Running shorts are one of the most important parts of a runners clothing attire but it’s more important to find the right pair, especially when we consider long-distance runners. Nothing worse than having a pair that get heavy when wet or that constantly want to fall to our knees or worse still, cause the dreaded chaffing that you only notice happen once you had a shower! I’ve been wearing Castore running shorts for a few weeks now but are these going to be my new go-to shorts for running? Well firstly let’s break these shorts down and review each area before I give my conclusion.
The description for these shorts from Castore is as follows “Lightweight running shorts with a mesh waistband and clever internal storage for keys/energy gels etc. It has reflective branding for enhanced visibility and is cut to optimise movement through the leg and around the hips. Bonded hem finishes keep it, extra lightweight”. I can confirm these shorts a breathable and very lightweight to the point I had to check a few times to make sure I was still wearing them.
This is probably down to these shorts being made from 72% Polyamide and 28% Elastane. Now Polyamide is also known as Nylon but it’s waterproof, super strong and durable. This means you should get a decent amount of running in these before you see any damage, especially in those rub areas. Elastane is a super stretchy material that can, after a quick google check, stretch 7 times its original size.
There are no inner liners to these shorts, which if I’m honest I prefer some sort of compression material inside, just to add a little more comfort during those faster runs. But I’m sure with the right running underwear I could easily fix this issue.
There is a small pocket to the rear of the shorts which Castore describe as clever internal storage. This type of pocket is pretty standard amongst good running shorts, I like the way Castore has put the pocket on the outside of the shorts which makes it very easy to get access to There are no inner liners to these shorts, which if I’m honest I prefer some sort of compression material inside, just to add a little more comfort during those faster runs. But I’m sure with the right running underwear I could easily fix this issue.
During a run, with no zip, I still found the pocket to be secure and big enough to hold a house key and a few gels.
I’m loving the waistband of these shorts. Super stretchy but tight enough to leave the shorts on my hips rather than my ankles. There are no tie strings but these shorts don’t need them as the waistband is sufficient and I felt no friction. My favourite part about these shorts is how dry they felt after my runs. Even after a really sweaty run, I found these shorts to feel dry and clean.
The cut on the seams of these shorts is a little high for me, I felt shorts were flying all over the place during the run which was a little off-putting however this is a personal preference. The branding is reflective but it’s quite small, so I wouldn’t expect this to be effective in the night, so I would recommend some more visible clothing or items for those nighttime runs.
Conclusion
At a price of £80, I find these shorts a little pricy, maybe with a good inner liner, it could be up there with that price. All in all, these are great running shorts and I will definitely recommend these for any serious runner.
Test and Review by Alex McMUNN for Ultrarunner Magazine.