Comprehensive Short Review: Tough Mode Women’s 3″ Short
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I find it challenging to find spandex workout shorts that are comfortable AND affordable. I’m on a pretty tight budget when it comes to buying new workout clothes so I’m always on the lookout to find pieces with the biggest bang for my buck.
In this series, I’m going to cover all different kinds of spandex shorts for CrossFit and the gym. Each review will consist of the following categories: material, sizing, fit, ride up ability, camel toe, sweat proof, squat proof, comfort, quality, and value. I will hold nothing back in these reviews. Be prepared for my full, honest opinion!
Tough Mode Women’s 3″ Short
These shorts are found on Amazon and have an average rating of 4.3/5. The best part is they’re under $20 per pair. Is this too good to be true??
They offer two styles of shorts: solid colors and patterns. This review will be broken up into two sections based on those styles. The materials differ slightly between the solid colors and patterns. I find it necessary to go into detail about both.
For reference, I am 5’2″ and around 125 lbs.
Solid Colors
Price: $15.99
Material: 85% Nylon/15% Spandex
Sizing: XS through XL
Fit: Runs true to size
Please ignore the chalk on these 🙂 I wore them earlier this week and didn’t have a chance to wash them before photographing them…
Ride Up Ability: I do find that these ride up A LOT. I don’t know if I got the wrong size, but if I have to run in them, my butt cheeks like to make an appearance so I’m constantly pulling them down. I’m tempted to run a bead of silicone around the bottom seam to help them stay in place a bit better.
Camel Toe: None. I could see some camel toe developing if the shorts are too small.
Sweat Proof: No. Showing sweat is not a big deal to me, but if it is to you, I’d opt for the darker colors or patterns.
Squat Proof: 100% yes. Squat, snatch, clean, and deadlift to your heart’s desire because your butt will not be on display to the rest of the world.
Comfort: SUPER comfortable. They feel like a second skin. I would wear them all day every day if I had enough pairs.
Quality: 9/10. Material is on the thinner side but still remains squat-proof.
Are they worth the money: Yes, yes, yes.
RELATED: Amazon Activewear Review
Patterns
Price: $20.99
Material: Thicker fabric than the solids. I think it’s 85% Nylon/15% Spandex
Sizing: XS through XL
Fit: Runs a tad bit small. Recommend sizing up. I usually wear a small in bottoms but I sized up to a medium. They fit great around the thighs but there is a slight gap in the waist due to sizing up.
Ride Up Ability: The patterns don’t ride up as much as the solid colors probably due to them being a bit of a different fabric. I’m still tempted to run a bead of silicone around the hem to help with them riding up.
Camel Toe: None. I could see some camel toe developing if the shorts are too small.
Sweat Proof: Yes. The patterns do a great job at masking sweat.
Squat Proof: 100% yes. Squat, snatch, clean, and deadlift to your heart’s desire because your butt will not be on display to the rest of the world.
Comfort: Very comfy but not as comfy as the solid colors. The material on these is a tad thicker which makes them feel a little less like a second skin. Still SUPER comfy.
Quality: 9/10. Stitching is very secure and the fabric is very nice quality.
Are they worth the money: Yes, yes, yes.
Final Thoughts
I think these shorts are a great, affordable option for people looking for CrossFit shorts or general spandex workout shorts. I am 100% going to be purchasing many more pairs of these shorts. I love how the fun prints can easily brighten up a workout outfit, and the solid colors are a great staple option for those days where I’m not feeling as peppy.
If you’re in the market for some new spandex shorts, I highly recommend these. They have a 30-day free return policy so if you get them and aren’t in love with them, you can easily return them!
I hope you enjoyed this first installment of my comprehensive short review series! I have several other brands on my radar to try out, and I cannot wait to share them with you 🙂
~abigail gray
