom.