u/Run4bagels

I’ve had the Chance to put the Chance Ultra Short through numerous long runs and an ultramarathon now, and in short, wow. I prefer storage solutions with the center of mass on my waist and Chance has nailed this with their integrated belt. This is my go to solution for long runs.

I am not sponsored by Chance Running (or anyone) and purchased these with my own money.

I’ll start with the important stuff:

Storage: fantastic. You have 6 total pockets and I’d wager about 3-4L of storage. 4 pockets in the belt, and 2 deep drop in pockets on the side. I can easily get a liter of fluids (pictured, 650ml in the back and 360ml in the front), plus a half dozen gels and my keys and headphones in the belt with room to spare. You could easily stuff a stow-able layer in there too. The drop in pockets are deep and secure. You could easily get another soft flask in one side, and any sized phone in the other. The best part however is that the items in the belt do not bounce when sized correctly even at speed. I’ve run low 5 minute miles with them fully loaded without bounce. Everything is easily accessible on the move because the pockets have big pull tabs. Very well designed.

Fit: I’m 6’1 ~ 140 lbs and went with a small which fits perfectly. The inseam is slightly short compared to most half tights but as someone used to 3 in inseam split shorts I hardly mind. Do note that if you’re not used to waist based storage while running, you do have to wear the belt up a little higher than you might think for the best fit and for the storage to not bounce or sag. The belt part of the sport should be an inch or two below your belly button.

Materials / quality: these feel great and have stood up well to a half dozen washes already. They’re made in Portugal of materials that feel soft on the skin, but withstand rugged conditions. No irritable seams or chafing so far. The belt has remained taught.

Cons: price and availability in the US. I paid about $200 for these from one of the only US stockists. I candidly don’t mind paying for quality and well designed goods, but they can be difficult to get your hands on a pair.

I also wouldn’t mind loops on the back of the belt for another layer / pole storage.

Overall I’m very satisfied and think these are the most complete storage solution I’ve tried. I have plenty of belts and other shorts with built in storage, but the Chance shorts put it all together in a single package in a way other brands haven’t. I’ll probably grab another pair. I still want to try the Wise Sherpas but I’m waiting for a tariff break. Feel free to ask any questions.

I’ve had the trailtech shorts for about 3 months now and have put them through the wringer. A little about me, I’m 6’1, 145 lbs, and a competitive amateur trail runner / ultramarathoner. Avg. weekly volume is 80-100 miles / week about half on roads half on trails. Typically 2 runs a week close to or exceeding 2 hours where I need significant hydration especially in the summer.

My use case: I wanted shorts that added fluid and phone storage capacity for my longer runs without any compromise on fit, bounce, or admittedly aesthetics. I have a quiver of belts (include both Raide 1l / 2L if anyone wants a review) and vests (Raide, Salomon, Tantrums) but lately I’ve been preferring to run without a vest. I picked up the Raide shorts because I’ve been very happy with the belts, and was interested in the trailtech “ecosystem”. The shorts are specifically designed to be able to be worn in tandem with the belts, the pocket openings are placed below where the belt sits. Also I love the Raide design language. Lately I’ve been running water bottles in the belt with carb mix in soft flasks in the shorts.

Fit: these bad boys are tight. I usually take a 29 or 30 in the waist and the small is just right. I do have to wiggle them on a bit, but once they’re on they don’t go anywhere even without the waistband tied.

Materials / quality: the shorts feel great. They have a more durable outer shell and a softer, compressive tight underneath. Laser cut seams and rubber dots on all the edges ensure nothing rides up or chafes. This is what I expect from a pair of shorts at this price point.

Storage: the most important part. The shorts hold 360 ml flasks in the drop in pockets on both sides no problem. There is 0 bounce when loaded up. I usually run them with a flask on one side and my phone on the other. I’ve also done a flask on both sides. Nothing moves. One critique is that once a flask starts to get empty, it sinks lower into the pocket and sometimes flips around. Not a big issue though, you just reach deeper. Another small critique is that when you first get the shorts it can be difficult to actually access the pocket on the move because it’s so tight, but it gets better with use. The drop in pockets fit an iPhone 17 max easily. They also store gels in 2 miniature gel pockets adjacent to each larger drop in pocket. The back of the shorts have loops for a layer or poles.

All around I’m very happy with the shorts and have chosen them for recent races and long runs out of a lot of gear. Let me know if anyone has questions about them. Im very interested in “cargo” trail running shorts and being able to go further with innovative storage solutions. I just receive the Chance Ultra Shorts v.3 and will post a review after testing them out. I also intend on eventually ordering the Wise Sherpa shorts or 532 shorts and testing those out, but have not found a solution to getting a pair in the US without ridiculous duties / tariffs. Also let me know if there are other appropriate subreddits who would be interested.