Top 6 Best Men’s Compression Shorts For CrossFit (2021 Review)

Looking for the best CrossFit compression shorts for men?

In this Athletic Muscle guide, I’ll be covering:

  • What are the different types of compression shorts?
  • What should you look for when buying a compression shorts?
  • What are the benefits of compression shorts during a CrossFit workout?
  • And my top 6 men’s compression shorts for CrossFit

Click here to skip to our top pick

best mens compression shorts for crossfit review
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CompressionZ Men’s Compression Shorts
  • High-Performance Compression Shorts
  • 4-Way Stretch
  • Anti-Odor Material
View on Amazon

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Under Armour Men’s HeatGear Armour Compression Shorts
  • 56% Nylon/40% Polyester/4% Elastane
  • 4-Way Stretch
  • Stretch Mesh Gusset
View on Amazon

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Neleus Men’s Compression Shorts
  • 85% Polyester / 15% spandex
  • Elastic closure
  • Non-Abrasion Fabric Material
View on Amazon

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CW-X Men’s Stabilyx Ventilator Compression Sports Shorts
  • 80% Coolmax/ 20% Lycra
  • 4-Way Stretch
  • Strategic Mesh Panels
View on Amazon

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DEVOPS Men’s Sports Performance Active Compression Shorts
  • 87% Polyester – 13% Spandex
  • 4-Way Stretch
  • Ideal For All Activity
View on Amazon

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TSLA Men’s Compression Shorts
  • Polyester & Spandex Blend
  • Quick Drying
  • Non-Abrasion Fabric Material
View on Amazon

Overall #1 Pick

Updated As of 1/23/2020

CompressionZ Shorts

  • Best Balance Between Price and Value
  • Sanded edges prevents injury
  • Relatively simple assembly

For the number one pick, I had to go with CompressionZ men’s compression short.

Why?

They just have a lock on the athletic undergarment gear. Their shorts consist of anti-odor, anit-bacterial, anti-chafe, anti-complaint compression short.

They are made from a weather-resistant material that wicks sweat to keep you warm during the winter and keeps you cool during the summer.

The quality you get for the price can’t be beat, so It’s clear to see why it’s one of Amazon’s top sellers.

Top 6 Best Men’s Compression Shorts For CrossFit

Check out our below list for a summary of our results. Keep on reading to learn more about your compression shorts options!

  1. CompressionZ Men’s Compression Shorts
  2. Under Armour Men’s HeatGear Armour Compression Shorts
  3. Neleus Men’s Compression Shorts
  4. CW-X Men’s Stabilyx Ventilator Compression Sports Shorts
  5. DEVOPS Men’s Sports Performance Active Compression Shorts
  6. TSLA Men’s Compression Shorts

Do you know what’s better than wearing one pair of shorts? That’s right, it’s two pairs of shorts.

In this Athletic Muscle article were gonna answer all your nagging questions about compression shorts. Surprisingly, theres a lot that goes into these seemingly simple looking undergarments. If you’ve already looked into buying compression shorts you may have found yourself asking.

What exactly are compression shorts? What do compression shorts even do? Can you wear just compression shorts? And possibly the most intriguing question…

Will they make you better at CrossFit? Well, read on my RXing friend and you’ll have all your questions answered.

Read Also: What are the best hand grips for Crossfit?

What are Compression Shorts For CrossFit?

Compression shorts are basically athletic shorts that you wear under your training shorts; a base layer, if you will. That being said, some men may wear just compression shorts if they’re ballsy enough, pun highly intended.

They are generally made from synthetic fabric, like nylon or spandex. These compression shorts apply, you guessed it, compression to your lower body, primarily the quad, glute, and hamstring muscles.

There are some great benefits to wearing these shorts for CrossFit, but we’ll touch on that in a bit.

Should You Wear Compression Shorts For CrossFit?

If you can wear compression shorts, please do; although, I can understand why men shy away from wearing them. But after some intensive research, I may have found the perfect pair of shorts for me.

Read Also: What are the top calf compression sleeves?

There are quite a few advantages to wearing compression shorts for both a training and competition standpoint:

Compression Shorts May Reduce Pain

Studies show that wearing compression shorts can reduce the level of pain both during and after training. This is true either whether you have an existing ache/pain or just overall prevention of any muscle soreness.

This decrease in muscle soreness is great evidence of recovery for the athlete; which is instrumental when it comes to overall performance for the budding CrossFit athlete (If you don’t recover properly, you won’t get any better).

compression shorts crossfit men

Compression Shorts May Help With Recovery

How do compression shorts help with recovery?

Well, that is due to increased blood flow to the fatigued muscles. The increase in blood circulation to the affected muscles allows for optimal muscle lactate removal.

Read Also: What are the best compression socks?

This removal of the lactate build-up allows you to feel less sore/fatigued. Ever hear of the phrase “Look good, feel good”?

Well in CrossFit, “Feel good, perform good” (not grammatically correct, but this isn’t an SAT essay).

So yeah, we covered the benefits of compression shorts when it comes to recovery. But what about the topic a CrossFit athlete cares about? Performance.

Compression Shorts Can Help With Performance

Studies have shown an increase in performance while wearing compression shorts. This is particularly surprising because it isn’t exactly because of the physical advantages of compression shorts but more attributed to the mental benefit of them.

Athletes that wore compression shorts gave a significantly lower RPE (Rating of Perceived Effort) than those that didn’t wear them.

Read Also: What are the best ankle compression socks?

A CrossFit WoD can certainly be a mind game. That is why Dave Castro has such fun posting laughably vague Open WoD workout clues on his Instagram.

Not surprising coming from a former Navy Seal. If you’re unfamiliar with Navy Seal training, please do a quick google search.

It can be beneficial to wear just compression shorts if you’re doing an event with a swimming/water element in them; as seen in the Run-Swim-Run event of the 2017 CrossFit games in Madison.

They’re made from a lightweight, quick-drying fabric, that basically acts as your second skin, and helps prevent chafing, no wonder all the athletes wore them in that event.

What Are The Different Types of Compression Shorts For CrossFit?

There isn’t a large variation in the material of compression shorts. They all typically come in a variation of nylon and spandex, and this will vary depending on how much compression you are looking for in compression shorts. This may surprise you, but men and women tend to vary in body-type, and that is where the differences begin.

Men’s

Men’s compression shorts’ waistband tends to sit just below the waist, and they tend to run a bit longer. The inseam of men’s compression shorts can vary anywhere from just below the hip, all the way to the knee. Personally, I like my compression shorts to be the same length as my underwear, so I find compression shorts that have a boxer brief fit. It really comes down to your own personal preference.

Women’s

Women’s compression shorts waistband tends to be either high waisted or sits just at the waist. The inseam can vary greatly as well. They usually are made to be a trunk or run to just above the knee. These shorts also tend be a bit more stylish and have better designs because women typically workout in just compression shorts.

What Do You Look For When Buying Compression Shorts For CrossFit?

Material

Compression shorts will vary in their synthetic fabrics, and some will have specific benefits over others. Similar to other workout clothing often have a dri-fit, moisture-wicking, antibacterial, anti-odor, etc component. Many of the compression shorts have all of these properties. There are some shorts that also have something called weather gear.

There are basically two types of weather gear: Heatgear or Coldgear.

Basically heatgear helps keep you cool by wicking sweat away from your body to be evaporated from the material, aiding in the cooling process. It also tends to be very breathable, allowing for air flow to occur, also aiding in the cooling process.

And coldgear helps keep you warm. It has a double-layer fabric that wicks sweat away from your body, and then circulates your body heat. It is ideal to wear in weather 55 degrees and below. The combination of keeping sweat away from your body, and insulating your body heat makes it great at keeping you warm during frigid temperatures.

Read Also: What are the top compression shirts for workouts?

I would recommend that you try to stick with the heatgear since coldgear is really only needed for prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Most WoDs are kept under 20 minutes of intense training, so your body temperature is sure to keep you plenty warm.

If for some instance you are training outdoors in the winter months, or live in a frigid environment in general, then the coldgear can be good to have.

Fit

I’ll touch on this briefly since it comes down to personal preference. But the level of compression can vary between brands due to the ratio of the materials used. For instance, you may not like compression shorts with too much compression because you may find it uncomfortable or restricting. You’ll have to figure out what you’re comfortable with.

If you go with a higher compression short, it may feel like you’re squeezing into a glove. There are some benefits with a higher compression short though. They can provide localized blood flow to specific muscles: quads, glutes, and hamstrings. It can also add support for men, to keep your gear in check… if you know what I mean.

If you opt for a lower compression short you’ll still get some of the benefits of the compression, but they won’t be as profound. But you’ll find it to be more comfortable and less restricting to the way you move.

There is a common problem across the board for these compression shorts, and that’s movement or rolling. Rolling is when the shorts roll or bind up on you, particularly the legs of the shorts. There a few factors that play into this.

  1. The Shorts Themselves
    • Generally, the shorts that offer the most flexibility will roll or bunch on you, but It’s also occurred with the higher compression shorts.
  2. The Problem Could Be You?
    • Not everyone is built the same, so you’ll find that some styles, sizes, and materials work well for you and some don’t.

But what to do? You’re gonna have to go through trial and error to find the perfect pair.

Men’s CrossFit Compression Shorts Reviewed

CompressionZ Shorts

  • High-Performance Compression Shorts
  • Boost Endurance and Recovery Time
  • Satisfaction Guaranteed

These breathable shorts are exactly what you need when looking into compression gear. CompressionZ’s is so breathable, you’ll feel like you’re naked, but actually you’ll be fully protected and have your sweat wicked away from your body for maximum comfort while working out.

Their 30mmHg compression technology promotes blood circulation and muscle recovery. And they’ll do this for you without breaking the bank. The perfect pair of compression shorts for weightlifting or metcon training.

Pros

  • Money-Back Guarantee
  • Flatlock Seam
  • Prevent Injury

Cons

  • May be tricky to size correctly

Under Armour Men’s Compression Shorts

  • Lightweight Fabric
  • Stretch Mesh Gusset
  • Great Breathability

Under Armour is practically a staple in the fitness gear industry, and these compression shorts make it apparent as to why. Their tough heatgear fabric maintains all the benefits of the under armour compression.

They recently updated their ergonomic design to keep seams off high abrasion areas to keep the chaffing to a minimum while increasing durability. It’s no wonder Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson decided to team up with UA.

Pros

  • Machine Washable
  • Durable
  • 4-Way Stretch

Cons

  • Have a tendency to ride up
  • Not as much compression as #1 spot

Neleus Men’s Compression Shorts

  • Streamlined
  • Lightweight Fabric
  • All Seasons

The Neleus Pro compression short is great high-quality compression short that acts as a second skin, with its moisture-wicking, quick time dry, and two-way air circulation.

They come in packs of three, a value you can’t beat, especially since they’re on par with bigger name brands like Champion or Nike.

You can wear this lovely pair of shorts all year long, but especially during the open season. It’s a great a compression short that will keep up with you all

Pros

  • Elastic Closure
  • 4-Way stretch fabric
  • Non-abrasion material

Cons

  • Sizing can be an issue
  • Not as much compression as #1 spot

CW-X Men’s Ventilator Compression Shorts

  • Supports the lower abdominals
  • Supports hips and low back
  • Joint Support

These shorts are quite a mouthful, but they have a lot going on with them. They are basically the women’s version of the CW-X compression shorts, but made for men.

The CW-X compression shorts are the future of training shorts. The compression is strategically placed in areas of your legs to offer the most joint support possible.

They also offer an impressive ventilation panel to regulate muscle temperature.

Their patented web technology mimics kinesiology-taping. It is the only compression short that is also made with lycra, which makes is highly resistant to heat.

Pros

  • Increased stability
  • All weather material
  • Efficiency of movement

Cons

  • Durability Issues
  • High compression causes discomfort
  • Sizing may be difficult

DEVOPS Men’s Compression Shorts

  • Tight Fitting
  • UV protection
  • Moisture-wicking material

The DEVOPS men’s compression short offers a higher level of compression than the 2 and 3 top spots, offers UPF 50+ for amazing UV protection for your upper legs, for which I’m sure rarely see the light of day. These training shorts also come in packs of three so the deal is real with DEVOPS.

They also have a pocket perfect for your phone, if you dare to only wear them to a box; which is recommended if you’re dropping in to make a good impression.

Pros

  • Phone Pocket
  • Great Compression
  • Longer than other shorts

Cons

  • They run small

TSLA Men’s Compression Shorts

  • All Season Design
  • Moisture wicking
  • UPF 50+ UV protection

TSLA’s compression shorts made the list due to its low price point, which is great for a crossfitter that spends all their money on FitAids, but that comes at a cost to the quality.

They come in packs of either one or two, at the moment, and they offer a variety of colors, to fit your personal taste. They still over great compression, but there have been issues with some of the quality of the shorts.

Pros

  • Wicks moisture for cooling effect
  • Great elasticity
  • Very durable

Cons

  • Inconsistency with quality

Final Thoughts On Compression Shorts For CrossFit

We’ve done it, we reached the end. As I’m sure you’ve seen by now, many of the pros and cons are similar for each pair of shorts.

That’s due to the fact that there’s only so much these companies are capable of, at this point. The shorts often compromise durability, compression, or comfortability over each other. So what do you when looking for the best compression shorts for you?

Take into account your own personal needs, and what you look for in training shorts. If you’d rather have shorts that don’t move up on you while you’re working out, then you should opt to buy a pair that focuses on compression and durability.

If you would rather be comfortable during a long workout with a lot of dynamic movements, then it would probably be best to go with a compression short that incorporates and gusset stitch and breathable material. That way the shorts can move with you while you’re jumping, running, lifting, or what have you. They may have a tendency to bunch up or ride up as you perform movements though.

You’ll also want to consider your own body-type. All of these brands had at least a few complaints on the sizing or fit of the short, while others toted how well they fit for them.

There is going to be some trial and error when it comes to finding the best compression shorts for you and your training. So keep that in mind when perusing these brands. If one doesn’t fit you well, that doesn’t mean they all won’t.

But once you find a pair that fits you better than Cinderella’s slipper, then I suggest you buy as many of them as you can.