Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts Review | Good Cheap Workout Shorts?

Who Should Buy the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts?

If you’re on a budget and want to spend less than $50 USD comfortably, the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts can be a good option. These shorts cost around $24.99, which is awesome for their versatility.

These shorts feature a traditional “jersey-like-like” in their shell with a build composition of 95% polyester and 5% spandex. I haven’t worn shorts with this style of material in a long time, but when I put them on I was instantly taken back.

If you like training shorts that have that slippery feel to them then I could see you enjoying this feature. The compression liner in this short also has what I would describe as a moderate level of compression.

For guys that like flowy shorts with mid-level compression levels, then you’ll resonate with this short’s construction and build. Performance-wise, these shorts do a pretty good job in most training settings.

If you want cheap shorts for lifting, cross-training, and some light running and resonate with the above, then the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts can be a good option to look into.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts?

As the saying goes, “You get what you pay,” and I find that to be true with the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts. To elaborate further here, there are two contexts in which I think some guys will want to pass on these shorts.

First, these shorts stretch out pretty easily and if you’re like me and like wearing your shorts for multiple sessions before cleaning them, then you may have an issue with this. Also, it’s not as gross as it sounds — okay?

I found the liner and shell to stretch out and lose some of their compression and tenacity. This annoyed me when doing squats, cleans, and plyometrics because the security would be variable which results in different fits.

Second, these shorts are not the most “subtle” when it comes to hiding the goods when doing things like squats. This might be TMI, but I think the lighter shell and longer liner conflict a little and when hitting deep squats you could pretty easily see my goods.

Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts Pros

Across my testing process with the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts, I found a few things to enjoy with these shorts.

1. Good Shorts for Long Liner Lovers
2. Decent Performance for Casual Training
3. Great Price Point for Their Performance

In the world of training shorts, some have built-in liners (like me), and those who love linerless shorts use their compression liner. If you’re someone who loves built-in liners, then I think these shorts can be a good option.

More specifically, if you like longer compression liners that have a decent level of compression, then you’ll resonate with these shorts. The liner extends past the shell in these shorts and isn’t overly restrictive and limiting.

These shorts have more tightness than the brief in something like the Vuori Kore Short but less compression than shorts like the TT Interval Short so it’s a good middle ground regarding tightness. 

The second thing to like about the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts is that they do a pretty good job in the gym for lifting, cross-training, and short runs. For most of my workouts, I’ve enjoyed my experiences in the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts.

They have enough stretch for most lifting contexts, and I never felt limited by their stretch or fit when tackling squats, catching cleans at the bottom of a squat, and doing things like split squats.

I also like their performance in cross-training sessions. For full-body workouts, these shorts breathe pretty well, and their waistband security is good enough for multi-directional exercises, jumping, and short runs.

The last thing, and arguably the most obvious thing to like about the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts, is their price point. These shorts’ price is what originally caught my eye and drove me to buy a pair of these shorts.

For $24.99 USD, these shorts are one of the most budget-friendly pairs of shorts that I’ve ever worn and trained in that tick a lot of the construction asks I like a built-in liner, pockets, and a moderate level of stretch to them.

Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts Cons

Despite being a moderate performer in most of my training tests, I did find a few cons and things to consider before buying the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts.

1. Material Stretches Quickly
2. Zipper Pockets Aren’t the Most Durable
3. Not the Best for Hiding the Goods

The first drawback that I have with the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts, which I touched on above, is that these will not be the best shorts that maintain their stretch and elasticity well.

To shed some light here, I like training shorts that maintain their “snap” of material when training and these shorts don’t really deliver there. After single workouts, I already notice the liner stretching and losing its form and the shell then follows suit.

This is likely due to the blend of materials that make up these shorts. I don’t think this will necessarily bother every guy, but for my friends who like shorts that maintain their stretch and snappiness then I could see this also bothering you.

Another knock that I have with these shorts is that their zippers can be a little dodgy regarding long-term durability. This is an issue that I constantly find with budget-friendly apparel, and that’s that quality can vary widely.

I haven’t had issues with my zippers yet, but it’s the quality of them that gives me pause. You can tell that the zippers are pretty cheap and the anchoring material around them is a little flimsy as well. This is something to consider if you normally run into pocket issues with other shorts.

My final knock against the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts is that these will NOT be the shorts that will keep things subtle when hitting deep hip flexion. As noted above, I think this is due to the lighter material used in these shorts and how it hugs the front a ton when squatting.

If you’re someone who constantly has to navigate male “cameltoe” (yes, I’m making that up on the spot), then you’ll either want to grab a darker colorway or opt for different shorts. I regret buying the Olive colorway, to be honest.

Performance Assessment

To break down the performance of the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts, I’ll discuss and share my experiences with these shorts when lifting, doing cross-training sessions, tackling short runs, and rocking them for daily wear.

Testing the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts for Lifting

For lifting, I’ve enjoyed the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts for the most part. The good that comes with these shorts is that they’re lightweight and have a good level of breathability.

I don’t think you’ll experience any mobility-related limitations in these shorts, but I’ve enjoyed how comfortable they have been. The mesh shell is wispy and the liner does a good job of locking things down.

The waistband security is also pretty solid in these shorts and I never had issues with it moving or getting pulled down when doing deep hip hinges for things like Romanian deadlifts.

My gripes with these shorts for lifting are that if you’re going hard in these shorts and squatting a ton or needing shorts for CrossFit, then you may run into issues around durability and how these shorts fit.

The stitching in these shorts is just okay, so I’d recommend keeping your lifts a little more casual if you plan to buy these shorts for training. For example, if you plan to use them for bodybuilding and recreational lifting, then you’ll get more out of them.

Testing the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts for Cross-Training

In the context of cross-training, the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts do an okay job. I think if you want a short for sessions where you’re blending circuit-style training and some HIIT here and there, then you’ll like these shorts.

The lightweight build of these shorts is a perk for these training settings and the liner never feels overly tight and restrictive. I’ll also pull up the liner a bit when cross-training in these shorts to prevent it from moving when jumping and doing agility-style training.

Another perk of these shorts for cross-training is that the shell never gets hung up on the thighs. A massive pet peeve of mine with shorts in this training context is when I have to constantly pull them down due to them getting hung up on the thighs.

Despite having zipper pockets, I don’t think you’ll want to stash your phone in these shorts when cross-training. The laxness of the material that anchors the zipper could be an issue for long-term zipper durability, in my opinion, especially with larger phones.

I’m also not the biggest fan of how fast these shorts stretch and out and lose form. The liner seems to be the first to give way when doing a lot of jumping and dynamic work then the shell follows suit.

Testing the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts for Short Runs and Daily Wear

For short runs, the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts are what you’d expect from a $24.99 short. They’ll be okay for guys wanting to use them for 1-3 miles here and there or for hybrid workouts.

However, for long runs, you might want to pass on these shorts. They’re marketed as “2-in-1” but the compression liner phone pocket isn’t the best for phone security during longer sessions and they feel “meh” regarding their weight compared to true running shorts.

In the context of daily wear, these shorts are also sub-par. To be honest, I don’t think they’re the best-looking gym shorts on the market for casual use and I don’t wear mine in this setting.

The pockets aren’t the best, the shell looks too “gymmy”, and the longer liner can look a little weird for day-to-day use. Note, those are just my subjective appearance opinions and you may feel differently regarding how these shorts look.

Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts Sizing

The sizing of the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts should run true to size for most guys, in my opinion. With budget-friendly training shorts, I’ve often found that sizing can be all over the place, but I didn’t find that to be the case with these shorts.

My waist sits between 32-33″ and I opted for the Medium shorts that are suggested for 30-32″ waists and they fit exceptionally well. I don’t think these will be training shorts you have to size up in.

Plus, if you size up then I could see the quicker stretching issue of these shorts being even more problematic or off-putting. Below, I’m going to provide some of my dimensions so you can cross-reference how these shorts fit on my body and how they might fit on yours.

• Height: 6′ 0″
• Weight: 179 lbs
• Waist: 32″
• Hip (circumference around butt): 40″
• Mid-Thigh: 23.5″-24″

For the most part, I’ve been happy with the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts and how they fit my body. These shorts should work for guys with thinner to more muscular legs so if you have thick thighs and glutes you shouldn’t feel limited in these.

If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts, drop a comment below and I can help you out accordingly.

Price Breakdown

For the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts, you can expect to pay around $24.99 USD. From what I can tell, these shorts are only sold through Amazon and they’re some of the more budget-friendly shorts I’ve found that have a built-in liner and zipper pockets.

On that note, I think if you’re someone that doesn’t normally wear workout shorts with a compression liner, then these could be an adequate “try-out option” to buy and dip your toes in.

I also think these shorts have good value for the guy that wants workout shorts for more casual lifting and cross-training and plans to only use them for gym use and limit their day-to-day wear.

Compared to more premium training shorts, I think you can tell that these are built on a budget, but for $25 USD, they’re not too bad and I’ve been impressed with them for the most part keeping that in mind.

Construction Details

If you’re looking for workout shorts with a lot of tech, the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts won’t be your shorts. These shorts are relatively simple with their build and features.

• Inseam Options: 7”
• Sizes Available: S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL
• Built-In Liner: Yes
• Shell: 95% Polyester, 5% Spandex
• Liner: 90% Polyester, 10% Spandex
• Drawstring Waistband
• Left/Right Front Zipper Pockets
• Posterior Zipper Pocket
• Compression Liner Phone Pocket

If you have additional construction-related questions about the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts, drop a comment below.

Takeaway Thoughts

At the end of the day, the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts impressed me for $24.99 USD. When reviewing shorts at this price, I try to keep in mind that they’re not going to necessarily have the latest and greatest tech.

It’s fun comparing them to premium pairs to see their nuances and where they realistically excel and fall short. These shorts should work well for guys needing something for lifting and casual cross-training workouts.

If you have additional questions about the Leidowei 2-In-1 Gym Shorts, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).