Today I’m going to be covering the new animal seamless cycling shorts from Gymshark. I typically love the Adapt collections, so I had high hopes for these shorts. Unfortunately, there were a few things about these that didn’t meet my expectations. But also, a few things that did! Keep reading to hear all my opinions, in this unsponsored Gymshark adapt animal review…
Gymshark Adapt Animal Review
In the past, I’ve loved absolutely everything I’ve bought from Gymshark’s adapt collections. I’ve tried multiple pairs of shorts (old camo & new camo) and leggings (Fleck & Butterfly). I still wear each of these pieces regularly and they’re some of my favorite workout shorts & leggings.
Unfortunately, these Gymshark adapt animal shorts were a bit of a miss for me…
Gymshark Adapt Animal Seamless Cycling Shorts
I’ll start off with the positives of the shorts. The color and pattern are both flawless. I bought the Court Blue color, and want everything I own to be this color. It’s absolutely gorgeous and has just enough brightness, while still being flattering.
The pattern is also different than what I’ve seen in other adapt animal pieces. I’m not really sure which animal print they’re going for in this one… 🤔 But it’s not a typical cheetah/leopard print that you’d expect when you buy an animal print. It’s more of a reptile of some sort… IDK. If you know, let me know.
They’re also a thick and comfortable material, like all of the adapt pieces I’ve bought in the past. Adapt is always my go-to for leg day because you never have to worry about them not being squat proof.
Now… for the downside.
Even though these are cycling shorts, I had different expectations for how they’d look on me (based on seeing influencers wear them on Instagram.) Every Gymshark athlete I saw wearing these on Instagram had the shorts so scrunched up that they look like regular training shorts (5″ inseam) and not cycling shorts (9″ inseam.)
If you want a visual of this, I showed a few different examples in the video. (Here’s one, if you don’t want to watch the video.)
You can clearly see on the Gymshark website that they’re longer cycling shorts, so Gymshark isn’t trying to fool anyone with these. But if you only see influencers (Gymshark athletes) wearing them on Instagram and buy them based on that… You’re going to be in for a surprise when you receive them and actually put them on.
All of the adapt shorts I’ve bought in the past have been regular training shorts (with a 5″ inseam as opposed to 9″). I definitely like the fit of the 5″ shorts more for my workouts, and how they look in general.
I’m 5’3, so the 9″ inseam shorts go all the way down to my knees. I also am not wearing them for cycling, so I don’t need the longer shorts.
Like I said in the video review – if you’re buying these for what they’re actually made for (cycling) I think they’re great. Or if you just want a longer pair of workout shorts, I think these would be a great option as well.
The main problem is an Instagram vs. reality issue.
If you follow Gymshark athletes on Instagram, you know they always get new Gymshark pieces before they launch (and wear them in their posts to advertise for the upcoming launch.) So you have a certain expectation of what the pieces will look/fit like, based on what you see in their content.
I tried scrunching these shorts up to look like how I’d expected them to look (from Instagram) and it looked ridiculous on me. You can see this in the video, but it was basically a wrinkly mess.
TLDR
If you want a pair of 9″ inseam cycling shorts (because you’re a cyclist or just want longer workout shorts) these are a great buy. If you’re looking for regular training shorts (how these shorts look on Gymshark athletes on Instagram) these aren’t for you.
Were the shorts worth keeping?
Even though I didn’t love the length of these shorts (at all), I still kept them. I typically only return shorts if the fit is absolutely terrible. On my body type, this usually means they’re too loose in the waist and tight in the hips/thighs.
These didn’t have that issue and are overall comfortable, great shorts. Just not what I expected in terms of length and appearance.
What do they cost?
The Gymshark adapt animal seamless cycling shorts are $45/pair. That’s pretty typical for Gymshark shorts and compared to other fitness brands.
Were they worth the price? I’d say, it depends on what you’re buying them for.
I wouldn’t buy these shorts again for $45, because I typically like shorter shorts better. A 5″ inseam is perfect for me because I’m wearing them for strength workouts and not cycling.
If you want these for cycling, or just enjoy a 9″ inseam, I would say these are worth the price. They’re high-quality shorts and made of thick, comfortable material. They’ll last you a long time and don’t wear down easily (based on my experience with other Gymshark adapt collections.)
Summary of the facts:
- Texture – Not buttery soft, but thick & comfortable.
- Color/Design – Matches the website with gorgeous blue color and fun animal (reptile-ish) design.
- Thickness – These boys are thick, especially in the waistband.
- Elasticity – These are stretchy enough to move around and be comfy, but definitely hold everything in. Fairly high compression.
- Sizing – True to size.
- Camel toe – Not a problem, in my experience, due to the thickness of the material.
- Squat proof – 100% squat approved.
- Scrunch bum – These DO have a scrunch bum and I actually liked it in these! Typically scrunch bums are uncomfy and give me a wedgie, but I didn’t notice that with these shorts. Very flattering.
- Cost value – $45 – so fairly comparable to other shorts like this. If you want a pair of longer cycling shorts, definitely worth the price. They’re quality material and will last you a long time.
I hope you enjoyed this Gymshark adapt animal review! Stay tuned for more Gymshark reviews, as well as other unsponsored fitness brand reviews. If you have anything specific you’d like us to try out, let us know in the comments! We’re always happy to hear your opinions and try new things.
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