Providing an extra layer of coverage, running skirts are a great choice for anyone who wants to train in something a little more substantial than shorts.
They’re also a stylish option, with plenty of pretty colours available. Lots come with handy pockets for hiding away your valuables, too.
Luckily, there’s a huge selection of running skirts out there. Most are actually skorts with in-built shorts underneath for modesty, while the overskirts usually have pleats to allow for freedom of movement. The best designs use stretchy, highly breathable materials made from recycled plastic.
We’ve rounded up the best skirts for running – all of which have in-built shorts. Keep scrolling to see our top picks, which have been chosen based on in-depth research an analysis of user reviews.
The best skirts for running
Sweaty Betty Swift Running Skort
- Buy now from Sweaty Betty (£65.00), Amazon (£78.73)
Sweaty Betty is always worth checking when it comes to activewear. The brand has created this stylish running skort, which you can buy in black, white or vibrant lightning blue.
The fabric is lightweight and is designed with four-way stretch, so it shouldn’t be restrictive during training exercises. It’s also sweat-wicking for breathability.
The design includes supportive inner shorts for extra coverage, and a small zip-up compartment at the back. Although the pocket is unlikely to be big enough to fit the average phone, it’s good for valuables like keys and cards.
Girlfriend Collective Skort
With its stylish designs and sustainable practices, The Girlfriend Collective is a great brand to browse if you’re in the market for some new sports gear.
Its running skirt comes with in-built compression shorts and features side slits to help with freedom of movement. There are also hidden mesh pockets to hold your essentials. Plus, the design has a high-rise waist designed for comfort and coverage.
The best bit? The Girlfriend Collective uses up to 23 recycled plastic water bottles in each skort, and colours them with eco-friendly dyes.
Tala Skinluxe Skort
- Buy now from Tala (£45.00)
For a sustainably produced running skirt in a stylish pastel shade, head to Tala. Its Skinluxe Skort is made from 76% recycled nylon and comes in a range of pretty colours, including province blue and jade green.
The brand describes the material as lightweight and buttery-smooth, so it should help reduce chafing on lengthy training sessions. It also comes with a side pocket for mobile phones.
Nike Club Skirt
Nike has used repurposed materials in its club skirt, which is made with at least 75% recycled polyester fibres taken from single-use plastic bottles. Despite that, the brand says it's still lightweight and flexible, and comes with pleats to open up the design.
Several key details helped put this on our list of the best skirts for running. There’s no front seam in the inner shorts, which we'd expect to help reduce chafing, and Nike has included a rectangular gusset for extra flexibility when doing side-to-side exercises.
A zip-free, slimline pocket and a contoured waistband are also included.
Lululemon Pace Rival Skirt
You can always rely on Lululemon for high-quality sportswear in punchy colours. This stylish running skirt comes in ‘sonic pink’ for a true statement, but you could also go for a subtler magenta or powder blue shade, or opt for plain black or white.
Lululemon’s Luxtreme fabric includes Lycra for four-way stretch and is said to wick away sweat to keep you dry.
Unlike lots of the other best skirts for running, this one has side pockets and a hidden media compartment with a cord outlet so you can listen to music or podcasts while exercising.
There’s also a standard back pocket to keep your valuables safe – you won’t be short of storage room when you’re out and about.
Gym & Coffee Base Skort
- Buy now from Gym & Coffee (£50.00)
The community-focussed brand Gym & Coffee is carbon neutral and uses repurposed materials in its sportswear. This skort is made with 77% recycled PE to limit the company’s use of virgin plastic, making it one of the best skirts for running when it comes to sustainability.
The skort also comes with a mid-rise waist for comfort and a handy back pocket to store valuables like keys and cards.
Asics Athlete Skort
- Buy now from Sports Shoes (£14.99), Amazon (£54.36)
With its large front pleats, the Athlete Skort from Asics has a different look to many others you can find online. This detail is designed to provide extra freedom of movement on runs.
Asics has also used laser cutting technology to get a smooth finish on this running skirt and given it a soft ribbed waistband for comfort.
As you’d expect, the material is designed to wick away sweat and dry quickly to keep you comfortable on long runs. There’s also a reflective logo for extra visibility in the evenings.
Asics has a few other running skorts available, so it’s worth checking out other designs if this one’s not for you.
Compressport Performance Skirt
Sewn-in microfibre boxer briefs set this running skirt apart from others you can buy. They are designed to help reduce chafing, whether you wear them with or without your own underwear.
The design also includes two mesh pockets for small items and a wide waistband with a drawstring to help you get the perfect fit.
As you’d expect, the lightweight material has four-way stretch and works to reduce moisture to keep you comfortable on long runs.
Looking for more women's running gear? Check out our round-up of the best thermal running tights and leggings. For underclothing, see our pick of the best women's underwear and period pants for running.