Soffe Ranger Panty Running Shorts Review

9.5
9.5 score
[Editors rating (9.5)] = (WalkJogRun) score (9.5)/10


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Finding the right pair for running shorts for the summer months can be quite a difficult task. There are a lot of brands on the market, all with their own unique designs. And it makes it hard to choose a pair. However, there is one brand that stands out from the rest. Its quality has made it an essential part of the U.S. military. That brand is Soffe and the shorts in question are the Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts. Fans of these shorts sometimes refer to them as Silkies.

Featuring a loose design with only a 2.5-inch inseam, these running shorts are one of the shortest in this category. Made of 100% nylon tricot, these shorts are very flexible and moisture-wicking. As a result, they allow a full range of movement and protect against overheating and moisture buildup. This allows you to move faster and achieve better results without feeling tired or weighed down.

Furthermore, these running shorts also make for excellent loungewear that you won't want to take off even while sleeping.

 

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Lightweight, stretchy fit
  • Loose design
  • Built-in brief liner
  • Hidden key pocket
  • Encased elastic waistband
  • Moisture wicking
  • Dries fast
  • Easy to clean
Cons
  • Runs smaller
  • Very short

Adjustability

When it comes to sportswear, being able to adjust the fit of your gear is crucial. It can affect your performance. And that's not going into how annoying it can get. That is why a lot of sports shorts come with a drawstring in addition to the elastic waistband. So that they can be secured into the desired fit without any further adjustments. But the Soffe Ranger Panty Running Shorts are a little different.

They only have an elastic waistband to keep them in place. However, this elastic waistband is not only super comfortable but keeps the shorts where they need to be according to a sea of satisfied customers. The Soffe Ranger Panty Running Shorts even hold up well underwater. You won't have to worry about the shorts slipping off if you go for a swim.

Breathability

Running under the hot sun is difficult as it is. It only gets worse when your clothes don't breathe and trap heat against your skin. This will not be a problem with the Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts. Although made from 100% nylon, which is not very breathable, these running shorts will keep you cool and breezy nevertheless. What makes the Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts so breathable are the design and the materials's moisture-wicking properties.

Namely, the Silkies feature a loose design. This serves two functions: mobility and breathability. The loose silhouette of the shorts enables free air flow in and out of them, keeping the wearer dry and cool. The short and wide fit protects the wearer from overheating, as it sheds heat during intense workouts. It also leaves the majority of the legs exposed and free. Additionally, the stretchy nylon fabric provides a full range of motion for the wearer for maximum performance.

Nylon contains moisture wicking properties, which also help with breathability. It works by pulling perspiration off of the skin and onto the surface of the shorts, where it quickly evaporates. The quick-drying nylon leaves the skin dry and feeling fresh, even after a long run under the hot sun.

Comfort

We all know how important comfortable clothes are, especially workout gear. Working out requires a lot of movement, which is accompanied by sweating. That is why sportswear needs to be both flexible and breathable in order to keep the wearer comfortable.

The Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts feature a loose design and are made of nylon tricot. Nylon is a very stretchy fabric and coupled with a loose fit, it allows a full range of movement to the wearer. This makes these running shorts perfect for a wide variety of activities besides running, such as CrossFit, weight lifting or gym workouts.

Furthermore, the loose fit helps keep the shorts well-ventilated and protects the wearer from overheating. Nylon is also great at wicking away moisture, leaving the skin dry and cool. Additionally, the fabric does not cling to the skin or create any chafing or irritation. The built-in brief liner helps keep everything in place and comfortable, while the elastic waistband sits comfortably around the waist.

Although the Soffe Range Panty running shorts are a great pair of running shorts, they also double as loungewear. Due to their high comfort level and breathability, reviewers like to use them casually as well. Some even use them as pajama pants and as a substitute for underwear. Having that said, customers do recommend limiting their use to indoors, as they are quite short.

Durability

The Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts are made of 100% nylon tricot. Nylon is in many ways similar to polyester, as they are both synthetic, man-made materials, which are highly durable and water-resistant, and are commonly used for sportswear, among other things. However, as opposed to polyester, nylon is very elastic and abrasion resistant, meaning that the chances of the shorts fraying or tearing are very slim.

In addition, nylon is also stain resistant, so you do not have to worry about the fabric getting ruined if you accidentally spill something on your Silkies. These running shorts wash very well, either by hand or in a washing machine and they dry quickly too. The only downside of these shorts is that they do fade when exposed to the sun for a longer period of time, as opposed to polyester, which holds onto color better.

Nylon is also not recyclable, which is something to be noted since, in today’s society, people are much more aware of the impact they have on their surroundings. That said, there is compelling evidence in favor of the Soffe Range Panty running shorts in the form of thousands of reviews praising them, claiming they last for over two decades if properly taken care of.

Fit

The Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts, or better known as “Silkies” among the members of the military, fit as the name suggests, quite short. The inseam is 2.5 inches for all sizes, which means that the shorts will fit even shorter the taller you are.

These particular running shorts do come with a built-in brief liner to help keep everything in place and avoid any “accidents”, and according to reviewers, they work just fine. There is no drawstring to adjust the fit of the shorts, however, the elastic waistband seems to be more than enough to keep the shorts in place.

The Soffe Range Panty running shorts also double as swim trunks if the need arises. Just be aware that once out of the water, the nylon material will cling to your body. If you are daring and do not mind showing some skin on your runs or workouts, these shorts are a great choice for you.

Materials

The Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts are made of 100% nylon tricot fabric, which is a machine-knit synthetic fabric. It features a warp-knit, meaning, that the fibers are knit in a zig-zag pattern running the length of the fabric, as opposed to the width. This is what gives the nylon tricot its unique texture of horizontal grain on one, and vertical on the other side.

Nylon was first introduced as a substitute to silk, due to its softness and the Ranger Panty running shorts are also known as “Silkies” exactly because of this feature. These shorts will keep you comfortable whether you are working out or just lounging around the house.
Nylon tricot has a lot of great qualities, which make it perfect for sportswear, such as flexibility, durability, and its moisture-wicking properties to keep the wearer feeling dry and cool throughout their workout. In addition, it is very soft on the skin, which is why it is often used to make underwear and women’s lingerie as well.

Additionally, nylon tricot requires very little care when it comes to upkeep, as it is easy to clean. Simply put it in the washing machine once it gets dirty or you can also wash this type of material manually.

Furthermore, it holds up extremely well under extensive use, since it does not fray or snag easily. This is great news for those who plan to wear the Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts outside, where their clothes could get caught on a tree branch and cause a tear in the fabric.

Mobility

While it is perfectly fine to wear form-fitting clothes in social situations, it is a totally different situation at the gym or on the track, especially in summer. While compression pants are great to layer up while working out or running in the cold weather, they can be your demise in warmer months.

The Soffe Ranger Panty combines mobility and breathability in one, making for great shorts to work out in when it is hot outside. These running shorts are made of 100% nylon tricot, which means that they are very flexible by nature.

Additionally, the design of these running shorts also contributes to their overall stretchiness. The shorts are very short and they flare out a little in the leg with a slit on both sides, for maximum range of movement, be it running, weight lifting or CrossFit.

The Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts come with a built-in brief liner, that is also looser in fit, so there will be no chafing and uncomfortable rubbing while you are trying to work out. Not only that, but combined with their ultra lightweight material, they will help improve your speed as well without tiring you out. As many reviewers commented, these shorts really feel like you are wearing nothing at all.

Moisture Wicking

The Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts are made out of 100% nylon tricot, a knitted synthetic fabric, which is lightweight, flexible, and breathable, partly due to the knit and partly because it does not cling to the body. This makes it perfect for manufacturing activewear since the body naturally generates more heat via intense workouts, that results in the buildup of perspiration. If you do not have the right gear, this moisture build-up can prove detrimental to your workouts, not to mention the health issues it can cause.

Luckily, the Silkies help take care of that problem by pulling sweat away from the skin to the surface of the shorts, for a quick drying effect. This, coupled with the slightly loose fit on the legs, helps to keep you dry and cool, even under the scorching hot sun. If that was not enough to convince you to give them a try, then the fact that they have been used by the U.S. military for decades will.

Additionally, some reviewers took their pair of Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts for the ultimate quick drying test: swimming. Even when completely soaked in water, these shorts were able to dry very quickly.

Pockets

Rightfully named “panties”, these short shorts are bordering on the line of being too short with only a 2.5-inch inseam. As such, there is really not a lot of space for full or even smaller size pockets, which is bad news for anyone who likes their valuables close at hand. However, as these shorts were designed to deliver maximum mobility and speed to the wearer, additional storage space full of things, like phones, wallets or keys would greatly affect their overall performance.

Having that said, the Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts do have a concealed inner key pocket at the hip area for storing IDs or as the name suggests, keys. Reviewers who have tried these shorts urged others to place their keys (just the keys without keyrings and such, due to minimal space) with the handles facing downwards to avoid the keys ripping a hole in the pockets. Overall, the lack of pockets did not bother reviewers much, as the Soffe Range Panty running shorts more than make up for it in comfort and breathability.

Sizing

The Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts are available in sizes ranging from small to 3XL with a very stretchy elastic waistband and an equally stretchy nylon tricot fabric, that allows you to move freely and without any restrictions. The inseam is quite short, 2.5 inches for all sizes, so the taller you are, the shorter the Ranger Panty will look on you.

While some reviewers said that the Soffe Range Panty running shorts fit true to size, others recommended sizing up one size from your regular size to avoid any “ accidents”. If you prefer your shorts to be looser, sizing up is the right way to go with these, as they leave little to the imagination otherwise. If, on the other hand, you do not mind flaunting what you have or are not self-conscious in that way, then just stick to your regular size.

Bottom Line

This pair of running shorts has won the hearts of the military and is now taking over the world. Made of 100% nylon tricot, the Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts are highly flexible and moisture-wicking, making them perfect for the summer months.

Despite being quite short with a 2.5-inch inseam, these running shorts are very popular nevertheless. Their thin nylon fabric and loose fit will keep you feeling fresh and energized throughout your workout. With Silkies, you can focus on your performance without any distractions.

The Soffe Ranger Panty running shorts are very easy to take care of as well. Simply machine wash them and let them air dry, and it will not be long before you can wear them again.