The Best Lounge Shorts Are Always a Great Hang

The best men’s lounge shorts might not be something we spend a lot of time thinking about, but considering how often we wear them, maybe they should be.

The easiest-on item in every man’s armoire, slipping into a soft, forgiving pair of lounge shorts is almost always a sign that something good is about to happen—whether that’s a coffee stroll, a Wedding Crashers rewatch after an honest day’s work, or hearing the dulcet tones of Jim Nantz over the golf.

Your timing also couldn’t be better to reconsider your recline-wear rotation. Whether you’re a cozy French terry guy or you want your lounge shorts to serve double duty as your gym shorts, too, there’s a surfeit of first-class pairs on the market right now. Every one is airy, never clingy, and dead simple to put on—and pretty much all of them are put-together enough to trick even the world’s best wrinkle-spotters into thinking you didn’t just wake up from a couch nap.

Below, we’ve done the hard work so you can take it easy. Presenting 13 of the softest, breeziest, most outwardly respectable best men’s lounge shorts on the market, for your very own Summer of George.

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The Best Lounge Shorts for Men, According to GQ

Best Lounge Shorts Overall: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Sweatshort

Reigning Champ’s midweight terry shorts have all the quality, comfort, and quiet flex that made their hoodies our best overall too. We’re talking smooth flatlock seams, bar-tacked pockets, and dense loopback terry that breathes well but still holds its shape. The 6-inch inseam hits that ideal mid-thigh mark, and the fit strikes a rare balance: not too tailored, not too baggy—just right for looking presentable without trying too hard. Pair it with one of their matching terry hoodies for a matching WFH set come shorts-and-hoodie season.

Best Mesh Lounge Shorts: Champion Mesh Gym Shorts

Soft, heavyweight terry has its place. So, too, does stretchy performance fabric. But sometimes all a guy needs is a no-frills pair of mesh shorts to really let loose in. You know the ones—they’re light, they’re breezy, you probably wore them during high school pickup games. No moisture-wicking, no tech features, just an elastic waistband, a drawstring, and swishy, perforated mesh. Pure simplicity. The OG Champion mesh shorts usually go for $30, and they still just work.

Best Longer Lounge Shorts: KOTN French Terry Short

Egyptian cotton ain’t just for your sheets. KOTN works directly with small-scale farmers in Egypt, ensuring fair prices and wages along its production line while also keeping the entire process—growing, spinning, weaving, and dyeing—as expert as can be. The shorts themselves are soft and breezy, and made from a lighter-weight French terry that does wonders for those who tend to run hot. Comfortable and considered, with a conscience.

Best Lighter Lounge Shorts: Uniqlo AIRism Cotton Easy Shorts

Uniqlo’s Easy Shorts are exactly that—easy. The breathable cotton-poly blend (which looks and feels more cotton than poly) is lightweight, quick-drying, and built for warm-weather wear. Add in deep pockets and a clean, functional design, and you’ve got a pair that’s ready to lounge or head out the door. And as usual with Uniqlo, the price is even more easy to love.

Best Gym-Ready Lounge Shorts: Lululemon Soft Jersey Short

A hardworking fabric that’s incredibly soft, Lululemon’s proprietary Soft Jersey fabric pairs eternally soft hand-feel with a nice amount of structure and stretch. Do you need techy details like quick-drying fabric and added stretch in order to sit at home and run a Love Island marathon? Probably not, but it’s nice to know those features are there for when you want to pull double duty with a quick 5K or lifting session.

Best Pajama-Style Lounge Shorts: Tekla Poplin Pajama Shorts

You’ve seen the status-y hand towels, blankets, and sheets, but the culty Danish home goods company also makes some of the best loungewear around. These oversized poplin shorts come with a thick drawstring at the waist and relaxed silhouette that’s thoughtful enough for a vacation walk, but ideal for lounging and sleeping, especially when paired with the matching pyjama top. The soft organic cotton feels incredible against the skin, and it’s Oeko-Tex certified, meaning it’s free of harsh chemicals and dyes. And of course, they’re cute for sleeping in too.

Best Boxer-Like Lounge Shorts: J.Crew 5” Cotton Shorts

Leave it to J.Crew to produce a pair of charming, beach-ready shorts that work for just about anything JFK Jr. did to pass the time. With a vintage-inspired 5″ inseam, contrast piping, and lightweight cotton, they channel just the right amount of retro resort energy—easygoing, unfussy, and ready for the couch or the coastline. Plus, their boxer-like nature gives them a sexy, just rolled out of bed appeal too.

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More Lounge Shorts We Love

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How We Test and Review Products

Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.

Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.

How We Make These Picks

We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.