I swapped my favorite Lululemon running shorts with a pair from Amazon. Here's how they performed

CNN

16 hours ago

When the long, hot days of summer roll around, I love lacing up my sneakers and heading out for a jog. For years, I struggled to find athletic shorts that would sit securely on my waist without riding up or constricting my thick thighs. Lululemon's Fast and Free shorts are consistently praised for being some of the most comfortable and flattering running shorts out there. After my old shorts bit the dust last spring, I decided — after much consideration — to give this $78 pair a go for myself, and they've been my go-to running shorts ever since.
But just because I love Lululemon's shorts, doesn't mean I won't consider more affordable alternatives to help keep my summer workout wardrobe stocked. To try and save myself a few hundred dollars, I headed to Amazon and grabbed a pair of the top-rated (and under $30) CRZ Yoga running shorts to see if they could give Lululemon's a run for their money (pun intended).
Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Classic-Fit Split Shorts
Lululemon's Fast and Free shorts are beloved by runners for a reason. With hidden pockets to store essentials, an adjustable waistband and a lightweight design, they're the perfect mix between comfort and convenience. They are an investment, but these are the shorts you'll hope are clean the next time you want to pace out some miles in the blistering heat.
CRZ Yoga High-Waisted Dolphin Running Shorts
An almost identical-looking alternative to the Fast and Free Shorts, these CRZ Yoga Dolphin Shorts are comfortable, available in an array of colors and even made of the same materials as Lululemon's shorts. They lack the thoughtful features that make Lululemon's shorts better suited for running and vigorous workouts, but if all you're after is some lightweight and affordable athleisure, this CRZ Yoga pair hits the mark.
86% Polyester, 14% Elastane
86% Polyester, 14% Elastane
11
21
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, 3 back pockets
No
3 inches
3 inches
Yes
No
XXXS to XL
XXS to XL On first inspection, the CRZ Yoga Dolphin shorts and the Lululemon Fast and Free shorts look virtually identical. Both have a high-rise waistband that sits comfortably across the lower stomach. I found the stretchy waistband on the CRZ Yoga shorts to be very comfortable and flattering, but it's made of a thicker material than the Lululemon shorts and feels more prone to trapping sweat and heat, which for a sweaty gal like myself, isn't necessarily what I'm looking for in running shorts.
Both shorts are cut in a 'dolphin' style, with side slits on both thighs, rounded corners and an overall shorter length designed for uninhibited movement. This specific cut lends itself to a lot of thigh exposure, especially once you start moving. Between the two shorts, the Lululemon pair has a higher slit and less fabric overlap between the front and back panels. While this put more of my thigh on display, it also led to less fabric bunching around the top of my thighs than when I ran in the CRZ Yoga shorts.
In addition to their overall lightweight profiles, both shorts have mesh liners for extra coverage and comfort. Neither liner felt too tight or led to extra chafing, but the Lululemon liner stayed in place better during runs and vigorous workouts. The liner in the CRZ Yoga shorts was fine during stretching, sitting or standing, but tended to shift in the innermost part of my thighs when I ran, leading to some awkward readjustments. Lululemon's liner was also thinner, which helped keep things feeling more breathable, even during the hottest and sweatiest of days.
While the Lululemon and CRZ Yoga shorts look identical, there's quite a difference between their running performance. You can tell Lululemon's shorts are made with runners in mind. The Fast and Free shorts have three pockets on the back waistband that are big enough to hold running gels, keys or other small items you want to keep close. Previous versions of these shorts also had three pockets, but in an altered layout: two in the front of the waistband and one in the back. The sides of the shorts are also adorned with small reflective dots. They won't give you a ton of visibility if you're running in low light conditions, but it's a runner-oriented detail worth noting.
The Lululemon shorts include a drawstring waistband so you can tighten them for a more secure fit. In all honesty, Lululemon's drawstring isn't my favorite; it gets the job done and keeps the shorts in place, but it cinches the fabric around my waist in a way I find unflattering. I think this is more of an issue if you, like me, are between sizes and need to size up for a roomier fit through the hips and thighs, which can leave some extra gapping around the waist.
Speaking of sizing, these updated Fast and Free shorts fit differently from Lululemon's previous versions. When I bought these shorts last year, the sizing was numerical — size 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and so on. Now, Lululemon offers the shorts in alpha sizing — from XXXS up to XL. Since I like the fit of my older Fast and Free shorts, I bought the corresponding letter for the numerical size I already have. When the new shorts arrived, they were much tighter through my hips and shorter in the back than my previous pair. Though they fit and I could have run in them, I ended up returning them and grabbing the next size up for a more comfortable fit. The CRZ Yoga shorts are available in sizes XXS to XL, but had a more true-to-size fit.
Sizing issues aside, I still found the Lululemon shorts better for running performance than the CRZ Yoga ones. Though the CRZ Yoga shorts are comfortable and I like how the waistband lies flat against my stomach, there's no way to adjust the fit. This isn't an issue if you're lounging around or doing lighter workouts like stretching or yoga, but while running, I did have to pull the waistband back up multiple times after it slipped down. There are also no pockets on the CRZ Yoga shorts. I prefer to run without a running belt or hip pack if I can, and when I ran in the CRZ Yoga shorts, I had to stuff my house keys into my sports bra, which wasn't ideal.
The features on Lululemon's shorts aren't groundbreaking, but at least they're there. Having a place to store your keys or running gels and a mechanism that keeps shorts from sliding down makes all the difference when you're on the move and in the zone.
Color options aren't a deal breaker for me when it comes to running shorts, but it never hurts to feel like you can find something that will perfectly match your workout wear aesthetic. Lululemon's shorts come in 11 colors, including two current 'trending colors', which the brand launches seasonally and changes frequently. For instance, even though I bought them less than a month ago, the deep plum color of the Fast and Free shorts I tested isn't available anymore.
As someone whose workout wear has been prone to stains from sweat, self-tanner and sunscreen, I tend to steer away from light-colored workout wear. Lululemon only has four colors available right now that I would consider 'dark', with the others leaning more into the pastel color trend of spring. The offerings feel a bit limited, but the seasonal color drops are part of what makes Lululemon feel exclusive and keeps runners repurchasing shorts every season.
CRZ Yoga has 21 color options for its running shorts, carrying everything from neutrals like white, black and brown to bold hues like red, pink, green and blue. Though the Sparkle Blue color of the shorts I tested was just as bright and bold in person as it looked on the Amazon page, heavier sweat droplets were visible on the fabric. Though this was not my experience, in some of the reviewer photos, it looks like the mesh liner is visible through the backside of the shorts — mainly with lighter shades like the white, pink and yellow colors.
Like I said, limited color options isn't the biggest purchasing factor, but if you're looking for shorts that can match with the rest of your workout wardrobe or more options to rotate into your athleisure outfits, CRZ Yoga has a better selection.
If style is all you're after, the CRZ Yoga shorts are pretty much a spot-on silhouette match to the Lululemon Fast and Free shorts. They're comfortable, come in an array of vibrant colors and can be worn for an array of workouts. Just bear in mind that you might have to readjust them often, and they're not outfitted with pockets to store your essentials or an adjustable waistband.
For true performance in your running shorts, Lululemon's shorts are the better pick. Lighter and designed with a drawstring waistband, pockets and a breathable mesh liner that won't slide around, the Fast and Free shorts put runners at the forefront. You might have to size up for the best fit, but summer runners — myself included — will enjoy reaching for these shorts again and again.
Do the Lululemon Fast and Free shorts or the CRZ Yoga running shorts have mesh liners?
Do the Lululemon Fast and Free shorts or the CRZ Yoga running shorts have mesh liners?
Yes, both the Lululemon Fast and Free and the CRZ Yoga running shorts have mesh liners. While both liners were comfortable to wear and didn't feel too tight, I found that the Lululemon liner stayed in place better during runs and vigorous workouts. I also found the liner in the Lululemon shorts to be thinner and more breathable on especially hot days.
Are the CRZ Yoga or the Lululemon Fast and Free shorts heavier?
Are the CRZ Yoga or the Lululemon Fast and Free shorts heavier?
CRZ Yoga lists the weight of its shorts as 92 grams or about 3.2 ounces. To check, I weighed both shorts at home using my kitchen scale. The CRZ Yoga shorts came in slightly heavier than stated, weighing in at 125 grams, though it's possible that size variations could explain the difference here. Lululemon's shorts felt lighter in my hand than the CR Yoga shorts, but the brand doesn't list the weight for its Fast and Free shorts on its site. The Lululemon shorts weighed in at 114 grams on my kitchen scale. All in all, you don't notice the 11-gram difference while you're moving, since both shorts have a lightweight feel overall.
Which brand's running shorts has more color options: CRZ Yoga or Lululemon?
Which brand's running shorts has more color options: CRZ Yoga or Lululemon?
The CRZ Yoga shorts are currently available in 21 colors, while the Lululemon shorts come in 11.
CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, associate editor Jillian Tracy tested the Lululemon Fast and Free shorts and the CRZ Yoga running shorts to see which performed better for exercise and casual wear.