PATH Projects Graves PX Shorts Review: Great for Running?

Who Should Buy These Shorts (and Liner)?

• My running-focused friends. The shorts are specifically designed and cut with runners in mind. An exaggerated break in the side seam and a lightweight material make for a breezy pair of shorts. And the liner isn’t stuffy either, it’s made from a very breathable fabric that has a nice stretch and plenty of ventilation for those hot days and long runs.
• Hybrid athletes. These shorts can be a solid do-it-all option. They transition well from strength training to running. Some training examples where they’ve worked great. Going straight from the air conditioned gym to a long outdoors run. A dynamic cross-training day to running intervals on the Assault Runner.
• My guys who want to take their phone with to train. Most shorts offer a secure phone pocket that’s always a couple of generations out of date. They seem built for something small, like a phone from 2010 that fits in the palm of your hand. Something small that fits in the palm of your hand. It takes expert-level maneuvering to fit your phone into one of those small pockets, which can lead to ripping with lighter materials.

Who Shouldn’t Buy These?

• Budget shoppers. Separately, the shorts and liner aren’t that bad. It’s only when you follow PATH’s suggestion and pair them together that it becomes a bit more burdensome on your wallet. Buying a pair of shorts and a liner to go with them will easily run you $90+ which puts them squarely in the premium category of performance wear.
• My guys with tree trunks for legs. Remember earlier when I said it felt like they were designed with runners in mind? It’s a hindrance here if you’re a bigger dude with thicc thighs that save lives. The normal cut of these shorts don’t leave you a lot of room to breathe through the glutes and quads. PATH does make a relaxed fit version that has a bit more room through the leg which would be worth checking out if you fall into this category, but even then, you may need more.

• All you liners-built-into-shorts die hards. If you hate having to deal with separate shorts and compression liners, these aren’t going to be the shorts for you. Check out Ten Thousand’s Interval short or Lululemon’s Pace Breaker for something more performance-driven with a built-in liner.

Fit and Sizing Suggestions

My Measurements:

• Height: 6′ 0″
• Weight: 178-181 lbs
• Waist: 32-33″
• Hip (circumference around butt): 40″
• Mid-Thigh: 23.5″-24″

I tested the Graves PX short with a 5” inseam, and I bought a Tahoe CL 8” inseam liner. Everything fit pretty true to size, and I followed PATH Project’s sizing recommendations to a tee.

The normal fit version of the 5” Graves PF were snug. I hardly had any room in the legs. These may work if you’ve got leaner quads or glutes, but for me, they were too snug for comfort.

The relaxed fit version of the 5” shorts fit way better. These really gave me the space I needed to squat and move with ease and comfort, while still maintaining a fitting silhouette.

The 8” liner is admittedly longer than I usually prefer, but it’s all they had in stock when I ordered them. I was able to hike them up a bit and still be comfortable. I’d recommend staying true to size across all versions and sizing your liner to match up with your short’s inseam for a more seamless pairing.

Materials and Care Suggestions

Material Breakdown and Specs (from Path Projects’)

• Toray Prime Flex fabric 100% polyester
• PFAS-free water resistant finish
• 3 YKK secure zip pockets.
• The center back pocket accommodates phone sizes up to 5.78 inches x 2.82 inches (147mm x 72mm)
• Front hand pockets

• Internal front right key pocket
• Tripure elastic waistband
• Exterior draw cord
• Body mapped performance fit
• Soft touch stitching
• Reflective logos.
• Primeflex™ fabric
• Fabric is Bluesign certified

How I Wash Mine: For this pairing of shorts and liner, I’ve made a point to wash them on delicates and cold, then I’ll let them air dry. I do this with most of my gym gear that comes with a hefty price tag these days. In my opinion, if you want these to last as long as possible, this is a safe bet. You can also reach out to Path Projects for their care recommendations as well.

Performance Breakdown

Lifting: 8/10

These shorts performed admirably in the gym. The liner gave just the right amount of compression that I felt supported through all my lower body work without feeling restrictive. And the shorts, for being as lightweight as they are, never once felt flimsy or out of place.

Everything leg day felt great in these. Squats, lunges, machine work, RDLs. All of those movements felt smooth and easy. The shorts rode up just a bit during squats and lunges, and because they are so lightweight, they didn’t immediately fall back into place, but the liner stayed true and never bunched up on me. The relaxed fit version didn’t ride up as much, but it was still noticeable.

If you tend to focus more on Olympic lifts and are going to subject your shorts to more abusive barbell rub, there may be more durable options out there that are heavier weight and will hold up better over time. For most of you though, if you’re focused on general strength and hypertrophy training, these are a great option.

Cross-Training: 8/10

This is where the shorts and liner combo really started to show their worth outside of pure running. They’re lightweight and dynamic, and the waistbands sit comfortably flush to the body without moving around.

Making those transitions from athletic style movements like jumps and agility drills, to strength movements, to cardio and conditioning is a breeze. Literally, thanks to how breathable these are.

Running: 8.5/10

This is where PATH Projects really shines. You can tell this is what these shorts were made for. The Graves PF shell wicks sweat like a champ and dries ridiculously fast. Combined with the breathable mesh of the liner, you get a pairing that keeps you cool and keeps your precious bits supported through everything from 400 meter repeats to 5Ks and beyond. The 8” liner definitely felt long at first, but it’s not restrictive at all. The shorts and liner combo straight up deliver.

Daily Wear: 7/10

Because of the clean silhouette and minimalist branding, the Graves PF shorts work for everything from early morning coffee runs to lunch dates to training sessions to longer weekend runs. They don’t scream “running shorts” or “training shorts” and that’s a good thing.

The drawstring sits flat and the outer shell doesn’t cling or sag over the liner. The waistbands layer like they were purposely made to (I mean, they were). The only quirk is that with the shorter 5” version, the pocket linings can poke out slightly when sitting, so I’m not knocking their daily wearability due to storage issues.

Final Thoughts: Would I Buy Again?

I’m really glad someone from the TFF community pointed me toward PATH Projects. Truly, thank you.

These shorts have carved out a spot in my weekly rotation and shattered everything I thought I knew about shorts, liners, and how they have to be built. The PATH shorts really are some of the best I’ve tested for training and running in all climates. 

I never thought I’d ditch built-in liners, but PATH changed my mind.

Yes, the price adds up once you bundle the shell and liner, and the normal vs relaxed fit can be tricky if you don’t buy accordingly. But when you nail the combo, it is a premium pairing that performs across the board and feels great all day long.

If you’ve been stuck in the built-in liner mindset like I was, the Graves PF + Tahoe liner combo is 100% worth a test run. They may just convert you too.