SOAR RUNNING MARATHON SPEED SHORTS
| £140 | |
|---|---|
| BUY NOW FOR MEN | BUY NOW FOR WOMEN |
PLEASE NOTE: I paid for the SOAR Running marathon speed shorts myself and was not gifted these shorts or paid by SOAR Running to give a honest review. This page contains affiliate links. Making a purchase via our affiliate link means I may receive a small share of the sale.
SOAR position these as a high performance, race day short designed for long-distance running.
They focus on three main things:
- A secure, compressive fit that supports your muscles at pace
- Integrated storage for fuelling mid run (without bounce)
- A female specific cut that adapts to your shape (the same appears to apply to the men’s version).
They’re made from an ultra lightweight French woven stretch fabric, with a three panel design to improve fit and a waistband free construction with silicone grippers to keep everything locked in place without pressure.
In simple terms, they’re designed to feel fast, stay put and carry everything you need for marathon distance, without distraction.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Straight out of the packaging, these shorts feel incredibly lightweight, almost barely there.
My first thought was how race ready they felt. There’s something about them that gave me that “it’s time to work” mindset when you put them on.
As someone building towards the Milan marathon, I was looking for shorts that feels fast and purposeful, with enough storage for all my gels and these ticked that box.
The moment I put them on, I genuinely felt like I wanted to go out and run well.
COLOUR AND FIT
The black colour is simple, sleek and versatile. It pairs with anything, which makes it an easy choice whether I’m doing a training run or thinking ahead to race day. I don’t usually prioritise matching kit, I care more about performance, but these manage to give you both.
Fit wise, they’re perfect for me.
I’m a UK size 8 and 5ft 2.5, and the size small fits perfectly, true to size with a secure feel that doesn’t dig in. The waistband sits flat against the skin without leaving marks and there’s no feeling of restriction.
Once on, the shorts feel like they really mould to your body. There’s no excess fabric, bunching or riding up at all.
They stay exactly where you want them, which makes a huge difference on longer runs.
I’ve worn these in everything from torrential rain to milder conditions, and across a range of paces from a 5K at 5:58 min/mile to long marathon efforts between 6:30–8:00 min/mile, up to 22 miles.
Through all of that, I’ve had zero chafing, which is especially key for me as I do have sensitive skin.
Other colours available include Palace blue, light red, light grey, leopard print.
FEATURES
For such minimal shorts, the storage is genuinely impressive and one of the standout features for me.
- I’ve comfortably carried up to 6 gels with no bounce.
- On another run, I fit my phone sideways plus 3 gels
- Everything felt secure and evenly distributed.
- No heavy or weighed down feeling.
At first, the pocket design took a bit of getting used to. I’m used to side pockets and slightly thicker material, so I caught myself grabbing the waistband instead of the pockets when reaching for a gel, which probably looked quite amusing to anyone behind me!
Because the storage sits mainly at the back, there’s no awkward side bulging, which keeps everything looking really streamlined.
One thing I noticed, when standing still, it can feel like gels might fall out if you have them stood up and not lying sidewards, but once you start running, everything locks in and stays secure, even at faster paces.
WHAT THE TECHNICAL FEATURES MEAN:
- Sweat wicking fabric: This means the material pulls sweat away from your skin and spreads it across the surface so it can dry quickly. Basically, it keeps you feeling drier, reduces that clingy feeling and helps prevent chafing on longer run which I feel they do well.
- Ergonomic three panel construction: Instead of being made from one basic piece of fabric, these shorts are built from three carefully shaped panels. This allows them to follow the natural shape of your hips and legs, which is why they feel so fitted without restricting movement.
- Featherweight French woven stretch fabric: This refers to a very lightweight, high-quality fabric that’s been woven (rather than knitted) for durability and structure. It gives you that barely there feeling while still offering enough stretch to move comfortably with your stride and enough strength to hold everything in place.
OTHER NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Large bonded rear pocket (fits gels or phone)
- Silicone grippers for a secure, locked-in fit
- Laser cut hems (lighter, more comfortable, no fraying. I have previously had good quality shorts that have frayed quite easily, so this felt quite important to me).
COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE
This is where these shorts really stand out. They’re so light and thin that you almost forget you’re wearing them.
The fabric moves effortlessly with your body, making them ideal for everything from easy miles to faster sessions.
I’ve tested them at different paces, including quicker 5K efforts and they performed just as well as they did on steady runs. Most importantly I’ve experienced no chafing, shifting or riding up.
Even when fully loaded with fuel and a phone, they stayed locked in place. Which is exactly what I want when training for a marathon and come marathon day.
MATERIAL AND DURABILITY
The shorts feel very technical thin, breathable, but not fragile.
They’re made from 71% polyamide and 29% elastane, which shows in how they perform. The polyamide gives the shorts their durability and lightweight feel, while the elastane adds stretch, so they move comfortably with your body without losing shape.
Despite how light they feel, they’re surprisingly robust. They hold their shape well, and the stretch and recovery give me confidence they’ll last through plenty of long runs and harder sessions.
I’ve washed them a few times and haven’t noticed any change in fit or quality, which is always a good sign with more delicate feeling kit.
The laser-cut finish also adds to the durability, there’s no bulky seams, less chance of irritation and nothing that looks like it will fray over time. They feel like high-performance shorts and not something that will wear out quickly.
PRICE
These sit firmly at the premium end, retailing at £140.
That said, I do think they justify the price. You’re getting:
- High-level performance
- Excellent storage for long-distance running
- Reliable comfort over long efforts
If you’re training seriously, especially for a marathon, they feel like a worthwhile investment rather than just another pair of shorts.
CONCLUSION
These shorts strike a good balance between being ultra lightweight and practical.
They’ve become my go to for long runs and key training sessions, and they’re very likely going to be my race day shorts for Milan. They just feel good and are the kind of shorts that makes you feel ready to perform the moment you put it on.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM?
Yes, absolutely. I genuinely love them.
If you’re looking for shorts that combine comfort, performance and smart storage for marathon training or racing, these are hard to beat.
WHERE TO BUY?
Available directly from SOAR Running.
| £140 | |
|---|---|
| BUY NOW FOR MEN | BUY NOW FOR WOMEN |
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions you would like to ask about the SOAR running marathon speed shorts, please get in touch.
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