Mammut Aenergy TR Running Shorts Review

The “perfect” running shorts can be hard to find. Perfection for me is a built-in compression liner, lightweight design, extra pockets and superb freedom-of-movement. Looking at the Mammut Aenergy TR Shorts, they really do check all those boxes.

Mammut Aenergy TR Running Shorts Features:

• 2-way stretch fabric
• Lightweight and airy design
• Drawstring waist
• Envelope pockets on hips, right thigh pocket and zippered lumbar pocket
• Reflective elements
• MSRP: $69

Size away from perfection?

Mammut’s product lineup sure is extensive. We’ve tested a variety of items from the Swiss brand and they all showcase their commitment to quality and performance. Upon arrival, the Aenergy TR Shorts, they immediately looked like winners for my morning trail running adventures. As mentioned earlier, they checked all the right boxes with the necessary features for on-trail and after-trail use. Yes, like most people, I do tend to lounge around in my running shorts for hours after running. Some shorts can be a little skimpy for that, but both the compression liner and shorts themselves put these in a much more comfortable category.

After some consideration, I did end up going with the size 34 for my 33-inch waist. Overall, the fit is pretty close. Only after several uses did I think maybe I should have gone with the size 32. I say maybe because my backside does make for a tight pull-on with the size 34. The only negative is the compression liners should be a bit tighter.

To elaborate further, the liner is awesome. I love the length and overall feel. And, the right leg pocket is a nice touch. The mesh fabric isn’t the most comfortable and could be a little softer to the touch. For me, I did wish for a little more compression in the crotch area. I didn’t experience any chafing on even the longest or most humid runs, but a little more compression would have been nice. Size guessing is always a challenge and these still performed really well.

I appreciated the drawstring to tighten up the waist just a little and provide more support while using the lumbar pocket for my iPhone 13 Mini (yes, I’m remain a small phone holdout). I can carry my phone there comfortably for miles. The leg pocket was better-suited for lightweight gels while running as my phone had a tendency to pull that leg down uncomfortably.

While the shorts do offer great freedom-of-movement, their length is both a blessing and a curse. As mentioned, they do make for more comfortable lounging, but that does make them less flowy for the utmost performance. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you’re looking for a pure race short, I’d opt for something even more streamlined, but for a daily driver, these are superb — had have been my staple shorts all season long. I appreciate that the Aenergy TR Shorts do dry quickly and remain comfortable when running on humid mornings. They aren’t the most airy shorts in my closet and I did actually appreciate them on cold mornings.

They don’t show a whole lot of wear — even after many months and hundreds of miles of use. And, they were washed and dried with all of my family’s stuff over that time.

Fit: I’m 5’11” and 175 lbs with a 33-inch waist, wearing the size 34. I would have liked to try on the size 32, to be honest. 

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