Best Athletic Shorts With Pockets: Blooming Jelly Wins

The best with pockets athletic shorts for beginners are the Blooming Jelly Quick-Dry Running Shorts, because a single side zip pocket, a stretchy spandex-ish liner, and a light 90% polyester build cover almost everything a first pair needs to do. If you want to carry a full-size phone hands-free on longer runs, the CE' CERDR 2-in-1 High Waisted Shorts with four functional pockets is the better buy.

Who this guide is not for

A quick honesty check before the picks. The search phrase says "beginners", but nothing in a product listing tells you a pair is easier for a first-time buyer than the pair next to it. Fabric weight is fabric weight. A zip pocket is a zip pocket. So I am using "beginner-friendly" here to mean something specific and checkable: a pair that does not force early choices about liners, inseam length or pocket layout that a new buyer has not yet formed a view on.

If you already know you want a compression liner, a 3-inch split, or four pockets arranged a certain way, this guide is aimed one step below you. You are shopping the specialist end, and the pair you want is probably the CE' CERDR 2-in-1 rather than the winner.

Two other groups should look elsewhere:

• Trail runners who need deep, secure phone stowage on rough ground. Two of the six here have zip pockets deep enough, but none of the listings claim trail construction.
• Anyone shopping strictly on price. The best with pockets athletic shorts for beginners are not the cheapest pair in this set, and I will not pretend the cheapest pair is the best pair.

Best with pockets athletic shorts for beginners at a glance

How I screened the six pairs

I started with pocket claims. Any pair whose only pocket was a drawstring loop or a token key slot was cut, on the grounds that "with pockets" is the phrase people actually search for. Every survivor here lists at least one dedicated pocket, and four of the six list a zip.

Then I looked at what shorts a first-time buyer would find easy to live with:

1. A stated inseam or a visible size chart. Five of the six list an inseam or a size guide in plain terms. That matters because "athletic shorts" covers everything from a 2-inch split to a 9-inch trainer, and a beginner cannot judge the difference from a thumbnail.
2. A fabric blend the listing publishes. Every pick here does: 90 to 95 percent polyester with 5 to 10 percent spandex or elastane, which is the standard beginner-friendly quick-dry construction.
3. A pocket layout the listing describes clearly. Vague "with pocket" wording without a location or a closure did not survive. Every pick names its pockets.

Three of the six are women's cuts with side zip pockets. One is a men's 7-inch pair with three zips. Two are multi-packs. That range is deliberate: a first buyer might be shopping for herself, for her partner, or for a drawer that needs stocking in one order.

1. Blooming Jelly Quick-Dry Running Shorts — Best overall

A light, lined pair with one secure zip pocket, aimed at exactly the buyer this keyword describes.

Best for: a first pair for gym classes and short runs Skip it if: you need to carry a full-size phone hands-free

Blooming Jelly is the pick here for one reason: it does not force a decision a first-time buyer has not yet made. The pair ships as a women's Medium in black, with a single side zip pocket the listing says is "enough to hold your card or key". That is honest. It is not sold as a phone carrier and does not need to be. The elastic waistband carries a "stretchy spandex-ish underwear liner that does not rid up", the brand's words, which means new buyers do not need to shop separately for a compression short underneath.

The fabric is described as "very light weight" and quick drying, which reads across the listing as a thinner build than the two 2-in-1 CE' CERDR pairs in this set. The listing also runs a size table from XS to XXL, mapping to US 0-2 through US 14, which is more explicit than any other pick here. Against the rest of the set, this pair carries the fewest pockets. That is the trade-off, and it is the right trade-off for a first pair.

Pros:

• Single side zip pocket sized for card or key
• Stated liner that the brand says does not ride up
• Light quick-dry fabric described as thin, not thick
• Size chart maps XS to XXL against US 0-2 to US 14
• Second-cheapest of the six

Cons:

• One pocket only
• Not built to carry a modern phone securely
• Colour choice is limited on the listed variant

2. CE' CERDR 2-in-1 High Waisted Shorts — Best premium

The pocket count leader here: two zip outers, two hidden inners, and a 2-in-1 liner under a high-rise waist.

Best for: longer runs where a phone rides in one pocket and keys in another Skip it if: you dislike a built-in liner or a high-rise waist

This is the most expensive pick here and the one with the most published construction detail. The listing names four functional pockets: two secure zippered outer pockets and two hidden inner pockets for cards, keys or small essentials. Nothing else in this set matches that count. The outer shell is stated as 95 percent polyester and 5 percent spandex, with a soft inner liner of 75 percent nylon and 25 percent spandex, a specification you rarely see broken out this precisely on a listing at this price.

The 2-in-1 design is the deciding feature. A compression-style inner short sits under the outer running short, which the brand says "prevents chafing" and gives the pockets something firm to sit against so a phone stays put. A high-rise elastic waistband with an adjustable drawstring adds a second point of security. Against the winner, the trade-off is bulk and commitment: you buy into a liner style, a waist height and a pocket layout all at once. For a beginner still working out what she likes, that is a lot to decide. For a runner who already knows she wants zip pockets and a supportive liner, this is the pair.

Pros:

• Four pockets, two zipped, two hidden
• Outer shell and liner blends both published
• 2-in-1 inner short with drawstring high waist
• Side split hem for stride flexibility
• Five colour options on the listed variant

Cons:

• The most expensive pick here
• High-rise waist is not everyone's fit
• Built-in liner limits your underlayer choices

3. Ksmien 5"/7" Athletic Running Shorts — Best for heavy use

Two zip pockets, two length options, and the strongest sales position in the set.

Best for: someone who wears the same pair four or five times a week Skip it if: you want a liner or a shorter-only 5-inch inseam

Ksmien sells this pair in a 5-inch and a 7-inch inseam, which is unusual: most listings in this set commit to one length. The fabric is stated as 90 percent polyester and 10 percent elastane, the highest stretch percentage in this roundup. The listing describes two side zip pockets "big enough to put your phones or other belongings", a claim I will attribute rather than assert, but the pocket count and closure match what a daily runner asks for.

This is the pair I would pick if you plan to wear the same shorts four or five times a week. It sells faster than any other pick here, which suggests high turnover among repeat buyers, and the split-leg hem is called out specifically for keeping the shorts from riding up. There is no liner: the listing states "Unlined - No underwear", so you supply your own. Against the Blooming Jelly winner, that unlined build is the honest trade-off. You get more pocket capacity and a stretchier fabric, but you lose the built-in support a lined pair gives out of the box.

Pros:

• Two zip pockets in a women's cut
• 5-inch or 7-inch inseam choice at the listing
• 10 percent elastane, the highest stretch here
• Split-leg hem to reduce riding
• Sells faster than the rest of this set

Cons:

• Unlined, no underwear built in
• Only one colour on the listed variant
• Less pocket variety than the four-pocket CE' CERDR

4. ZITY Men's 7 Inch Quick Dry Shorts — Best budget pick

A men's 7-inch cut with three zip pockets at the cheapest position in this set.

Best for: a men's cut with three zip pockets at the lowest price here Skip it if: you want a women's cut or a built-in liner

The only men's pair in the set, and the cheapest of the six. ZITY publishes a 7-inch inseam and a fabric blend of 95 percent polyester and 5 percent elastin (the listing's spelling), plus three zip pockets: two on the sides and one on the back. That is the second-highest pocket count in the roundup, behind only the CE' CERDR 2-in-1, and the only pair here with a back zip.

For a beginner shopping for a men's pair, the price position is the story. The listing describes an elastic waistband with an internal drawstring, a split hem, and a roomy fit through the hips and thighs. Those are standard construction claims across men's running shorts and reasonable to expect at this level. The honest weakness is not what is stated but what is not: the listing does not describe a liner, and it sells slowly compared with the rest of this set, which means fewer buyers are trying it. A slow seller with strong published pockets is a fair budget bet, but it is a bet, and I will not dress that up.

Pros:

• The cheapest of the six
• Three zip pockets, including a back pocket
• 7-inch inseam and split-hem construction stated
• Internal drawstring at the waist
• 95 percent polyester, 5 percent elastin blend published

Cons:

• No liner described in the listing
• The slowest seller of the six
• One colour on the listed variant

5. HOPLYNN 3 Pack 5" Running Shorts — Best for families

Three pairs in one order, in three different colours, with open side pockets.

Best for: stocking a drawer with three pairs in one order Skip it if: you want zip pockets that fully secure a phone

HOPLYNN's advantage is set composition: it is the only three-pack here, shipping in one black, one gray, and one rose pink pair at a 5-inch inseam. The fabric is called out as a lightweight polyester and spandex blend, and the fit is described as loose rather than fitted, which reads as forgiving for a first-time buyer who has not settled on a preferred cut yet.

The trade-off is the pocket design. The listing describes "practical side pockets" for phone, keys or cards, but does not name a zip, and I have to take that at face value: open pockets, not secured. That is fine for a walk, a yoga class or a casual jog when your phone stays home, and it is not fine for anything with real bouncing motion. Set that limitation next to the price-per-pair advantage of a three-pack, and this becomes the sensible pick for a household stocking a drawer rather than a runner chasing a single high-performing pair. Against the winner, you trade a stated liner and a zip pocket for volume and colour variety.

Pros:

• Three pairs in one order
• Black, gray and rose pink included
• 5-inch inseam suits a range of body types
• Loose fit described as unrestrictive
• Lightweight quick-dry blend published

Cons:

• Side pockets not described as zipped
• No liner mentioned in the listing
• Not the pick for high-motion sports

6. CE' CERDR 5 Pack High Waisted — Most versatile

A high-waisted women's short with two deep zip pockets, listed in a five-colour variant.

Best for: a high-waisted cut that reads as casual wear as easily as gym wear Skip it if: you want more than two pockets

The second CE' CERDR pair in the set, and the versatile one. Two deep side zip pockets, a 95 percent polyester and 5 percent spandex outer, and a high-waisted elastic waistband the brand describes as "smoothing and flattering". No 2-in-1 liner: this is the simpler, more casual sibling of pick number two. Two sellers list it, which is the highest offer count of the six, so availability is a little steadier than the rest.

I have called this the versatile pick because it is the pair most obviously wearable outside the gym. A high-rise waist and a plain outer that does not scream running short read as easily on a walk or a coffee run as on a treadmill. Against the winner, the pockets are better: two zips beat one zip. Against the four-pocket CE' CERDR premium, this pair is simpler, cheaper and lighter to live with. The honest weakness is that it is the second most expensive pick here for a pocket count the mid-priced Ksmien matches, so you are paying for the cut and the colour range as much as the storage.

Pros:

• Two deep side zip pockets
• High-rise elastic waistband
• 95 percent polyester, 5 percent spandex outer
• Five colours on the listed variant
• Two sellers stock it

Cons:

• Higher price than the Ksmien for the same zip count
• Unlined, no liner described
• No hidden inner pockets

How many pockets do beginners actually need?

Here is the trick with a "with pockets" search: pocket count is a rough proxy, not the answer. Most shoppers miss that a single zip pocket that holds a card and a key is more useful than three unsecured pockets a phone falls out of. So the beginner question is not "how many", it is "how many secured".

Split this set that way and it lines up neatly:

• One secured pocket: Blooming Jelly. Enough for a card and a key, which is enough for a class or a walk.
• Two secured pockets: Ksmien and the CE' CERDR 5 Pack. Enough for a phone in one and keys in the other.
• Three secured pockets: ZITY. Two sides and a back zip.
• Four pockets, two secured: CE' CERDR 2-in-1. Two zips outside, two hidden inside for cards.
• Two unsecured pockets: HOPLYNN. Fine for low-motion use, not for running.

For a first pair, one or two secured pockets is the right target. Anything beyond that and you are paying for capacity you have not needed yet. That is why the winner has one zip and not four.

Liner or unlined: which suits a first pair?

A liner is a compression-style short built into the outer short so you do not wear separate underwear. Half the picks here describe one, and half do not.

Lined in this set:

• Blooming Jelly ("stretchy spandex-ish underwear liner")
• CE' CERDR 2-in-1 (a full 75 percent nylon, 25 percent spandex inner short)

Explicitly unlined:

• Ksmien ("Unlined - No underwear")

Liner not described:

• ZITY, HOPLYNN, CE' CERDR 5 Pack

For a beginner, lined shorts are easier out of the box. You put them on and they work. Unlined shorts want a decision from you about what goes underneath, and that decision matters more the further you run. A running-specific brief costs money and takes a couple of tries to get right. That is why the winner is lined.

If you already wear compression shorts under everything, unlined is fine and often preferable. It also washes and dries faster, because there is less fabric.

What the listings do not tell you

Three things are missing from every listing here, and it is worth naming them so you can judge for yourself.

1. The exact pocket dimensions. Every "big enough for your phone" claim is unmeasured. A large modern phone is roughly six and a half inches long, and no listing here publishes a pocket depth.
2. The weight of the fabric in grams per square metre. Every pair says "lightweight". None of them says how light. If you are shopping for hot-weather running, this is the number you actually want.
3. The country of manufacture and any warranty terms. None of the six lists a stated warranty. That is worth knowing on a garment that may see three or four washes a week.

None of these gaps is a deal-breaker in this category, because activewear at this price point rarely publishes any of them. It is worth being clear-eyed that "quick-dry lightweight" is the shorthand every listing uses, and it is not a spec.

Blooming Jelly vs CE' CERDR 2-in-1: which wins?

Two picks are worth setting against each other directly, because the choice between them decides most beginner shopping trips.

Blooming Jelly is a light, lined, single-zip pair that does one thing well. CE' CERDR 2-in-1 is a heavier, doubly-lined, four-pocket pair that does everything at once. Ranked side by side:

• Pockets: CE' CERDR wins, four to one.
• Liner: Both are lined, but CE' CERDR's inner short is a full compression short and Blooming Jelly's is a thin gusset. CE' CERDR wins for phone security; Blooming Jelly wins for lightness.
• Fit commitment: Blooming Jelly is a standard rise. CE' CERDR is high-rise with a drawstring. If you have not decided on rise, Blooming Jelly asks less.
• Price position: Blooming Jelly is the second-cheapest of the six. CE' CERDR is the most expensive.
• Sales position: Blooming Jelly sells faster in this set.

If you are new to athletic shorts with pockets, the winner is the pair that decides less for you. That is Blooming Jelly. If you already know your preferences, the CE' CERDR is the fuller pair.

The verdict

The best with pockets athletic shorts for beginners are the Blooming Jelly Quick-Dry Running Shorts. A light quick-dry fabric, a spandex-ish liner that the brand says does not ride up, one side zip pocket sized for card and key, and the second-cheapest position in this set add up to a pair that decides little for a new buyer. It sells faster than most of the field, which is a reasonable proxy for repeat purchase.

Two conditions flip the pick. If you want to carry a phone hands-free on runs longer than half an hour, buy the CE' CERDR 2-in-1 High Waisted Shorts instead. Four pockets, two of them zipped and two hidden, plus a 2-in-1 inner short, is the layout that keeps a phone still. If you already log four or five sessions a week and want a proven daily pair with two zips, buy the Ksmien 5"/7" Athletic Running Shorts. It sells the fastest of the six, publishes the highest stretch percentage, and offers a length choice the rest of the set does not.

Skip the HOPLYNN three-pack for anything higher-motion than a walk. Skip the ZITY unless you specifically want a men's cut at the lowest price. The CE' CERDR 5 Pack is the pick if you like the brand's high-rise cut but do not want the 2-in-1 liner.

FAQ

Are athletic shorts with pockets good for running with a phone?

Athletic shorts with pockets are good for running with a phone only when the pocket is zipped and sits close to the leg. Open side pockets bounce a phone loose on any run over a jog. In this set, the CE' CERDR 2-in-1, the Ksmien, the ZITY and the CE' CERDR 5 Pack all list zip pockets. The HOPLYNN and the Blooming Jelly do not carry a phone comfortably at speed.

Is it worth paying more for a 2-in-1 design?

Paying more for a 2-in-1 design is worth it if you already know you want a compression liner and secure pocket support. The CE' CERDR 2-in-1 is the most expensive pair here and lists four pockets, an outer polyester shell, and a full nylon-spandex inner short. If you are still figuring out what you like, a lighter lined pair like the Blooming Jelly does more for less.

What inseam length should beginners choose?

Inseam length for beginners depends on coverage preference more than sport. A 5-inch inseam, like the HOPLYNN three-pack, sits mid-thigh and suits classes and short runs. A 7-inch inseam, like the ZITY and one Ksmien option, sits closer to the knee and suits longer efforts. The Ksmien is the only pick here that ships in both lengths, which makes it easy to try one and reorder the other.

Blooming Jelly or Ksmien for a first pair?

Blooming Jelly is the first-pair pick because it is lined and the listing publishes a size chart from XS to XXL against US 0-2 to US 14. Ksmien is unlined, which the listing states plainly, so you supply your own underlayer. Ksmien is a stronger second pair once you know your preferences, particularly the 5-inch versus 7-inch inseam question and whether you want two zip pockets rather than one.

What is the biggest mistake new buyers make in this category?

The biggest mistake new buyers make is over-indexing on pocket count. Four open pockets is worse than one zipped pocket for anything with bounce, and beginners rarely need more than two secured pockets on a first pair. The second common mistake is skipping the size chart. Every pair here fits differently across brands, and the Blooming Jelly listing is the only one that maps its sizes to US numbers directly.

Start with the pair that decides the least for you. That is what "beginner" actually means in a category where every listing sounds identical at first glance: a pair whose pockets, liner and cut do not lock you into a specific way of training before you have found your own. The Blooming Jelly Quick-Dry Running Shorts does that job cleanly. Wear them for a month, work out which pockets you actually use and which liner style you prefer, and then move up to the CE' CERDR 2-in-1 or across to a Ksmien pair with the answers in hand. That is the sensible path from first pair to daily pair, and it saves you buying twice.

Last updated: September 25, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

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