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Vuori offers a variety of diverse performance-focused apparel. The Vuori Banks Short is one of Vuori’s most popular shorts and for good reason.
Similar to Ten Thousand’s Set Short, these shorts are designed to be a land and sea hybrid for the guy who likes to combine both land and water-focused workouts all in one training session.
Being a barbell-focused athlete who does the occasional swim, I wanted to know if you could train hard in the gym with the Vuori Banks Short. The Banks Short is designed with recycled material, so it has an interesting feel to it regarding its texture, stretch, and support.
Vuori Banks Short Summary
The Vuori Banks Short is a good option for the guy who likes to train casually and use the same pair of shorts for swimming — whether that’s formally or casually. I regularly wear my Banks Short for hitting the sauna and ice baths, too — I know, it’s very Austin, TX, of me.
I thought the Vuori Banks Short was awesome for casual wear and versatile training, and it’s one of my preferred options for all-day wear when I plan to run errands, walk the dog, meet friends out, and then hit the gym for a lift or cross-training session.
If you’re on the market for a pair of workout shorts that looks good with most outfits, and can be worn to swim in, and to casually train in, then I think you’ll like the Vuori Banks Short. Plus, Vuori Banks Short’s polyester is made out of recycled material, so in some ways, you’re also helping the environment.
My only real complaint with the Banks Short is that they’re not the best for meatier legs and since they have a hemmed edge they don’t stretch the best. For my big thigh guys, you’ll want to look into something like the Pace Breaker Short.
Banks Short Specs
- How I Wear Mine: Hypertrophy workouts, cross-training, casual wear
- Liner Options: Brief-Only Option
- Inseam Options: 5″, 7.5″
- Pockets: Yes
- Price: $68 (brief liner)
Vuori Banks Short
$68
Pros
- Good training shoe for the guy who needs a short for casual wear and working out.
- This short sizes great for guys with thinner legs with a little less meat on them. Thinner legs will resonate with these.
- The deeper pockets and minimalist branding are all clutch for casual wear and this short dresses up well.
Cons
- Thicker thighs be warned. This short will most likely ride up and it doesn't have the most stretch.
- There's no lined option and if you want a compression liner built in to your shorts these won't be your best pick.
Best For
- Recreational Lifting
- Daily Wear
- Casual Swims
- Lighter Runs and Plyos
Falls Short
- For Maximal Strength Training
- For Cost-Efficiency
Vuori Banks Short Pros
- Great Casual Wear Short
- Good Waistband Construction
- Quick Drying With Deep Pockets
I think one of my favorite aspects of this short is how great it is for casual wear. You can wear this model to train in, swim in, and out and about and it doesn’t look overly like a gym-focused short.
This makes it a good option for the guy who doesn’t want to spend money on a ton of short models and wants that “all-in-one” style of shorts. Another aspect that I like about Vuori Banks Short is the waistband construction.
The waistband is comfortable and lays true on the hips so there are never any issues with material bunching or lack of security. Since this is a sea and land model, a secure and form-fitting waistband is a must for seamless waistband security.
The last two aspects that I like about this short are how quick drying the shell is and how deep the pockets are. The shell on this model is designed with a blend of recycled polyester, polyester, and elastane, so it feels very lightweight and it doesn’t get water-logged or heavy when submerged in water.
To add to the casual wear pro, the deep pockets are also a nice touch. They’re great for holding your phone and wallet, and there’s also a back pocket if you want to use it when rocking these on a day-to-day basis.
Vuori Banks Short Cons
- Shell Can Ride Up
- No Built-In Liner
The first drawback to the Banks Short is that the legs can ride up at times when moving into deep hip flexion. If you have beefier quads, adductors, and glutes, then you might experience this being an issue for you if you plan to train in this short. I would have loved a leg gusset with this short.
I like the scalloped edges at the bottom of the shorts for casual wear, but I do think they limit this short’s ability to stretch when in situations where the legs are pumped. To my big thigh friends, keep this in mind when looking at this model.
Another drawback is the lack of a built-in compression liner. Personally, when I look for hybrid training shorts, it’s nice to have a compression liner built-in. Why is this? I think at times, especially if you want to swim in this short, then other compression liners can hold water for a while.
So despite this shell being quick-drying, a different company’s compression liner might not share this same feature. This means that you’ll have to be strategic with the compression liner you wear under these (if you do wear one) if you plan to swim, so you don’t have mismatched materials.
Vuori Banks Short Performance
Across the board, I like the Vuori Banks Short for a variety of activities. Below are my thoughts on this short’s performance in multiple settings.
Lifting
For lifting, the Vuori Banks Short is okay. It works well for recreational lifting, but I do think it falls a tad short for strength athletes and bodybuilders. Since the legs of the shorts don’t stretch to a high degree, they can ride up at times, and I noticed in my barbell back squats I was constantly pulling my shorts down.
To counter this though, I do like this short for recreational training. The deep pockets are awesome for carrying your phone, keys, etc. while training in commercial gyms. Plus, this model is super comfortable so for more casual training it’s an awesome lightweight pick.
Agility and Plyometrics
If you’re interested in training with these shorts for plyometrics, agility, HIIT, and class workouts, then they’ll work fairly well. They’re lightweight and have an okay amount of stretch to them. Also, I like the security and comfort of the waistband overall and it doesn’t have an issue with coming undone mid-workout.
The only caveat to these shorts with this training is the same issue discussed above, which is the leg riding up. I think if you’re doing any activity with deep hip flexion, you may run into some issues with this model riding up. I experienced this with high knees and box jumps when jumping for height.
Day-to-Day, Swims, and Runs
On a day-to-day basis, I love the Vuori Banks Short. It’s awesome for casual wear breathes well, and if you’re not training hard, then you don’t need a compression liner with them. I’ll wear these out and about and have even worn them for a casual brew with friends and no one pointed out that I had on gym shorts.
In the water, I like these shorts and think their quick-drying feature is awesome. The only caveat is figuring out if you want to wear a compression liner with them. As board shorts, they work well and if you’re going to the beach this model is comfortable and easy to do so with.
For running, this model is okay. It’s not designed to excel for this activity, so if you are an avid or diehard runner, then I would highly suggest looking into running-focused shorts. However, for the casual runner, these shorts are easily good for a few miles.
Vuori Banks Short Sizing
For the Vuori Banks Short, I’m wearing a size medium in the image below. I’m also going to provide my specs and dimensions to hopefully help you scale sizing per your needs.
My Sizing Dimensions
- Waist: 33″
- Hip Width: 38″
- Mid-Thigh: 23.5″
- Height: 6′ 0″
In the image below, I’m wearing a medium Vuori Banks Short!
Hopefully, my sizing dimensions can help you understand how these shorts fit, if you have any specific questions, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally.
Vuori Banks Short Construction
The Vuori Banks Short has a few proprietary construction features that help it excel in its respective activities. Below, I’m going to break down some of the Banks Short’s most important construction features.
- Material: 44% Recycled Polyester, 44% Polyester, 12% Elastane
- Anti-Odor
- Scalloped Leg Openings
- Drawstring Waistband
- 2 Side Pockets, 1 Small Zip Pocket, 1 Back Pocket
- Elastic Waistband
Final Thoughts
For casual wear, training, and swimming, it’s tough to beat the Vuori Banks Short. This short is not the best option for serious strength athletes and those who want a compression liner built-in, but for a guy who wants “all-in-one” casual shorts, then I think you’ll like this model.
If you have any questions about the Vuori Banks Short, feel free to drop a comment below!
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