During my 14th marathon I started to get annoyed with my running shorts. In the warm weather they kept riding up in the middle and I was focusing undue attention on yanking them into place. These Race Ready shorts have been my go-to shorts for races because of their unparalleled ability to hold fuel and accessories. However the time had come to try something new.

I know I’m way behind the running skirt bandwagon but I have been admiring how cute they are and have been influenced by women who say they’ll never go back to shorts. After my recent shorts angst I decided to test out some running skirts.

Late one night I sat at my computer reading reviews of dozens of running skirts. I knew the “perfect” skirt would have to be one to accommodate my large thighs and be on the longer side of the spectrum so that my confidence level didn’t take a total nose dive.

I ended up ordering four running skirts and evaluated them on fit, appearance, undershorts, storage (pockets), and price on a scale of 0-5 (zero being horrible and five being excellent).

Running Skirt Ratings and Reviews

*Note, this page contains affiliate links. If you buy a skirt using one of these links we will get a commission.

Lulemon Pace Setter Skirt Tall: Overall evaluation 4/5

I first tested this skirt during the Garmin Marathon. I broke the cardinal rule of not wearing anything new on race day, but I figure after 15 marathons I have the right to break a few rules.

• Fit: This skirt has a universally flattering fit. The waistband is thick and comfortable with a drawstring for adjustability. The fabric is lightweight, moisture wicking and cool and there was no chaffing. The fit is good but you may want to order a size down. 5/5
• Appearance: Let me just say that this skirt is cute, cute, cute. I love the ruffles in the back and the pleating gives you extra room to move. I bought this skirt in black even though it comes in a large variety of colors. The front length is 13.25 inches and it’s a little longer in the back at 14.25 inches. I ordered the tall version of the Pace Setter Skirt for the longer length. It also comes in a shorter length (12.25 front and 13.25 back). 5/5
• Undershorts: The built in shorts are approximately 4 inches in length and have a sticky elastic on the hem to keep them in place. In reality, the shorts rolled up in the first mile and I gave up on tugging them down. Once I resigned myself to the fact that they would just have to stay rolled up it didn’t bother me anymore. 2/5
• Storage: This skirt could improve its storage capabilities. It had one secure zipper pocket on the back waistband and two inner gel pockets. I ended up wearing my SPI belt so that I could fit all my marathon fuel comfortably. 4/5
• Price: At $58 this is a moderately priced skirt. This company makes quality clothing so I think it will hold up well for the price. 4/5

Moving Comfort Momentum Skort– Overall evaluation: 4.2/5
I tested this skirt on some shorter to medium length runs of 5-8 miles.

• Fit: This is a comfortable skirt that runs true to size. It has a 2 inch wide waistband that sits lower on the hips. The fabric is a tight knit mesh and wicks well. It provides good freedom of movement. The skirt does ride up a little while running. 4/5
• Appearance: I ordered the black and white urban stripe. This skirt has a cute sporty look and a 14.5 inch length. 4/5
• Undershorts: The undershorts have a 5 inch length and have a inner gripper elastic to hold them in place. The shorts are snug and actually stay in place. The crotch has a double layer liner and there was no chaffing or binding. 5/5
• Storage: This skirt has good storage capacity with two leg stash pockets on the undershorts and two mesh pockets on the sides of the skirt. I haven’t tested anything more than gels in these pockets so I don’t know how secure they would be for keys or a room card. 4/5
• Price: At $50 this skirt is moderately priced. 4/5

Sugoi Verve Long Skirt– Overall evaluation: 4.2/5
I tested this skirt on some runs of 5-7 miles in length.

• Fit: This skirt is very lightweight and cool with a wide comfortable waistband. It didn’t get heavy or cumbersome even in the rain. The skirt’s slight flare allows for ease of movement. The front rode up a little in the wind but the back stayed down very well. I ordered a medium and it seemed true to size. 5/5
• Appearance: This skirt has a longer length of 16 inches and is very attractive (at first glance you might not know it was a running skirt). It has a small flower design on the lower right side and is slightly flared with scalloped side slits. 5/5
• Undershorts: The undershorts are made of a moisture wicking fabric with a boxer brief cut of approximately 4 inches in length. They are comfortable and stay in place. 5/5
• Storage: The storage in this skirt is its weak link. There is only one pocket which would fit 1-2 gels. 2/5
• Price: At $50 this is a moderately priced skirt. 4/5

Pearl Izumi Ultra Skirt– Overall evaluation: 3.2/5
I tested this skirt on some shorter to medium length runs.

• Fit: The Pearl Izumi Ultra Skirt is made of a comfortable Transfer Dry fabric that is lightweight and dries quickly. The fabric is so lightweight that the skirt flies up a little during running. The seams are comfortable and the waistband has a drawstring for optimum fit. 4/5
• Appearance: This skirt has a different appearance. The seam doesn’t lay flat where it attaches the skirt to the undershorts giving it a slightly bunched appearance. The front length is 12 inches and the back is 15 inches. 2/5
• Undershorts: The undershorts are a full coverage brief with crotch lining. The shorts rode up slightly creating a mild wedgie effect which was slightly annoying. 3/5
• Storage: This skirt is awesome when it comes to storage. It has a patented Gel Flask Pocketing System with one large zippered back pocket and two small side slash pockets. This is one skirt that could handle my marathon fuels. 5/5
• Price: At $70 this is a higher priced skirt. 2/5

I will definitely be wearing running skirts more for marathons. I don’t know if I’ll retire my trusty Race Ready shorts completely, but some of these skirts have given them a run for their money. I’d encourage you to read various reviews before you invest in a skirt so that you get the best one for your body type.

Happy running!