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Home » Ten Thousand Set Short Review | Training Shorts for the Pool?

Ten Thousand Set Short Review | Training Shorts for the Pool?

Ten Thousand offers a variety of shorts for various training scenarios and the Set Short is their amphibious pro-line short model. This model is marketed as their most “amphibious” training short, which basically means they’re training and swimming hybrid designed for dryland and pool sessions.

To be honest, I was skeptical of this model when I first started wearing them. I’m a big fan of the Foundation and Interval Short and have actually worn the Interval Short to the pool and beach on multiple occasions. My question was, is the more pricey short really worth it when the Interval Short works for water training.

In this Ten Thousand Set Short review, we’re going to that question and so much more. Some of the Set Short topics we’ll be discussing include:

For my visual friends, check out my Ten Thousand Set Short review video below.

 

Who Should Buy the Ten Thousand Set Short

Honestly, I think most guys could benefit from having a Ten Thousand Set Short on hand. This model performs similarly to the Interval Short in the gym, AKA it’s highly versatile and mobile, but it really does deliver in aquatic settings.

What I like most is that the Set Short never really starts to stink from chlorine. Even after three uses with no wash (I know, kind of gross) in the pool, they’re still relatively stink-less. It’s also nice not having to think about buying a pair of swim shorts, too, as you can just rock these whenever you plan to swim.

Ten Thousand Set Short

$72

Ten Thousand Set Short
4.8
Versatility
4.9
Durability
4.6
Quality
4.7

Best For

  • Versatile Training
  • Swimming
  • Shorter Runs
  • Day-to-Day Wear

Falls Short

  • For Cost-Efficiency

 

Ten Thousand Set Short Pros

Overall, I’ve found three pros that I really like about the Ten Thousand Set Shorts.

  1. Super Secure Pocket System
  2. Highly Mobile
  3. Limited Odor from Chlorine
  4. Solid Waistband Construction

The first characteristic that I noticed and liked about the Ten Thousand Set Shorts is their pocket system. There’s a zipper on both the right and left sides of this pair of shorts, and there’s an additional rear pocket. This makes them a great option for swimming (obviously!) and day-to-day wear when keeping your valuables safe.

Another pro about the Set Shorts is how mobile they are. They have a 6.5″ inseam which gives you a lot of range when it comes to limiting material bunching throughout various ranges of motion. Plus, their shell has a 4-way stretch and its weight sits around 142 GSM.

Ten Thousand Set Short Review

For my swimming friends, I think you’ll also like how odor repellent this pair of shorts is especially in chlorine swim settings. I purposely didn’t wash mine after five times in the pool and they have yet to have a very strong chlorine odor. Personally, I think this is big for anyone who is on the go and stores their shorts away in a gym bag.

The final aspect that I like about the Set Short is the waistband construction. The waistband walks a good line between being thicker and also minimalist in nature. Additionally, I like how the drawstring is on the inside of the waistband to prevent coming easily untied.

Ten Thousand Set Short Cons

To be honest, I haven’t found any cons with performance in the Set Short, however, there are two drawbacks I could see others having.

  1. Price
  2. Sizing

The first drawback is the price of the Set Short. This short comes in at $72 USD, which is far from cost-efficient for anyone on a tight budget. I’d suggest looking at the Ten Thousand Interval Short (the price difference is small though).

Another potential drawback is the sizing of this short. In the Session, Foundation, and Interval Short, I wear a size medium and ordered a medium in the Set Short. Unfortunately, this size was way too tight on me and I had to go up to large. I’ll go over my measurements and detail on this in the sizing and fit section below.

Ten Thousand Set Short Performance

Across the board, I’ve really enjoyed training the Set Short and I’m going to break their performance into lifting, versatile training, and day-to-day/shorter run sections below.

Ten Thousand Set Short Performance Review

Lifting

From a lifting point of view, the Set Short feels super similar to the Interval Short. This short is highly versatile and mobile which makes it a great option for most styles of lifting. The shell isn’t as heavy and thick as the Foundation Short, but I think for most guys the shell will be plenty durable and thick.

I really enjoy how the Set Short shell is light and never really gets hung up on the thighs when going into deep hip flexion. The pockets are also solid for the lifter that keeps their phone in their pocket when hitting some recreational training sessions.

Versatile Training

The star player with the Set Short is by far its versatility. Ten Thousand markets this as a hybrid short model for tackling swim and dryland sessions, and I thought this pair of shorts stood true to this. In the pool, the shell feels lightweight and doesn’t get hung up, and in dryland sessions, they’re versatile enough for most tasks.

I think if you’re someone that prides themselves on varied training and wants a short to match these needs, then the Set Short is a good option for you.

Day-to-Day/Shorter Runs

On a day-to-day basis, I like their pair of shorts for two key reasons. First, they’re comfortable and lightweight so they feel easy to wear all day. Second, their pocket system is really good for storing your wallet, keys, phone, etc. if you’re out and about running errands.

For shorter runs, this model does pretty well. It feels eerily similar to the Interval Short, but I do actually kind of like the Interval or Session Short’s waistband better for this activity.

Sizing and Fit

In the Set Short, I have to wear a size large because the medium is too tight, in my opinion. In the Foundation, Interval, and Session Short I wear a medium, but in the Tactical and Set Short, large is the play.

Ten Thousand Set Short Sizing and Fit

Ten Thousand Set Short | Large

My dimensions can be found below and if you want to see my sizing and fit in real-time, then skip to 5:56 in the video above. Also, check out my dimensions below to scale your sizing accordingly!

  • Waist: 33″
  • Hip Width: 38″
  • Mid-Thigh: 23.5″
  • Height: 6′ 0″

Construction Specs

If you’re interested in the construction specs for the Ten Thousand Set Short, I’m going to include the features that Ten Thousand provides on their site below.

  • Water repellant and quick drying
  • Chlorine and salt water resistant for long-term durability
  • Ultralight and minimal waistband for low profile in water
  • Four-way stretch shell for max range of motion
  • Anti-odor, medium compression liner
  • 6.5” inseam for mobility
  • Perfect pocket system for secure storage
  • Lightweight and breathable for comfort through every session
  • Bonded hems for no-bulk, lightweight performance
  • 142 GSM, 85% Nylon, 15% Spandex

Price

For the Ten Thousand Set Short, you can expect to pay $72 USD. This is far from a cost-efficient model, however, I do think if you’re a hybrid style athlete, then the price point could be worth it.

Personally, I think of this pair of shorts as an investment since I wear them for so much and I’m likely not buying multiple pairs anytime soon.

Ten Thousand Session Short (1)
Ten Thousand Foundation Short
Ten Thousand Interval Short (2)
Ten Thousand Set Short
Ten Thousand Tactical Short
Overall TF2 Score
4.4
4.5
4.8
4.8
4.7
Versatility
Versatility
4.4
Versatility
4.4
Versatility
4.8
Versatility
4.9
Versatility
4.7
Quality
Quality
4.4
Quality
4.5
Quality
4.7
Quality
4.7
Quality
4.7
Price$68$68$68$72$74
Best For
  • Cardio Training
  • Long Outdoor Sessions
  • Agility Workouts
  • Barbell Training
  • Day-to-Day Wear
  • Tough Gym Sessions
  • Shorter/Mid-Range Runs
  • Recreational Lifting
  • Agility Workouts
  • Classes
  • CrossFit
  • Versatile Training
  • Swimming
  • Shorter Runs
  • Day-to-Day Wear
  • Outdoor Training
  • Barbell Training
  • Rucking and Hiking
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Wrapping Up

The Ten Thousand Set Short is quickly gaining steam as my favorite pair of training shorts. I was skeptical at first at this model’s versatility since I am a diehard fan of the Interval Short, but thus far, the Set Short has performed really in every activity I’ve thrown their way.

I think a subtle perk of the Set Short is also how well it does in water settings and I’ll likely never be buying another pair of swim trunks again.

I buy and test the products featured on That Fit Friend using a regimen of training tests that I’ve developed over years of testing training shoes and gear. I may earn commissions on sales made through the links on my site.

nv-author-image

Jake Boly

I've been in the fitness and strength training industry for nearly a decade. In that time, I've trained hundreds of clients, written thousands of articles, reviewed over 100+ pairs of training shoes, and have produced a large list of training videos. I live and breathe fitness and training gear, and I think it's important that reviewers walk the walk with the gear they're testing. As for my educational background, I have my Masters in Sports Science, Bachelors in Exercise Science, and have my CSCS.

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