Whenever I see a big company like Brooks selling a pair of shorts for $70 or more, my first thought is how much they’re marking up the price. My second is if they actually did their homework and made a properly good product?
Because when I see that high of a price for shorts, it’s a statement.
A statement of just how good they think their Journey 5” shorts are. A statement that’s hard to live up to. A statement I’ve put to the test by running nearly one hundred miles in them.
The Feels
The most expensive pair of shorts I own are the 5” Roark Altas. They retail for $85, but I got them on sale for over 40% off, and they’re freaking great!
Every part of the Altas is top notch and a breeze to run in. The Journeys from Brooks, are nearly at the same level.
The exterior material is exceptionally soft. Making it easy to find them in my dresser drawer on dark mornings.
But when you actually run in them, they disappear.
That level of comfort comes from an even softer, perforated fabric Brooks uses for the inner lining. I wish the lining wasn’t like tighty-whities, but even so it’s profoundly stretchy. Enhancing their fit for stretching, lunging, or wearing them all day.
Outside of feeling slightly heavier and not as premium as the Roark Altas, I have a hard time choosing between the two.
Pocket Thoughts
I wish the Journeys were designed with regular side pockets. (Something the $85 Roark Altas don’t have either.)
You can get away with the decently sized back zipper pocket, since it easily holds a phone and slim wallet. The zipper is great too! I’m not worried about long term use since it rarely snags and the zipper isn’t thin and dainty like the Nike Breathe shorts.
The simple elastic back waist pockets do well too. They can securely carry keys, gloves, AirPods cases, and other small items you might need. The material is thinner than I would like, but it has no signs of wear or tear from my keys bouncing around.
These shorts even have a weird interior lining pocket. I never use these because it’s strangely small and the exterior pockets are so much easier to access. (If anyone actually uses these, please comment below what you use them for.)
The Recap
Brooks didn’t mess around when they decided to create a pair of running shorts. They’re supremely soft inside and out, and don’t have a single whiff of cheap cost cutting.
Better yet, they’re dang near equal to the Roark Alta shorts that are even more expensive.
Nonetheless I wouldn’t buy these at their retail $80 price tag. I would wait until Brooks, or some other retailer has them on sale for 40% off or more. (REI has them 28% off right now.)
Whenever that happens next, I highly recommend picking up a pair.