Athletic performance shorts fabric and waistband detail

5 Best Men's Pickleball Shorts

AUTHOR

COURTSIDE CULTURE

PUBLISHED

APRIL 20, 2027

READ TIME

6 MIN READ

Key Takeaways

Pocket depth is the most-overlooked spec on a pickleball short — a shallow pocket that can't hold a spare ball through a rally defeats the point of having one.
A 7” inseam is the most common length across dedicated pickleball brands, balancing coverage with the range of motion the kitchen line demands.
Selkirk and Vuori both sell shorts with a built-in liner; if you already wear compression shorts underneath, an unlined pair saves you doubling up.
Nike and Chubbies aren't pickleball-first brands, but both sell shorts built for the same lateral movement patterns as tennis, which translates directly.

How we put this together: the five pairs below were compared using each brand's own published inseam, liner and pocket specs, cross-checked against retailer listings. We have not personally worn every pair through a full season. Prices are approximate and vary by color and size — confirm current pricing before buying.

A pickleball short is really a tennis short with better pockets — the sport borrowed the format, but ball storage matters more here since you're not walking to a ball cart between points. Here are five real pairs worth knowing about.

Dedicated Pickleball Brands

Selkirk's Pro Line 7" shorts come from one of the most established brands in the sport, with 4-way stretch fabric, secure zipper pockets and UV protection built in.

Selkirk Pro Line 7" Shorts

~$64

4-way stretch, zipper pockets, UV protection, moisture-wicking

VIEW ON AMAZON →

NORTHYARD's pickleball-specific 7" short is the budget pick here: quick-dry stretch fabric with a purpose-built pocket system, at roughly half the price of the premium options on this list.

Close-up of an athletic shorts hem and stitching

NORTHYARD Men's Pickleball 7" Shorts

~$28–31

Quick-dry stretch fabric, purpose-built pocket system

VIEW ON AMAZON →

A pocket that can't hold a spare ball through a full point isn't a real pocket for this sport — check pocket depth before liner material or fabric weight.

Crossover Athletic Brands

Vuori's Kore Short wasn't designed specifically for pickleball, but has become a genuine staple among players for its soft built-in liner and pocket depth — Vuori now sells a dedicated pickleball apparel collection alongside it.

Compression fabric detail for athletic support wear

Vuori Kore Short

~$68

Built-in liner, deep pockets, 4-way stretch

VIEW ON AMAZON →

Nike's tennis short line uses Dri-FIT fabric and a 9" inseam originally built for tennis's movement patterns, which translate directly to pickleball's kitchen-line footwork.

Athletic training waistband fabric detail

Nike Court Victory Dri-FIT 9" Shorts

~$45–55

Dri-FIT fabric, deep side pockets, 9-inch inseam

VIEW ON AMAZON →

Chubbies sells a dedicated pickleball shorts collection now, built on their existing 7" sport short with an anti-chafing compression liner and three pockets, in the brand's signature loud prints if that's your style.

Close-up of athletic waistband fabric and elastic

Chubbies 7" Sport Shorts

~$40–60

Anti-chafing compression liner, 3 pockets, elastic waistband

VIEW ON AMAZON →

What to Know Before You Buy

If you already wear compression shorts or an arm sleeve setup underneath, an unlined short saves you doubling up on compression fabric — check whether a pair has a built-in liner before assuming. For the rest of your outdoor kit, our apparel fabric guide covers what moisture-wicking and UPF ratings actually mean across a full outfit, not just shorts.