More often than not, some of our favorite buys are small, how-didn’t-I-know-about-this products that solve an everyday problem. That’s what we’re highlighting in our Little Lifesavers series: cheap, simple purchases that you’ll use on the daily. Hit “Add to Cart” and thank us later!
Problem: Whether for workouts or regular casual days at home (on or off the clock), I'm most comfortable in athletic-style bottoms that are flexible, have a high waist, and also allow enough room to breathe and eat.
Solution: The Baleaf Biker Shorts are an affordable pair that feel great, are available in different colors and inseam lengths, and have the ideal level of high-waistedness for me.
Maybe it’s just my bad luck and poor timing, but I’ve noticed that bike shorts have a habit of selling out early each year from a lot of major retailers. Last spring, I was considering pairs from Uniqlo, VS PINK, and Urban Outfitters, but they all seemed to vanish as soon as I added them to cart.
Amazon is definitely not my first destination for clothing, but the mercury was on the rise and inventory issues were widespread. I found the Baleaf Biker Shorts in an 8-inch inseam on Amazon, ordered them, and hoped that its thousands of five-star reviews weren't outright lying to me.
Reader, not only did these bike shorts work out, but I am now a repeat buyer. Both the 8-inch and 5-inch inseams in black are now staples in my wardrobe.
Made of polyester and spandex, Baleaf's Biker Shorts have that smooth, elastic texture typically found in leggings without feeling rough or stifling. (The brand also has a softer nylon-and-spandex “Brushed” style that I haven't yet tried.) They are also equipped with three pockets that are surprisingly deep for leggings pockets, though whatever you put in them will make an obvious bulge. I mainly use them as a holster for my iPhone 11.
In terms of fit, Baleaf's Biker Shorts are the ideal middle ground between stretchy and compressing. I’m 5 feet, 3 inches tall and wear a size medium, and the waist of these shorts covers the top of my belly button and doesn’t at all feel like it squeezes uncomfortably in that area. They’re definitely form-fitting shorts, but thankfully, they’re not tight. The shorts’ leg seams also don’t feel constricting, and they don’t curl up while I’m walking, biking, or in a high-lunge yoga pose. And while it was a risk buying a pair of leggings without being able to do the in-store squat test in them to make sure that they aren’t see-through, they passed that with flying colors, too.
These shorts are available in sizes XS to 3X, and able to accommodate waist sizes from 22.5 to 40 inches. I'd advise consulting the size guide and actually measuring yourself before buying these — it would be a good idea to size up if you're in between sizes.
The one design caveat I will point out is that these leggings have a lot of seams on them, including one right down the front that bisects my pelvis area. So even though some of the reviews warned me about the possibility of camel toe, I chose to ignore them, only to discover ... that they weren't completely wrong. If I'm being honest, though, I don't care. I can accept that they're not *fashion* shorts, and the seam isn't noticeable enough to be a dealbreaker for me.
When it's hot out or when I want something flexible and soft to work out in, Baleaf's Biker Shorts fit the bill. They may be more function than form, with their multiple pockets and comically excessive seams, but for just over $20, they also meet the Goldilocks standard of affordable and comfy WFH athleisure.
