Why Shorts Deserve More Thought Than You'd Expect
When you're buying your first Muay Thai gear, shorts usually land at the bottom of the priority list. Gloves, wraps, shin guards — those feel more urgent. But Muay Thai shorts are actually one of the few pieces of gear that directly affects how you move. The wrong pair can restrict your teep, make your roundhouse feel stiff, or bunch up during clinch work. The right pair disappears completely — you stop thinking about what you're wearing and start thinking about what you're throwing.
This guide covers the variables worth understanding before you buy: length, cut, material, and sizing.
Length: Standard vs. Long Cut
Muay Thai shorts are cut much shorter than boxing trunks or MMA shorts. Standard Muay Thai shorts sit a few inches above the knee — typically 4 to 6 inches of inseam, sometimes less. That's by design. The short inseam keeps fabric out of the way during high kicks and clinch work.
There's also a "long cut" version, which extends closer to the knee (inseam around 7 to 9 inches). These look less traditional and closer to what you'd see in Western boxing. Some people prefer them for modesty or because they're coming from a boxing background and find standard Muay Thai length takes some getting used to.
For training purposes, either works. If you're planning to compete in Thailand or in traditionally run promotions, standard length is the norm. For everyday gym training, go with whatever you'll actually be comfortable moving in.
Cut and Silhouette: Why Those Angled Side Slits Matter
Look at the sides of almost any traditional Muay Thai short and you'll see a deep V-cut or angled slit running up from the hem. Some designs push the slit all the way to the hip seam. This isn't aesthetic — it's functional.
High roundhouse kicks require your hip flexors and hip abductors to move through a full range of motion. If the fabric is pulling tight across your outer thigh at the top of a kick, you're working against your own gear. The side slit eliminates that restriction entirely. Even the deepest oblique kick or a wide teep won't be limited by the cut.
Some cheaper or more fashion-forward shorts have smaller, shallower slits. They may look cleaner, but test the range before you commit. Stand in the store or in front of a mirror and throw a slow, high roundhouse. If you feel the fabric go taut anywhere along your outer hip or thigh, the slit isn't deep enough for hard training.
Material: Satin, Nylon, and Microfiber
Satin (Polyester Satin)
This is the traditional Muay Thai short material, and it remains the default at most gyms for good reason. Satin shorts are lightweight, slick against the skin, and allow embroidery and sublimation printing to come out sharp. The fabric doesn't hold moisture the way cotton does — sweat sits on the surface and evaporates quickly rather than soaking in and weighing the short down.
One thing to know: satin wrinkles easily and can look beat up after aggressive clinch sessions if the stitching is poor. Quality stitching around the waistband and side slits determines how long a satin short holds up, not the fabric itself.
YOKKAO's satin shorts are a useful reference point here. The Flame series — one of the more popular starting pairs among new practitioners — uses vibrant sublimation printing and waistband stitching that holds up through months of training and washing. The cut follows the traditional Thai silhouette with deep side slits, so range of motion isn't a concern.
Nylon (Rip-Stop or Performance Nylon)
A harder-wearing alternative to satin. Nylon shorts — particularly rip-stop weaves — are more durable and handle abrasion better. They're a practical choice if you're training multiple times a day or putting gear through heavy use. The trade-off is that they feel stiffer, and the color printing doesn't carry the same vibrancy as sublimated satin.
Microfiber and Technical Fabrics
Some brands have introduced microfiber or moisture-wicking technical blends. These tend to feel smoother than nylon but more structured than satin. They work well, but you'll pay more for them, and they're often marketed at casual practitioners who care about comfort over tradition. For a first pair, they're not necessary.
Bottom line on material: For your first pair, go satin. It's what your coaches are wearing, it's what you'll see on the pads at the gym, and it performs well at a lower price point than specialty fabrics. A quality satin pair from a reputable brand will run between $25 and $65.
Waistband and Fit
Traditional Muay Thai shorts use a wide elastic waistband, usually 2 to 3 inches, with an internal drawstring. The elastic handles the work; the drawstring fine-tunes the fit and keeps the short from slipping during knee clinches or sweeps.
A few things to check:
- Waistband width: Wider is generally better. A narrow elastic band can fold over and dig in during clinch work. Aim for at least 2 inches.
- Drawstring access: Some shorts bury the drawstring inside a folded panel. Make sure you can actually adjust it without a struggle.
- Hip room vs. waist size: Muay Thai shorts are sized by waist, but the hips and thighs matter just as much. If you have athletic thighs or wide hips relative to your waist, size up and cinch the drawstring rather than buying to waist measurement alone.
How to Size Yourself
Muay Thai short sizing varies significantly between brands, especially Thai brands vs. Western labels. As a starting point:
- Measure your natural waist in inches — typically above your hips, not at the belt line.
- Cross-reference that measurement with the brand's size chart. Don't rely on generic S/M/L assumptions.
- If you're between sizes, go larger. You can always tighten the drawstring, but you can't undo a short that's pulling across the hips mid-clinch.
Thai sizing tends to run narrower than U.S. sizing. A medium in a major Thai brand like YOKKAO, Fairtex, or Raja may fit more like a U.S. small. Always check the size chart in centimeters or inches, not just the size label.
Practical Notes for New Buyers
- Washing: Turn satin shorts inside out, wash cold, hang dry. The dryer degrades elastic faster and can crack sublimated prints over time.
- Two pairs minimum: If you're training more than three days a week, you want at least two pairs so you're not rushing to dry gear before class.
- Compression underneath: Most Muay Thai practitioners wear compression shorts beneath their training shorts. It prevents chafing during long rounds of clinch and is common even at the beginner level.
What to Spend on Your First Pair
You don't need to spend $80 on your first pair of Muay Thai shorts. A solid satin pair from a known brand — YOKKAO, Fairtex, Twins, or comparable — will run between $30 and $50 and hold up through a full beginner training phase. Save the premium pairs for when you know what length and cut you prefer.
At Florencia Fight Co, we carry YOKKAO Muay Thai shorts alongside other established brands, all sized and described accurately so you're not guessing when you order. If you're unsure which cut fits your body type, reach out before you buy — we'd rather spend two minutes helping you get it right than process an exchange.
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