In the world of performance apparel, Legends has continued to carve out a community with its high-performing gear. The Legends Relay Shorts are designed for tackling a little bit of everything and have an edge for versatility.
As someone who’s constantly on the market men’s gym shorts, I was really excited to put the versatile Legends Relay Shorts to the test. Over my review process, I’ve enjoyed the performance of the Legends Relay Shorts.
This short feels wispy and its 4-way stretch shell does a good job at supporting mobility in a wide range of training contexts. However, I do have a few cons with these shorts and I’ll discuss those below.
In this Legends Relay Shorts review, I’ll cover various topics to help you decide if these shorts are a good fit for your training wants and anatomy.
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Who Should Invest In the Legends Relay Shorts?
The Legends Relay Shorts do a good job and perform fairly well for a wide variety of training settings. I think if you’re someone who varies their training a lot on a weekly basis, then the Relay Shorts can be worth looking into.
These shorts are stretchy and mobile enough for lifting, so if you want them for strength and power work, then you should enjoy the level of mobility that you get from the 4-way stretch shell with the Relay Shorts.
For HIIT workouts and athletic-style training sessions, I also enjoy the moisture-wicking properties and breathability of these shorts. I could see these being a good option for the lifter and athlete that loves doing agility work, plyometrics, and training at the track.
On top of the 4-way stretch shell, these shorts also don’t have an aggressive taper so they’ll be a good pick for guys with big thighs. Granted, if you have thinner legs, then you may not align with these shorts and I’ll discuss that below in my cons.
Legends Relay Shorts
$65
Best For
- Recreational Lifting
- Athletic Training Sessions
- Short Runs <3 Miles
- HIIT Workouts
Falls Short
- For Thinner Legs
- For Waistband Security
Legends Relay Shorts Pros
Over the course of my testing and reviewing of the Legends Relay Shorts, I’ve found multiple pros and aspects to like about these shorts.
- Good Short for Athletic-Style Training
- Viable Option for Guys With Bigger Thighs
- 4-Way Stretch Shell Is Mobile and Breathable
The first aspect to like about this Legends Relay Short is their performance for athletic-style training. Not every pair of men’s workout shorts work well for sessions where you’ll be blending in agility, power, and strength work all into one workout.
For cross-training sessions where you plan to do a little bit of everything, I thought the Legends Relay Shorts did a good job across the board. These shorts feel lightweight and they move well with you no matter the exercise you’re tackling.
I like that these shorts never get hung up on the thighs when doing deep squats, and I enjoy the perforated construction on the back of the leg as it helps promotes a “wispier” feeling with these shorts when moving fast.
Another perk of the Legends Relay Shorts — which is also a drawback that I’ll discuss below — is their lack of harsh shell taper. Some shorts like the Lululemon Pace Breaker can fall short for guys with thicker thighs.
If you’re a guy who has thick quads, glutes, adductors, and hamstrings, first off, I commend you, but second off, the Relay Shorts can be a viable option for you. If you’re often feeling like your shorts are getting hung up, then you’ll fall into this demographic.
For example, I don’t have the biggest legs in the game, but something that frustrates me with certain shorts is when I have to constantly adjust them mid-workout. I think these shorts should fair well for a wide range of leg thicknesses and anatomies.
The last aspect to like about the Legends Relay Shorts is their breathability and 4-way stretch shell. This model’s shell is lightweight and there’s a perforated construction on the back side of the shorts.
It’s a subtle detail that you don’t really appreciate until you’re jumping or doing some form of agility workout in this short. This detail in conjunction with the split-hem construction gives this short a wispy feel when training.
I also like the 4-way stretch of this shell, and more specifically, the degree to which these shorts stretch. They walk a nice line between giving you a nice level of stretch without feeling too elastic and losing their tenacity, which some short can.
Legends Relay Shorts Cons
Overall, the Legends Relay Shorts performed pretty well for most of my training sessions. However, I do have a few cons that I noticed with these shorts.
- Liner Construction Could Be Better
- May Not Be the Best for Thinner Legs
- Waistband Is Just Okay
The first drawback that I have with the Legends Relay Shorts is that their liner construction could be better for two reasons. First, I did find that it could ride up at times based on the workout I was doing.
More specifically, when I was doing things like power clean sets with multiple reps or box jumps where I was going through rapid hip extension, I found that the liner had an issue staying down.
I feel like it would be better if they turned this into a compression liner versus its current state. Second, the phone pocket on the liner is okay, but it’s not really the best for things like running or cross-training sessions where you want your phone on you.
The liner pocket could use a buff with its security when locking down the phone because larger modern-day phones push this pocket’s abilities.
Another drawback is that while I like these shorts for thicker thighs, they may not be the best choice for thinner legs. Since these shorts don’t have a noticeable taper, I think some guys with skinnier legs may find that they’re swimming in these shorts.
In this context, I could see this short feeling “poofy” or too spacious when doing things like running where one may be catching more air in the shell of these shorts. Something like the Chubbies Ultimate Training Short would be good for this individual.
The final drawback that I have with the Legends Relay Shorts is their waistband construction. While there’s nothing glaringly wrong with this short’s waistband, it’s also not the strongest in the shorts game.
The waistband could use a little more security and the string construction doesn’t feel the best regarding its material and how it interacts with the waistband’s eyelets. I think a thicker or more tenacious elastic in this short’s waistband would increase its security tenfold.
Performance and Styling
To discuss the performance of the Legends Relay Shorts, I’m going to cover how these shorts perform in various contexts. I’ll cover how the Relay Short fair for lifting, versatile training, short runs, and daily wear.
I’ll also share some thoughts on styling the Legends Relay Shorts. These shorts come in a wide range of colorways so I think most will be able to find a pair that resonates with their personal tastes.
Testing the Legends Relay Shorts for Lifting and Versatile Training
In the context of lifting, the Legends Relay Shorts did a pretty good job in most of my tests. I like the mobility that you get with this pair of shorts shell and it never felt like it hindered my mechanics when going into deep hip flexion.
These shorts also do a good job of not getting hung up on the legs, which one of my favorite pairs of men’s workout shorts the Ten Thousand Interval Short, can do at times, so that’s a big plus with the Relay Shorts’ performance.
My only gripe with the Legends Relay Shorts for lifting is that while the shell is awesome for not getting hung up on the legs, the liner can ride up at times. Since the liner in these shorts doesn’t have a high level of compression, I did have to adjust a couple of times for most leg workouts.
For versatile training, I’ve enjoyed the Legends Relay Shorts and this is the area where I think these shorts will perform the best for different athletes and lifters. Their wispier shell and perforated construction give this mode a nice level of breathability.
These shorts are also lightweight in nature, so during explosive movements or cross-training workouts, these shorts never feel like they hinder your performance whatsoever.
Testing the Legends Relay Shorts for Short Runs and Daily Wear
For short runs, the Legends Relay Shorts do an okay job. They’ll work for runs that range from 1-3 miles, but I don’t think they’re the best option for tackling long endurance workouts.
The phone pocket in the liner falls short for this training context due to it lacking enough security to hold most modern-day phones tight to the leg. I worry if you’re doing long distances, then this aspect could get annoying fairly fast.
For speed work and agility work, I do like the Relay Shorts, though. Their lightweight build is nice and for these workouts, you’ll likely not have a phone on you anyways, so the above isn’t really a concern.
For daily wear, the Relay Shorts do a pretty good job. Their pockets are deep enough to keep your belongings secure and I like that they have a zipper pocket on the left and a posterior zipper pocket.
Plus, with the countless colorways, I could see these shorts working for a wide range of guys wanting to wear them out and about. I went with the liner option, but if I wanted these solely for daily wear and not as much training, I’d go linerless for comfort purposes.
Styling the Legends Relay Shorts
When it comes to styling the Legends Relay Shorts, I think they’ll go with most casual outfits. I personally went with the Charcoal Heather colorway because I wanted something that could go with different colored tops and shoes.
I’ll wear these shorts out to walk the dogs or run errands with a t-shirt or hoodie based on the weather outside. Some of the colorways are nice because they give these shorts a much more “casual” look compared to a “gym” look.
Legends Relay Shorts Sizing
For the Legends Relay Shorts, most should be safe going true to size in this model based on Legends’ sizing recommendations. To be honest, something that I find a little annoying with Legends’ sizing is that they don’t offer a sizing chart on each product page.
They have a sizing tool, which is nice, but I also enjoy looking at the dimensions of various sizes so I can size my stuff accordingly. You can find a sizing chart if you search for it, so definitely do so before investing in these shorts.
However, it would be nice to have the chart easily available on the Legends Relay Shorts product page, too. In this review, I went with the Charcol Heather Relay Shorts in size medium with the liner.
I’m going to provide my sizing dimensions below so you can hopefully cross-reference how these shorts fit on me, then compare their prospective fit 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 like the fit of the medium Legends Relay Shorts for my dimensions, but I would prefer to have the waistband be a little snugger. I’m more of a true 32″ in the waist than a 33″ so I think that’s where the discrepancy lies.
Conversely, I think if you’re on the higher end of Legend’s waistband scale, then you may want to size up in this model. The 7″ inseam feels a side short in this model compared to other 7″ inseam shorts so that would be something to consider before buying these.
If you have additional sizing and fit questions on the Legends Relay Shorts, drop a comment below and I can try to help you out accordingly.
Price Breakdown
You can expect to pay $65 USD for the Legends Relay Shorts. This price point is comparable to that of premium shorts from companies like Vuori and Ten Thousand.
Personally, I think the price point makes sense for the Legends Relay Shorts if you’re primarily wanting them for versatile training and you have thicker thighs. For these contexts, this short works really well.
I also like that there are a ton of different styles to explore with these shorts and that they offer 7″ and 9″ inseams, which can give them a more casual look if you want to double their use for gym work and daily wear.
That being said, these shorts will have some limitations. For example, for CrossFit, running, and thinner legs, I’d suggest exploring men’s workout shorts that will better align with your wants and needs.
Legends Relay Shorts
$65
Best For
- Recreational Lifting
- Athletic Training Sessions
- Short Runs <3 Miles
- HIIT Workouts
Falls Short
- For Thinner Legs
- For Waistband Security
Construction Details
Below, I’m going to cover some of the most important construction details to know about the Legends Relay Shorts. These details can influence this short’s performance, fit, and long-term durability.
- Waist Size Options: XS (28-29″), S (30-31″), M (32-33″), L (34-36″), XL (37-39″), XXL (40-42″)
- Inseam Options: 7″ and 9″
- Liner Options: Liner and Linerless
- Moisture-Wicking Tech
- Anti-Odor Fabric
- Split-Hem Construction
- Perforated Vents On Posterior Lower Leg
- Internal Drawstring
- 4-Way Stretch Shell
- 2 Front Pockets With Front Zipper Pocket
- 1 Back Zipper Pocket
If you have additional construction questions about the Legends Relay Shorts, drop a comment below and I can help you out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:How Should I Wash the Legends Relay Shorts?
Q:Can I use the Legends Relay Shorts for CrossFit?
Q:Can I run in the Legends Relay Shorts?
Takeaway Thoughts
Across the board, I’ve enjoyed training in the Legends Relay Shorts and I like their casual-Esque yet versatile construction. If you’re regularly varying your training on a weekly basis, then I think you’ll enjoy the Legends Relay Shorts.
I also think these shorts will be a good pick for anyone that’s regularly training outdoors in hot climates and they’ll work well for guys with big thighs.
There are a couple of areas that I feel could be improved with these shorts such as their waistband and liner construction.
If you have additional questions on the Legends Relay Shorts, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).
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