How to Choose the Best Muay Thai Shorts: A No-Nonsense Buyer's Guide

There are more Muay Thai shorts options out there than ever before. That's mostly a good thing — it means the sport has grown, and more people are training. But it also means there's a lot of noise to cut through when you're trying to find the right pair.

This guide covers everything that actually matters: material, cut, sizing, design quality, and the difference between shorts you'll wear once and shorts you'll train in for years.

Material: Satin vs. Microfiber vs. Nylon

Most Muay Thai shorts fall into one of three material categories, each with real trade-offs.

**Satin** is the traditional choice, and for good reason. It looks sharp, drapes beautifully, and has a classic Muay Thai aesthetic. High-quality satin shorts with proper stitching can last years with the right care. The main consideration is that satin holds heat slightly more than synthetic alternatives — though in most gym conditions, this isn't a meaningful issue.

**Microfiber** is lighter and more breathable than satin, with better moisture-wicking properties. It's the choice for people who run hot, train in warmer climates, or want a shorts that feels closer to compression wear. SHIPSCO's [Deep Waters Microfiber Muay Thai Shorts](https://shipscofight.com/collections/muaythaishorts) offer the same original designs as our satin line in a lighter, athletic fabric.

**Nylon or polyester blends** are common in budget shorts and practice gear. They're functional, durable, and easy to care for, but the designs and construction quality tend to be more utilitarian. For serious training, they get the job done. For fighters who care about how they show up, satin or microfiber is worth the upgrade.

What Makes a Pair of Shorts "Quality"?

This is where it gets specific, and where the difference between good shorts and great shorts shows up.

**Stitching.** Turn the shorts inside out and look at the seams. Double stitching along high-stress areas — the waistband, the side slits, the crotch seam — is the difference between shorts that hold up after 200 sessions and shorts that start fraying after 20. At SHIPSCO, we specifically chose our manufacturing partners in Pakistan and Thailand because of their premium stitching quality. It shows.

**Embroidery vs. printing.** Embroidered design elements — woven thread rather than printed ink — hold up much better over time and have a premium look and feel. Look for clear, tight embroidery at the leg openings and waistband. Cheap embroidery pulls and frays. Good embroidery outlasts the shorts.

**Sublimation printing.** For the main design elements, sublimation printing (where the dye bonds with the fabric at a molecular level, rather than sitting on top) produces colors that don't crack, fade, or peel. This is why a well-made pair of Muay Thai shorts can look as vibrant at year three as they did on day one. SHIPSCO's factory partners use top-of-the-line sublimation printing specifically for this reason.

**Waistband construction.** The waistband should be firm enough to stay put during kicks and clinch work without being uncomfortably tight. A wide, elastic waistband that sits at the natural waist is the standard for good reason — it keeps everything in place without restricting movement.

Cut and Range of Motion

Not all Muay Thai shorts are cut equally, and the cut matters as much as the material.

Traditional Muay Thai shorts are cut short (mid-thigh to slightly above) with a generous side slit. This combination is what allows the hip rotation necessary for powerful kicks without the shorts riding up or bunching. When the cut is wrong — too tight through the thigh, too long in the body, insufficient side slit — you feel it immediately in your technique.

When trying shorts for the first time (or shopping online), check:

- **Side slit depth:** Deeper slits allow more flexibility. Shallower slits offer more coverage but restrict higher kicks. For most training purposes, a mid-depth slit strikes the right balance.
- **Thigh width:** There should be enough room that you can lift your knee to hip height without the shorts pulling. If they feel snug through the thigh when standing, they'll feel restrictive when fighting.
- **Length:** Personal preference plays a role here, but traditional shorter cuts (3–4 inches above the knee) are preferred by most experienced practitioners for pure functionality.

Sizing: Get This Right First

Before anything else — before you even look at designs — get your sizing right. Nothing ruins a purchase like beautiful shorts that don't fit.

SHIPSCO shorts run true to American sizing. Order your normal size. If you're a large in American clothing, you're a large in SHIPSCO shorts. Our range runs from 3XS to 5XL, so whether you're petite or a bigger fighter, there's a size that fits properly. Each product page has a size chart photo for reference, and the [Sizing FAQ](https://shipscofight.com/pages/sizing) covers common questions.

Most other Muay Thai brands use Thai sizing, which tends to run one to two sizes smaller than American. Factor that in when shopping elsewhere.

Design: Why It's Not an Afterthought

The design of your shorts matters more than people give it credit for. Here's the practical case: when you wear something you like, you train with more confidence. When your gear feels like an expression of your personality, you're more invested in the training itself. This isn't psychological fluff — it's human nature.

SHIPSCO designs every pair in-house, by hand. No stock art, no templated graphics. Each design starts as a sketch, refined into a finished product that's printed with vibrant sublimation colors and finished with hand-embroidery details. The result is gear that looks like someone cared about it — because they did.

A few standout designs worth highlighting:

**For the fighter who wants something bold and distinctive:** The [Bobcat Muay Thai Shorts](https://shipscofight.com/products/bobcat-muay-thai-shorts) in purple satin with neon green and silver embroidery are hard to miss and impossible to forget. Same with the [Raptor Muay Thai Shorts](https://shipscofight.com/products/raptor-muay-thai-short) from the Spring 2026 collection — part of a full coordinated kit with a matching training shirt.

**For the fighter with an appreciation for natural beauty:** The [Koi Fish Muay Thai Shorts](https://shipscofight.com/products/koi-fish-muay-thai-shorts), [Marigold](https://shipscofight.com/products/marigold-muay-thai-shorts), and [California Poppies](https://shipscofight.com/products/california-poppies-muay-thai-shorts) designs bring an artistic sensibility to the mat without sacrificing any of the technical function.

**For the fighter who doesn't take themselves too seriously:** The [Donut Muay Shorts](https://shipscofight.com/products/donut-muay-shorts) and [Combat Crap Shorts](https://shipscofight.com/products/combat-crap-muay-thai-shorts) are exactly what they sound like — irreverent, fun, and a guaranteed conversation starter.

**For the fighter who wants to support a cause:** The [T1D Storm Shorts](https://shipscofight.com/products/t1d-storm-shorts) carry awareness for Type 1 Diabetes, and the [Jo Nattawut x SHIPSCO Dog Rescue Shorts](https://shipscofight.com/products/jo-nattawut-x-shipsco-dog-rescue-shorts) benefit dog rescue organizations. Buy great shorts, support something meaningful.

Price and Value

Quality Muay Thai shorts range from $30 to $120 depending on material, construction, and brand. The sweet spot for serious training shorts — quality construction, original design, durable materials — sits around $60–$80.

SHIPSCO shorts range from $60 to $75, which puts them squarely in the premium-but-accessible range. You're paying for original design, quality manufacturing, true-to-size American fit, and gear that holds up through hundreds of training sessions. If you treat them right (cold wash, hang dry), these are shorts you'll still be training in years from now.

The Bottom Line

The best Muay Thai shorts are the ones that fit well, hold up to training, and make you feel like yourself every time you put them on. On the functional side: look for quality stitching, sublimation printing, a generous cut through the thighs, and true-to-size construction. On the personal side: choose a design that means something to you.

Training is hard. Your gear should make it a little more worth it.

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*SHIPSCO Fightwear is a veteran-owned, artist-founded brand making original Muay Thai shorts and gear in true-to-US sizes. Free US shipping on orders over $150. [Shop the full collection →](https://shipscofight.com/collections/muaythaishorts)*