The new Vuori HardKore Lined 5in Short is a premium do-it-all run and gym short that I found boasts barely-there comfort for day-long adventures.
As as try to push myself as a runner – looking for races and events to challenge me – I’m also looking for the best running shorts. Shorts that will not only cope with day-long treks through hills or forests but will excel in them. Shorts with that elusive barely-there feel you can run for hours in and basically forget about. Well, I think I may have found them in the Vuori HardKore 5in Lined Short.
Men’s Fitness verdict
Fit-and-forget shorts for day-long comfort, whether you’re doing back-to-back gym sessions or running the length of wild trails.- Supreme comfort with ultra-light liner
- Great moisture management
- Price could be a barrier
- Not many storage options
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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Our team of bike reviewers included experienced product testers, journalists and fitness writers – as well as the core MF team – who know exactly what sets the best products apart from the rest. These Vuori HardKore Lined 5in Shorts were reviewed and rated by experienced MF product tester Laurence McJannet. Find out more about how we test.
Vuori HardKore design
The HardKore short comes in 5in and 7in flavors; the 5in probably more suited to longer runs. It’s available in seven colors, mostly neutral choices (like my carbon) with a couple of striking ones including fire and royal blue. There are seven sizes too, from XXS to XXL, so plenty of choices for runners or gym-goers of ever size. They are made from a 90% polyester / 10% elastane blend, which feels light and pleasant to the touch. There’s a barely noticeable chequered pattern to the fabric, designed to be abrasion resistant.
There’s a breathable liner, which doesn’t extend beyond the hem of the short. And there’s a zipped rear pocket and two front hand pockets. The legs have side vents to aid mobility; the waist is a fairly standard elasticated number with a long drawstring. So many companies get this bit wrong, with unprotected drawstring ends that fray or strings that are too short they disappear inside the waistband. Not Vuori – it has nice rubberised ends and long drawstrings that won’t go missing.
Vuori HardKore performance
On paper there’s nothing remarkable here, but the proof is always in the pudding. I wore the Vuori HardKore (buy now) for a month, running 10km road efforts and off-road trails ranging from 10km to all-day 25km outings. I tested them during an inclement late winter and early spring and found they worked well with leggings underneath or just on their own. You won’t need moisture-wicking underwear under these. The liner is extremely light and doesn’t feel like it will be much help, but I never felt it didn’t offer enough support. The fit is fairly relaxed – if anything I could probable size down from my usual medium as I did find that it would bunch around the crotch. Weirdly, the online virtual assistant suggested I go for a large. So I’d suggest sticking to your usual size.
The four-way stretch fabric, relaxed fit and side vents did a great job of allowing me unrestricted movement. I was doing some pretty big steps up boulders or leaping across ditches or streams and I always felt I had plenty of room to move in these. Putting anything heavy like a phone in that rear pocket would bounce around annoyingly. But I wouldn’t expect anything else – and that’s what running vests are for anyway! But for gels and snacks it was fine – though a key loop would have been useful.
Moisture management
The area the Vuori HardKore excelled was its ability to shed moisture. As I said I tested these shorts in some pretty awful conditions and they stayed much lighter and dryer than they had any right to. If I got showered on at the beginning of my run, by the end they’d feel almost bone dry again. As a result i never felt that nasty sogginess that stays with you and chills you to your core. That’s a real boon on day-long runs where you’re trying to manage your temperature.
Vuori HardKore verdict
If you’re looking for shorts that will literally go the distance on epic runs, I don’t think you can go wrong with these Vuori HardKore shorts. They’d make a great pair of gym shorts too. They are super-comfy, have great moisture management and the lightest liner I’ve come across. Of course that price might be something of an issue. But the quality feel of these suggests they might even outlast my knees! Storage could be a little better but I don’t know a runner who likes to store anything substantial in their shorts.
Vuori HardKore 5in Lined Short technical specs
| Material | 90% recycled polyester, 10% elastane |
| Features | Breathable liner, split hem, zipped rear pocket, elasticated drawstring waist |
| Sizes | XXS to XXL |
| Colors | 7 colors available |
