Hylete built its reputation as the brand making high-quality training shorts for CrossFit. Their first pair of shorts won the hearts of diehard CrossFitters and functional fitness athletes alike. Since the release of their flagship product, the SoCal brand has expanded its training collection, updating on its original designs and offering new styles of training gear. Last year, Hylete introduced their Flexion Collection, which marked their crossover into fitness lifestyle apparel.
The Flexion collection included a pair of shorts, sweatpants, and hoodie that were to be worn to and from the gym, but not necessarily as primary training apparel. A year later, with a successful launch and reception of the collection, the brand introduced new colors to the line. I wanted to try the new angle Hylete was taking and grabbed a pair of the Navy Flexion shorts on pre-order. I’ve had success with previous Hylete shorts and they’ve always been a go-to in my training short rotation. Below is what I though of the new Hylete Flexion Shorts.
Hylete Flexion Short Review
I’ll admit, when I purchased the Flexion shorts I was expecting a training short made of sweatpant material. My instincts were that the short would be a warm and fuzzy fleece type short I wouldn’t want to take off. Something that looks good but not ideal for training. When I received the shorts, I was surprised by how completely wrong I was in my assumptions.
The first thing I noticed was the weight of the package. The Flexion shorts are heavier than any other activewear short I’ve worn. The material is nowhere close to sweatpant fleece. It’s more like track pant material, and most of the weight is in the waistband. Upon trying on the Flexion shorts, the next thing I noticed as that they actually wear much more like basketball shorts than training shorts. The cut is generous, with wide leg holes and plenty of room, perfect for Sunday lounging. However, the loose fit wouldn’t be ideal for training.
Over the last few years, training shorts have gotten more streamlined and shorter. Excess material was removed to prevent movement restriction, lengths were shortened for unobstructed flexion of the knee, and heavier material was replaced with lightweight fabrics for freedom of mobility. The Flexion short reverts back to some of these older styles, sacrificing performance for comfort. However, it’s important to understand the Flexion short was not created for training. It’s a crossover short meant for trips to and from the gym, post-training, and casual days.
The Flexion short can most definitely be used for training however. It wouldn’t be a primary option, but if you’re low on clean shorts, doing an upper body day, or not in need of complete, unobstructed leg mobility the Flexion short will work. In fact, some may actually prefer the nostalgic feel of a looser training short many of us were relegated to in the early 2000s before the activewear boom.
Performance:
- Okay training short, more suited for leisure.
- Not a primary training short, however the stretch polyester material will offer all of the same quick-drying, temperature regulating benefits of a short constructed for training.
Comfort:
- Extremely comfortable.
- Ample room for full mobility.
- Internal waffle texture is very soft against the skin and breathable.
Design:
- Good design with stretch zones made of contrast fabric for added flexibility.
- A looser fitting short with more complex side paneling than a traditional training short.
- Excellent pocket design and location. Slash pockets at front hip for easy access and zipper pockets at side hip for secure storage.
Value:
- At $75/pair seems in line with training shorts, but may be expensive for a leisure short.
- Top quality construction, multiple materials, and superior waistband explain high cost of short but must understand this won’t be a top training short before purchase.
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