Ten Thousand FAR Short Review | Best Eco-Friendly Running Short?

The Ten Thousand FAR Short is the third running-focused pair of shorts that Ten Thousand has created. Their first pair of running shorts was the Session Short, which was then followed by the pro line short, the Distance Short.

The FAR Short is different from these two shorts due to its eco-friendly approach to construction.  This short was built with Rich Roll, an elite ultra-endurance athlete. As a fan of the Distance Short, I was curious: is the FAR short actually that different, and is it worth investing in over the Distance Short?

Thus far, the FAR Short has delivered a strong performance on my runs, and I’ve become a big fan of this model due to its eco-friendly approach.

Who Should Invest In the Ten Thousand FAR Short?

The Ten Thousand FAR Short is a strong performer for mid-range and long-distance runs. This model features a super lightweight construction and is made with eco-friendly materials. Personally, I think the eco-friendliness of this short is my favorite aspect of it as it gives this model a much more sustainable position in the world of fast fashion.

For running, this short breathes really well and the brief liner is fairly secure even for those with slightly larger quads, glutes, and hamstrings. Whether you’re a recreational runner or a race-focused athlete, I think you’ll enjoy running and training in the Ten Thousand FAR Short.

The additional pockets on the back are also a nice touch for bringing your belongings with you on your runs. So, for my urban friends, this short is a hit if you have to run with your apartment keys and phone.

FAR Short Pros

Thus far in my testing and training, I’ve found three main pros to like about the Ten Thousand FAR Short that help it excel for running and being eco-friendly.

1. Materials Used Are Eco-Friendly
2. Pockets Are Secure and Well-Thought-Out
3. Short Is Lightweight, Breathable, and Wicks Sweat Well

The first pro with the Ten Thousand FAR Short is their materials used. You can tell that with this short, Roll and Ten Thousand were conscious of the materials being used. In this short, you’re getting a Bluesign and GRS certified recycled fabric and 100% recycled paper hang tags, zipper tape, and cord with 100% bio-based TPU tip.

Additionally, Ten Thousand used other eco-friendly elements in this short which I personally like to see. Ten Thousand would fall into the fast fashion category in mind, so to see them making a short that’s a bit more sustainable in nature is cool to see as product waste continues to be an issue with the apparel industry.

Another pro with the FAR Short is the pocket system. This short features a posterior phone pocket that provides adequate security. I personally always run with a phone for music and for those “just in case” instances and having a secure pocket is a huge plus. I cannot stand when my phone is bouncing around when running especially if it’s only on one side of the short.

I also like that the waistband fits true and that there are additional pockets for money, keys, and other small valuables. This helps provide peace of mind when running with your valuables that you obviously don’t want to backtrack and look for due to them bouncing out of your pockets.

The final perk of the FAR Short is just how lightweight and breathable they are. This short feels super minimalist in nature and for the endurance athlete that loves a 5″ inseam and a lightweight short, then I think you’ll resonate with this short really well. The shell breathes well and the brief liner is also lightweight and secure.

Must Read: Ten Thousand Interval Pant Vs Session Pant | Which Is Better?

To add to the breathability of this short, I also think the sweat-wicking and anti-odor tech are pretty solid in this model. This might be TMI, but I’ve worn my pair of shorts for four sweatier outdoor running sessions and my shorts still don’t stink and that’s girlfriend approved (she wasn’t a fan of this, “Hey babe, can you smell these?” ask for my review).

FAR Short Cons

Despite enjoying the Ten Thousand FAR Short as a whole, I do have two potential drawbacks that could bother other athletes and runners.

1. Price Point of This Short
2. Not the Best for Sprints and Other Forms of Training

The first drawback to the FAR Short is their price point. At a cost of $78 USD, this is far from a cost-efficient pair of running shorts and I think if you’re more recreational with your running, then you could likely find a most cost-effective pair of shorts to tackle your training.

Note, I do think the price point is worth it for the runners who are conscious of the materials used in their training gear, but still, $78 USD for a pair of shorts can be pretty steep.

Another drawback to this pair of shorts is their performance with sprints and other forms of training. Maybe it’s just because of my adductors and glutes, but I found when sprinting in this model the brief liner would ride up from time to time. This meant that I was constantly adjusting during my training session which was frustrating.

I actually have the same problem with my Distance Short and this is why I’ll usually opt for a short with a compression liner when tackling sprint work or other forms of athletic training. I prefer the compression liner’s locked-down feeling and fit.

Outside of sprints, this is not going to be a pair of shorts that you’ll want to wear to the gym or to tackle training that is not endurance-focused. With their lightweight build and construction, I think you’ll get more out of this short’s durability if you keep it to their specificity of performance.

FAR Short Performance

To discuss the running performance of the Ten Thousand FAR Short, I’m going to break down how this short performs for sprints, shorter runs, mid-range runs, and long-distance runs.

Sprints and Short Runs

For sprints, I’m actually not the biggest fan of the FAR Short, and that goes the same for the Distance Short. I’ve ground the brief liner tends to ride up on me when being a bit more ballistic with my movements. This can be pretty annoying, so for sprint-focused work at the track, I’ll typically use my Interval Short because I prefer its compression liner.

On shorter runs, this model excels and the brief doesn’t ride up nearly as much even if you’re doing pick-ups or tempo work. I think if you’re hitting slightly more consistent stride work, then this short works really well and its lightweight build helps it excel for short runs.

Mid-Range Runs

For mid-range runs, I think you’ll enjoy the FAR Short due to its minimalist fit and feel. The perforated posterior portion of the shell adds a nice level of breathability and the waistband sits true so you never really have to adjust it while running.

In addition to the perforated back of the shell, the side slit also provides a nice level of maneuverability and comfort in this short. If you have more muscular legs, then I don’t think you’ll have a problem with chafing in this short when tackling mid-range runs.

Long-Distance Runs

For the long-distance and ultra-endurance-focused athletes, I also think this short will be a hit for you especially if you like 5″ inseam running shorts. The pockets are minimalist so even if you’re tackling longer runs, you can bring your belongings without them feeling heavy and moving a ton.

This is a big reason why I don’t use my Interval Short for longer runs. Stashing my phone in the side pocket can get annoying once my mileage starts to add up. Whether you’re road running or trail running for distance, I think the FAR Short will excel across the board.

FAR Short Sizing

For those interested in the Ten Thousand FAR Short and how they’re sized, I’m going to include my dimensions below along with the size I’m wearing.

In the images below, I’m wearing a medium 5″ FAR Short. Overall, I think this is the most for me with sizing as the large’s waistband was a tad too loose for my liking.

My Sizing Dimensions

• Height: 6′ 0″
• Waist: 33″
• Hip (circumference around butt): 40″
• Mid-Thigh: 24″

I also wear a medium in the Distance short, if you have additional sizing questions, please don’t hesitate to drop a comment below or reach out to me personally and I can assist accordingly.

FAR Short Vs Distance Short

I’ve had a lot of questions about the Ten Thousand Distance Short vs the Ten Thousand FAR Short. Fortunately, the shorts are similar in regard to their overall design and functionality.

Basically, the nuts and bolts of the shorts are pretty similar so you can expect their fit and construction to be pretty parallel. The main differences between these shorts are the materials used, pockets used in each short, and the inseam options.

In the FAR Short, you’re getting eco-friendly and recycled materials used throughout and you only have a 5″ inseam option whereas the Distance Short features normal materials and has a 3″ and 5″ inseam option. The pockets are also better in the FAR Short, in my opinion.

Must Read: Ten Thousand Set Short Vs Tactical Short

Outside of the differences discussed above, these shorts are pretty similar, so either way, I don’t think you can wrong with your short choice.

Price Breakdown

For the Ten Thousand FAR Short, you can expect to pay $78 USD. This price point is certainly higher than other budget-friendly running shorts on the market.

However, I think if you’re an endurance athlete also focused on using more eco-friendly products, then the price can become a bit more justified. Plus, this short performs really well across the board for mid-range and long-distance runs.

 

Construction Details

If you’re interested in the construction of the Ten Thousand FAR Short, I’m going to provide some of the key details for this model below. I’d also suggest checking out Ten Thousand’s product page for a deeper dive into this pair of short’s features.

• Bluesign and GRS certified recycled fabric
• Eco Polygiene Biostatic permanent anti-odor throughout
• Ultralight and wicking waistband
• Secure no bounce center back phone pocket and low profile key pocket built into the waistband
• Perforated back fabric and side slit for enhanced breathability and weight reduction
• Sweat-wicking and quick-drying fabric for comfort and weight reduction
• Brief liner for maximum support while remaining lightweight and out of your way

If you have additional questions about the Ten Thousand FAR Short’s construction, drop a comment below!

 

Takeaway Thoughts

I’ve really enjoyed the Ten Thousand FAR Short for tackling my mid-range and longer runs. This model features a lightweight design with an eye on being an eco-friendly running short option. For sustainability purposes, I really like this short’s construction.

If you have any questions about the FAR Short, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly)!