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The Ten Thousand Concept Comp Short is designed with CrossFit athletes, obstacle course racers, and competitive athletes from all walks of life in mind. This short features a longer compression liner and lightweight shell construction.
As someone who heavily uses the TT Interval for training I was curious how the Comp Short would compare. It has a higher price point, so I was most curious if the quality of these shorts delivers for its price.
Overall, I like the Comp Short and I think it’s a unique short. They’re not going to be shorts that work for everyone, but for those that align with them, then I could see them as being great men’s gym shorts for training settings like CrossFit.
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Who Should Invest In the Ten Thousand Comp Short?
The Ten Thousand Comp Short will be a good short for the guy that wants a training short for CrossFit, cross-training, athletic-style training, and obstacle course racing. For these contexts, this short performs really well.
Outside of these use cases, the Ten Thousand Comp Short will also be best for guys that place a heavy emphasis on using training shorts with built-in liners. The 8.25-inch compression liner in these shorts does a good job with security.
I also enjoyed how the liner didn’t slide when training due to the stay-put gripper hem, which is great for guys that find they have to constantly adjust their liners. However, this feature can be both a good and bad thing depending on your preferences and I’ll discuss that in my cons below.
At the end of the day, if you like shorts that have good mobility and work well in versatile training sessions, then I think you’ll enjoy the Comp Short. This is the type of training short that I would save for competition or specific training settings as this short’s features are pretty specific in nature.
This short feels like a more built-out Interval Short regarding its niche features and would be a good option for guys with specific short asks that normal training shorts don’t deliver.
Who Should Pass On the Ten Thousand Comp Short?
Despite liking the Comp Short, I don’t think it’s a “must-have” training short by any means. For starters, they have a higher price point sitting at $78 USD so if that’s a stretch for you for one pair of shorts, then I’d look into models that better align with your budget.
These shorts perform well, but they’re not worth breaking the bank for, in my opinion. In addition, if you’re a guy that prides himself on wearing his own compression liner, then you’ll also want to pass on these shorts.
The longer liner in these training shorts is somewhat the star player and if you’re not typically a fan of built-in compression liners, then this should be the last training short you consider.
Ten Thousand Comp Short Pros
Over the course of my training and testing with the Ten Thousand Comp Short, I’ve found a few things to really enjoy with these shorts.
- These Work Well for Those That Love Built-In Liners
- Good Short for CrossFit, Lifting, and Versatile Settings
- Shell Is Mobile and Breathes Well
The first aspect to like about the Ten Thousand Comp Short is that I think this short is going to hit for those that love built-in compression liners. I know some guys who love longer liners, and if that’s you, then I think you’ll like this short a lot.
The 5-inch inseam with the 8.25-inch liner feels like a good blend of lengths to not hinder performance while also providing a nice level of security. I also like that the liner in these shorts has a built-in phone pocket and that they hug the legs well.
Whether I was squatting, jumping, or doing a short run, I never really had issues with having to adjust the compression liner in these shorts. Plus, the liner hugs well without suffocating more legs with a little more muscle on them which I really appreciate.
The second aspect to like about the Ten Thousand Comp Short is its performance for CrossFit, lifting, and versatile training. This short is designed to support CrossFit workouts and things like obstacle course racing.
I think this short delivers on these styles of workouts due to its blend of security and mobility. When doing things like deep front squats, I like that the shell never rode up in these and that they do protect the legs a bit when doing cleans.
For anyone not happy with their current training shorts for these settings, or for anyone who finds their liner falling short whether that’s a separate liner or built-in liner, then the Comp Short may be worth looking into.
The final thing to like about the Ten Thousand Comp Short is its shell construction. This short features a 4-way stretch shell that has a nice level of mobility to it and it shouldn’t get hung up on the thighs too much when training.
On top of the shell construction, I also appreciate the anti-odor tech in these shorts because I’m definitely the guy that wears his shorts for a few sessions before cleaning them. If you’re similar, then I also think you’ll like this construction detail.
Ten Thousand Comp Short Cons
The Ten Thousand Comp Short has been pretty strong performing short for the most part. However, there are a few cons to note about these shorts before investing in them.
- Waistband Can Lose Its Shape
- Compression Liner Can Be Polarizing
- The Price Is Pretty High for These Shorts
The first aspect that I’d definitely keep an eye on with the Ten Thousand Comp Short is their waistband construction. This short’s waistband is similar to the Ten Thousand Interval Short and it can be problematic at times.
To expand on this, the Interval Short’s waistband can sometimes feel awkward because the internal construction can get shifted around. In addition, the drawstring can also get shifted which takes away from the waistband’s ability to lay fully flat on the waist.
I would highly suggest trying to wash and care for these per Ten Thousand’s recommendations to prevent this as this can play a huge role in the short’s waistband longevity and security.
The second thing that I could see bothering others with the Comp Short is its compression liner. In this short, you have a longer 8.25-inch liner which is nice for those who love liners, but it’s a liner that I think will be hit or miss for some guys.
For example, I’m not always the biggest fan of the Ten Thousand compression liners because of their rubber internal hemming. I like it some days, but then others, I find myself missing how traditional liners feel without the rubber pulling on my skin.
The liner is awesome for security, but I do want it known that it’s a liner that’s not going to be for everyone. I think if you traditionally liner training shorts without built-in liners, then you’ll want to avoid investing in this short.
The last drawback of this short is its higher price point. At a price of $78 USD, this is far from a cost-efficient training short. If you’re on the fence about these already because of the price and you’re not specific with your training, then I think you can find comparable training shorts for less.
Performance Breakdown
To break down the performance of the Ten Thousand Comp Short, I’ll cover how these shorts perform in a variety of training contexts. I’ll discuss their performance with lifting, CrossFit, versatile training, and running.
Since these shorts have a higher price point, it’s important to ensure their performance matches your training needs and wants.
Testing the Ten Thousand Comp Short for Lifting and CrossFit
When it comes to lifting and CrossFit, I thought the Ten Thousand Comp Short performed pretty well for three key reasons. First, these shorts have a nice level of mobility to them and they never feel limiting in nature when doing deep squats or other leg movements.
Typically, I’m not the biggest fan of 5″ inseam shorts for leg days, but the longer compression liner gives the Comp Short a nice edge for strength training without having your inseam ride up too much.
The second reason why I enjoyed these shorts for these training contexts is their liner security. If you love built-in liners with your training shorts, then you’ll resonate with this model as the liner never needs a ton of adjusting and it hugs the legs well.
Whether I was rope climbing, squatting, doing box jumps, or doing lower body accessories, I liked how the stay-put gripper hem hugged the legs. I will say when doing cleans, I did have some friction on the liner which caused some rub of the internal rubber hem on my thighs.
The final reason why I like these shorts for that training context is their pocket system. The dual zipper pockets, compression liner pocket, and side pocket are awesome for phone and belongings security, so if you carry your phone or headphone case while training you should be fine with them in your pockets regarding security.
Testing the Ten Thousand Comp Short for Versatile Training
For versatile training, the Ten Thousand Comp Short does a pretty good job across the board. They’re lightweight enough to feel wispy for athletic-style sessions and they never feel limiting for most versatile contexts despite having a longer compression liner.
That being said, I do think this short will be a little polarizing with its fit for some when it comes to things like HIIT workouts and certain cross-training settings.
For example, if you like shorter shorts with shorter liners or brief liners, then you’ll want to avoid these shorts for your versatile workouts. These shorts remind me a lot of the Chubbies Ultimate Training Short which also has a pretty polarizing fit to them.
The rubbery-feeling internal hem on the liner I think will be hit or miss for some and it could cause some discomfort if they’re not used to that style of compression liner.
It’s interesting because I found these shorts to perform well for most of my versatile testing sessions, but I did notice that they definitely have a unique fit and feel which I’m not sure will resonate with everyone, so I want to make that contrast known.
Testing the Ten Thousand Comp Short for Running
When it comes to running, the Ten Thousand Comp Short did a pretty good job. Note, the most I ran in these shorts at one time was five miles as my training doesn’t have a lot of long-distance runs at the moment.
For distances that range from 400m to five miles, I enjoyed the performance of these shorts for the most part. They’re light enough for these running contexts and that’s why I think they’ll excel for things like HYROX and OCR-type distances.
The pockets are also a perk of these shorts for running as they give you options for phone storage which I personally love. I don’t always love putting my phone in the traditional zipper pockets, so having the compression liner pocket is a nice subtle feature.
For long-distance running or runs over five miles, I haven’t been able to test them for that context so my takes are limited there. However, with how heavy these shorts can be, I think most long-distance runners will want to opt for something like the Ten Thousand Distance Short.
Ten Thousand Comp Short Sizing
Regarding sizing in the Ten Thousand Comp Short, I found their waist to fit fairly true and the compression liner walks a good line between offering a snug and supportive fit while not being too loose.
I think if you currently wear the Ten Thousand Interval Short or Tactical Short and your waist is true with the Comp Short’s sizing recommendations, then you’ll be safe going with the same size in the Comp Short. If you’re in-between sizes, then you may want to opt for the large size to ensure the liner doesn’t run too snug on you.
For example, my waist is typically between 32″ and 33″, so I went with a large in the Comp Short. I found the size to be pretty good and the liner was plenty snug, however, the waist was a tad loose. I think if I had gone with the Medium, though, then the liner would have been too snug.
Below, I’ll share my sizing dimension and the shorts that I went with regarding sizing. Once again, in the Comp Short, I went with a Large despite normally wearing a medium in the Interval and Tactical Short.
- Height: 6′ 0″
- Weight: 180 lbs
- Waist: 32-33″
- Inseam: 32″
- Hip (circumference around butt): 40″
- Mid-Thigh: 23.5″-24″
For additional sizing context, the reason I opted for the larger size is that I wanted to ensure the liner wasn’t too snug. An overly tight compression liner can be really frustrating and since that’s such a large part of these shorts, I played it safe and went up.
The waistband does fit a little loose since it’s designed for 33-34″ waists and I’m on the lower end, but if I tighten the drawstring, then this is a non-issue so it’s not the biggest deal since I would rather a slightly large waistband then an overly tight liner.
If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the Ten Thousand Comp Short before you invest, drop a comment below and share what shorts you currently wear in addition to the sizes.
Price Assessment
For the Ten Thousand Comp Short, you can expect to pay $78 USD. This price point is on the higher end for workout shorts and this short is similar in price to other Ten Thousand shorts in the Pro Line-Up.
I think if you align with this short’s unique-performance features like its longer liner with grippy hem construction and shorter inseam, then this short’s price can make more sense.
Additionally, I do think these shorts deliver from a competition-specific point of view and if you rotate them in for competition or peaking cycles, then you could extend their lifespan for the price.
Outside of those contexts, these shorts do have a heftier price point and for the general or recreational lifter and athlete, I think you could find models that perform well for less money if you want to save a little.
Construction Details
There are a lot of unique construction features that come along with the Ten Thousand Comp Short. Below are some of the most important construction details that can influence the Comp Short’s durability, performance, and fit.
- Waist Size Options: XS (27-28″), S (29-30″), M (31-32″), L (33-34″), XL (35-36″), XXL (37-38″)
- Inseam Options: 5″
- Liner Options: Liner Only
- Anti-Odor Treatment
- Pro Pocket System/Phone Pocket On Liner
- 4-Way Stretch Shell
- 8.25-Inch Liner With Gripper Hem
- Internal Drawstring
- Non-Bunch Waistband
- Shell: 86% Polyester / 14% Spandex / 137 GSM
- Liner: 78% Nylon / 22% Elastane
If you have additional questions about the Ten Thousand Comp Short’s construction, drop a comment below and I can help you out accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:Are the Ten Thousand Comp Short good for CrossFit?
Q:Do the Ten Thousand Comp Short work for running?
Q:Do the Ten Thousand Comp Short fit true to size?
Takeaway Thoughts
The Ten Thousand Comp Short delivers a strong performance for athletes that need a short for versatile-focused training sessions. In the context of training shorts, these shorts are much more niche with their construction which can be both good or bad.
If you’re a competitive athlete in the CrossFit, HYROX, and obstacle-coursing realm and you’re wanting a short with a secure liner that you won’t have to adjust mid-workout or competition, then the Comp Short does live up to its name.
For everyone else, especially the guys that are much more general with their training, you can find models with better price points that will perform equally well, so the Ten Thousand Comp Short may not be your best option.
If you have additional questions about the Ten Thousand Comp Short, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).
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