Legends Luka HD Shorts Review | Durable and Versatile?

The Legends Luka HD Shorts have steadily grown in popularity since Legends debuted their Luka Shorts. Much like other apparel companies that have success with one product, the Luka HD Shorts are a durable follow-up option to the Luka Shorts.

I wear training shorts for pretty much everything, so I’m always on the lookout for new gym shorts. When I found the Legends Luka HD Shorts, I was intrigued by their versatility and durability.

Across the board, the Luka HD Shorts have performed well for my strength-focused workouts and my athletic-style training sessions. I do have some complaints about these shorts, though, and I’ll discuss those below.

In this Legends Luka HD Shorts review, I’ll cover multiple topics to help you decide if these shorts are right for you.

Who Should Invest In the Legends Luka HD Shorts?

The Legends Luka HD Shorts are solid versatile training shorts for guys that like heavier-built shorts. These shorts are designed to deliver a similar to performance to the Legends Luka Shorts, but with a bit more durability.

For athletic-style training sessions and outdoor workouts, the Legends Luka HD Shorts performed well across the board. They move pretty well with you and have a good level of breathability despite their heavier shell construction.

I also think these shorts will work for guys who like shorter inseams and heavier shell constructions. This short is built with ripstop fabric and comes in two inseam options, including 5″ and 7″.

If you’re worried about durability, I think you’ll enjoy the Legends Luka HD Shorts. Granted, I don’t think these shorts will be for everyone and I’ll dive into this more in-depth below.

Legends Luka HD Shorts Pros

Over the timespan of my testing, training, and reviewing of the Legends Luka HD Shorts, I’ve found multiple pros to like about these shorts.

1. Good for Athletic-Style Training Sessions
2. Ripstop Shell Will Work Well for Some Contexts/Guys
3. Perforated Shell Has Good Breathability

The first aspect to like with the Legends Luka HD Shorts is that they’re a solid pick for guys who like to train athletically. For example, if you blend multiple workout modalities into one session, then I think you’ll like the Luka HD’s versatility.

This short feels durable overall, and I don’t think barbell abrasion will be an issue with this short’s shell. On top of this, I think this short will work really well for guys regularly tackling outdoor and functional fitness workouts (not CrossFit, specifically).

In terms of versatility, this short feels like a blend of two of my favorite training shorts including my go-to Ten Thousand shorts and Lululemon Licence to Train Short.

The Legends Luka HD Shorts tick the versatility box of the Interval Short and deliver a slightly heavier feel like the Lulu License to Train Short. I think if you like versatile training shorts that run a tad heavier, then you’ll enjoy this construction detail.

The second thing to like about the Legends Luka HD Shorts is that I think their ripstop fabric will resonate really well for some guys and in some training contexts. I briefly mentioned this above, but the Luka HD Shorts do have a heavier feel to them.

The Luka HD Shorts material is durable enough for outdoor training and contexts where abrasion can be more prevalent. I could see these being good shorts for guys like me who regularly wear their training shorts for hikes on top of training.

The heavier material and build of these shorts work really well for those settings, and again, I think if you have a bias towards thicker and slightly heavier materials in your training shorts, then these shorts will hit well for you.

The final aspect that I like about the Legends Luka HD Shorts is their perforated shell construction. It’s a subtle detail that Legends uses on a lot of their training shorts and I’m always a fan of it.

In the Legends Luka HD Shorts, much like the Legends Relay Shorts, you have a nice level of breathability through the back of the leg and this gives these shorts a nice wispy and breathable feeling. For hot sessions, this detail can be an awesome pro with these shorts.

Legends Luka HD Shorts Cons

In the gym and on a daily wear basis, the Legends Luka HD Shorts have performed well, but I do have a few cons with these shorts.

1. They Can Ride Up On Thicker Thighs
2. Ripstop Material Can Feel Heavy At Times
3. Inseams Feel Short On This Model

The first drawback that comes with the Legends Luka HD Shorts is that the liner and shell can ride up on thicker and more muscular legs. I went with the 7″ inseam Luka HD Shorts with the liner and I constantly find them riding up when training.

One of my pet peeves with training shorts is when I have to constantly adjust them while training because it can distract me from my sets or the sport that I’m playing. The liner rides up in these shorts. If you’re nervous about this, go linerless.

More specifically, when going into deep hip flexion while squatting or jumping when playing sports like pickleball, I found that the liner rode up on these pretty easily. I don’t have the most muscular quads either, so I think if you have thicker legs you’ll want to consider this.

Another drawback that I could see bothering some guys with the Luka HD Shorts is the heaviness of the ripstop shell. If you like the shell construction of training shorts like the Legend Relay Shorts or Lululemon Pace Breaker, then I’m not sure you’ll enjoy the Luka HD Shorts.

These shorts and their shell construction feel pretty similar to the Ten Thousand Tactical Short, which can be super hit or miss based on one’s preferences and training style. For example, for longer runs, I’m not a huge fan of the Legend Luka HD Shorts.

For additional context, the ripstop shell of these shorts can also feel somewhat scratchy if you’re used to softer materials, and I think these shorts will be best with the liner built-in. The linerless version of the Luka HD Shorts would not be my favorite shorts to wear commando.

My final drawback with the Legends Luka HD Shorts is their inseam feels pretty short compared to other 7″ inseam shorts. These shorts come in a 5″ and 7″ inseam option, so they naturally run a little shorter, but I almost feel like the inseam of these shorts run a little short.

I think if you like longer training shorts and 7″ inseam shorts are the shortest you’ll go, then you may want to pass on these shorts as they’ll likely feel shorter than your normal 7″ inseam shorts.

Performance and Styling

To discuss the performance of the Legends Luka HD Shorts, I’ll cover multiple training contexts in these shorts. I’ll talk about how these shorts perform for lifting, versatile training, shorter runs, and daily wear.

Since we all train in different ways, this way you can cross-reference if the Luka HD Shorts’ performance matches your individual wants and needs.

Testing the Legend Luka HD Shorts for Lifting

For the most part, the Legends Luka HD Shorts worked well for lifting. There are things that I like about this short, but then drawbacks based on how you plan to lift in these shorts.

To begin with, I like these shorts’ overall durability and I could see them being a good option for anyone where abrasion resistance is more typical during their training sessions. If you’re doing cleans, you should be fine with these shorts regarding breakdown from knurling.

Conversely and it’s worth noting since these shorts do run a little short, you may have some rub on the thighs as I did. For this reason, if you have longer legs and train often with Olympic lifts, then I would suggest exploring different short options.

Another perk and drawback of the Legends Luka HD Shorts for lifting is their mobility. This short never feels limiting regarding its shell and the shell does have a decent amount of room for thicker thighs.

The drawback here is that in the lined version, you’ll likely experience this short riding up a bit if you have more muscular legs which can be frustrating during leg workouts. If you have thick thighs, I’d suggest going unlined and using your own compression liner.

Testing the Legend Luka HD Shorts for Versatile Training

When it comes to versatile training, the Legends Luka HD Shorts die a pretty good job for most of my training sessions. I like the perforated construction on the back of these shorts as it gives them a wispier fit and feel.

I also think the ripstop fabric will contribute to this short’s longevity for a wide range of training settings. Whether you’re hitting a workout outdoors or doing a cross-training session in the gym, these shorts should last you a while.

If you go with the Legends Luka HD Shorts for versatile training, I’d suggest going with the linerless option if you have more muscular legs. You’ll get ample space in this option and you can wear a liner that fits your leg’s needs better.

One gripe I do have with the Luka HD Shorts for versatile training is their external drawstring. I would prefer an internal drawstring or at least the option to turn this short’s drawstring in for security purposes. 

Testing the Legend Luka HD Shorts for Shorter Runs and Daily Wear

For shorter runs, the Legends Luka HD Shorts do an okay job, but these would not be my go-to for long-distance runs. If you use these for sprints or for runs shorter than 3 miles, you’ll likely be fine in them.

Their heavier shell construction is a turnoff for any form of long-distance running. There’s a reason traditional running shorts don’t use materials like ripstop in them. I do like the phone pocket in this shorts liner for casual runs, though.

For daily wear, the Legends Luka HD Shorts are okay. They’re not my favorite training shorts for rocking out and about, but they’re also not my least favorite pair. I like their appearance and I do think they have a unique and stylish look to them.

My main gripe with these shorts for daily wear is that they do run a tad short for my wants and needs. Since the liner also contributes to these shorts riding up, I find myself constantly having to adjust them when rocking them.

Legends Luka HD Shorts Sizing

In the Legends Luka HD Shorts, most guys should be safe going true to size in these shorts. The Luka HD Shorts’ waistband runs pretty true and I found their length to run a tad short for their respective inseam.

My one gripe with Legends’ sizing is that they don’t offer an easy access size guide on their product page and instead have you use their “Your Fit Advisor”. I like this tool, but it’s also nice having a nice chart to compare sizes with which you can find after a quick search.

Again, not the biggest deal, but it’s an extra step if you’re like me and want to also compare sizing chart recommendations with your dimensions. I do this because my waist and thigh thickness can sometimes be misaligned with a company’s shorts sizing.

In this review, I’m wearing the Legends Luka HD Shorts in a Medium with a 7″ inseam and built-in liner. I’m going to provide my sizing dimensions below so you can hopefully cross-reference how these shorts fit on me with your dimensions.

• Height: 6′ 0″
• Weight: 180 lbs
• Waist: 32-33″
• Inseam: 32″
• Hip (circumference around butt): 40″
• Mid-Thigh: 23.5″-24″

Overall, I personally like the fit of the Legends Luka HD Shorts and they should run true for most guys, especially those that have a moderate level of muscle on their legs.

The one thing I noticed with the Luka HD Shorts is that if I’m training I have to tie this short’s waistband to keep them secure. This is not a pair of training shorts that I can rock casually without tightening the waistband due to them riding down a bit when I go into hip flexion in the back.

If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the Legends Luka HD Shorts or how they compare to other training shorts, drop a comment below.

Price Breakdown

For the Legends Luke HD Shorts, you can expect to pay $65 USD. The price point for the Luka HD Shorts is similar to other premium training shorts on the market.

Regarding their price, I’m a little hit or miss on the Legends Luka HD Shorts. I think their price point is fair if you like this short’s appearance and you plan to use them for general lifting and training.

They’ll perform pretty well in most contexts, however, I’m not a fan of a few of these shorts’ niche construction details of the LukaHD Shorts. For example, these shorts can feel a little rigid at times compared to softer training shorts.

I think if you like softer training shorts, then you’ll want to pass on the Luka HD Shorts and explore different options. In addition, I’m not the biggest fan of the liner and inseam in these shorts as they both seem to run a little short.

I found that the liner in these shorts constantly rode up on my quads, so thicker thighs will want to factor this in before investing in these shorts as paying $65 USD for shorts that constantly ride up is pretty frustrating.

Construction Details

The Legends Luke HD Shorts are designed to be the more durable option for Legends Luka fans. Below are some of the key construction details to note about the Luka HD Shorts.

• Waist Size Options: XS (28-29″), S (30-31″), M (32-33″), L (34-36″), XL (37-39″), XXL (40-42″)
• Inseam Options: 5″ and 7″
• Liner Options: Liner and Linerless
• Ventilation On Posterior Leg
• External Drawstring
• Ripstop Fabric
• Antimicrobial Tech
• Moisture-Wicking Properties
• 2 Front Pockets (internal key pocket on the right)
• Back Zipper Pocket

If you have additional construction-related questions on the Legends Luka HD Shorts, drop a comment below.