Honest Review of All My Muaythai Shorts
Most Muay Thai athletes I know have drawers full of shorts.. these colourful, fancy looking shorts we all wear to training.. which fit and stay looking good over the years? I’ve accumulated a fair collection of shorts (definitely not as many as my team mates or coaches lol) but enough to put together my years of experience with them. Which fit well? Which may draw unwanted attention when you get sweaty … as they’re quite see through (I learnt this the hard way!) .. and which brands are just your quality, reliable pair that’ll last you for years..
I’m a size 8 Aus and not as voluptuous or thicc as what’s trending these days .. I’m definitely working with a flatter, straighter looking body here .. Hopefully that gives you an idea of how the shorts would fit you! Or if you rather watch the Youtube review video here and/or see the shorts on me (in a quick 30 second video on Instagram here), be my guest! With all that in mind, lets talk shorts!
Brands in my collection:
Top King
Primo
Fairtex
In Fight Style
Pryde
Boon
Twins Special
FIT AND STYLING
By design Muay Thai shorts are the perfect fit for kicking, kneeing and all things Muay Thai. Some cuts are more flattering and comfortable in training than others, but again that would be dependent on your body type. All these shorts come with a side slit / U-cut to enable freedom of movement in your lower half.
The retro cut (think Pencil Skirt) have a more figure hugging fit and sit higher on the legs, with their waist bands notably thinner. You can definitely “feel” the shorts when you’re moving as opposed to the traditional cut (very airy.. ). The traditional cut (think A Line Skirt) has a thicker waistband, covering more of your torso and is very loose fitting around the thighs. I prefer the retro cut as I personally find them more comfortable and flattering.
Retro cut - thinner waist band and higher fit of thighs.
Traditional cut - thicker waist band, longer and looser fit around thighs.
I do suggest doing a “peak” test in the mirror (throw some kicks and knees…) before you wear any pair to training as sometimes these shorts show more than you want (under the thigh up to the private regions) and also in material (lets talk about this later!) when wet, can be see through.
Most of these brands are constantly bringing in new designs, cuts and improvements in their shorts. Brands like Primo, Fairtex and In Fight Style are always bringing in new styles, colours and material options in their shorts. Notable mention to Yokkao which is quite a favourite at the gyms I train and coach at.
My personal favourite wears (or what I just instinctively grab from my drawer) are Primo, my one beloved Top King lol and Fairtex, with Twins and Pryde tying at third. I do feel though that I avoid my Twins as their a special memorabilia for me and I almost feel like preserving them <3.
MATERIAL & DURABILITY
My shorts vary slightly in material - satin, a polyester blend or nylon.
The satin or polyester blend shorts give that glossy finish. They’re much thicker to the feel and there is a notable difference in the weight when you wear them. Note, these shorts are see-through safe! The nylon shorts are lightweight, crisp to the feel and very quick drying. They do not have that glossy look to them. WARNING - see-through when wet! Girls, we most definitely need to wear some shorts under these shorts .. as I found out too late watching back some of my videos! lol. On the plus side, the short shorts under them do not add any restrictions or discomfort.
Polyester material - not see through, thicker with a glossy finish.
Nylon - bright, crisp feeling, light, and quick drying. See through when wet and when the sun is shining at you.. lol. Nice matte finish.
I've had some of these shorts (like my Top King) for 7 years and counting. The shorts do say “hand wash” and “no tumble dry” but I’ve put my shorts through the washing machine, tumble dried them, left them in the sun and practically followed none of the care instructions. They’re surprisingly durable!
My Top King, Fairtex and Twins shorts have been worn and washed over 7 years and still maintained a lot of the vibrance. The stitching and fit hasn’t changed much with of course the waist bands getting looser in time but not to the point of them falling off me. The stitching has stayed in tact noticeably well in my Pryde, In Fight Style and Fairtex shorts. My newer Primo have stayed bright through many washes though the stitching in some have loosened (so have my Top King and older Twins) . The colours and fit have stayed awesome. I would suggest following the care instructions so the stitching and material wears better in time.
On the plus side, you know that when you invest in a good pair of shorts that they’ll last you at least 5-7 years of training! Which brings us to the last point…
PRICING
The shorts in my collection retail from AUD56 to AUD125.
Most of these shorts you would find in a local Melbourne fight store or gym to retail between AUD70-80. Some are only available online or unlikely to be found in your local fight shop (eg. Primo, In Fight Style, and Pryde). The shipping cost and currency conversion can be a factor in some. From when I made my review video July 9th 2022, the costings (excluding shipping) for the shorts, or similar ones, in my collection were as follows:
Top King AUD80
Boon AUD51.05
In Fight Style AUD81.55
Pryde AUD66.60
Primo AUD76
Fairtex AUD59
Twins AUD70
Once you plus shipping and currency conversions (In Fight Style from USD, and Pryde from THB) though, the costs change a fair bit! Would I say their worth the investment? Yes, 100% !
Where can you find yourself a pair??
Top King Muay Thai Shorts - https://www.topking.shop
Twins Special Muay Thai Shorts - https://twinsmuaythai.com
Pryde Muay Thai Shorts - https://prydeth.com
Fairtex Muay Thai Shorts - https://www.fairtexaustralia.com.au
In Fight Style Muay Thai Shorts - https://www.infightstyle.com
Boon Muay Thai Shorts - https://www.boonsport.com
Primo Fight Wear Muay Thai Shorts - https://www.primofightwear.com
*DISCLAIMER* - I have a promo code with Primo Fight Wear and get a small percentage of the sale if you use my code. I do wear their gear (shinguards and gloves) daily and love the shorts of course - Code "MACHI10" for 10% off :)
In summary, a good pair of shorts will last you a long while. Fit and preference of cut comes down to the athlete. I like the retro fits on most days but I still will find myself in my Fairtex collection at least once a week. I appreciate the brands that are staying up to date with new releases and designs. A nice pair of shorts doesn’t make you a champion but there’s no wrong in feeling and looking good at training. I’d say any gear or apparel that makes training FEEL better is a good plus to have!
I hope you found this little review useful :) Let me know which pair or brands you like most and why! Till next time, happy training!
Love,
Spring
