Training companion, the T8 sherpa shorts
Brisbane Trail Ultra Gold Creek Reservoir check point legend Leigh and Cora up at Flinder’s Peak. Note Cora is not carrying a pack, rather she’s in the T8 blue women’s sherpa shorts and has everything she needed for a 10km hike in her sherpa pockets. I might just mention, Leigh is also in black sherpa shorts and commandos here!
It was back in 2019 that I was first introduced to the T8 sherpa shorts V1. I remember when the first men’s sherpa shorts were released and David Longo (our BTU 60km 3rd place getting in our inaugural year!) was showing me. The women’s version was in development at the time and we were very much hounding David to have them released in Australia ASAP as I thought they would be the perfect training companion for us in Brisbane.
So what is the fuss with these shorts? They’re super light weight fabric coming in at only 78gsm and the hyper-stretch waist band houses several large pockets to hold whatever you like. The T8 sherpa has a much more technical story to its development. It was developed in Hong Kong by 2 blokes that loved to run. For anyone that knows Hong Kong, it is hot for half the year and is known for walls that sweat as well, with humidity that constantly sits above 85%. Does this sound a little like Brisbane weather? This means that sweating just doesn’t allow the body to cool by evaporation. The shorts needed not just a light weight material, but one that has the least heat insulation effects, has good wicking ability, quick drying and breathable.
As I am writing this, I am keenly waiting for my red T8 sherpa shorts to arrive from Endurance Edge. The red would definitely be a good addition to my T8 shorts collection. Thanks for organising a pre-order Tegyn!
When you first pick up the shorts, they feel super light, super thin and just look technical. The mesh waist band is wide enough to fit a large mobile phone. And unlike the usual shorts with pockets, the four pockets around the top take up the entire circumference of the band, and rather than traditional pockets, they are more a stretchy pouch that closes due to the elastic nature of the band. I loved the attention to detail in that there’s clip in the right front pocket for keys. The other small touches include the bib loops at the front, as well as the reflective logos that help with visibility while night running.
I’m also a fan of plain colours. The T8 Sherpa shorts come in black, sky blue, bottle green and red (on pre-order and on their way to us in Brisbane as we speak!!). I’m not a fan of patterned gear and you’ll always find me in solid kit. So these shorts suit me very well.
The sizing is very flexible. I find that I can wear a huge range of sizes depending on what I need to carry and how long I am running for. I go between the men’s and women’s depending on the length of leg I am looking for as well. The difference I have noticed between the men’s and women’s shorts though, is that the mesh waist band sits higher in the men’s shorts than they do in the equivalent women’s size. I really recommend trying these on or measuring your waist before choosing your shorts as this will really give you the best fit. If you are not a fan of short shorts, I’d suggest women to grab the men’s version. Many of my friends run in the men’s version and honestly, they are named men and women’s but they are really unisex.
These shorts are super comfortable. If you’re not used to high-waisted pants, or wearing a running belt, then it may take you a couple of runs to get used to them. If you’re used to wearing tights, then there won’t be any problem. I’ve taken these shorts through their paces on many different runs. From the Brisbane Trail Ultra training camps to a 12 hour track run, and climbing. They were stretchy enough to climb without any restriction. One tip is that as you sweat, the shorts can loosen and that may make the shorts ride up a little. So in this case, adjust the draw string and all is set!
I have filled the pockets on many a run. A phone in the back pocket, a couple of gels & keys in the right, and a couple of soft flasks (270mL x2) on the left and front. I love the fact that I can head out for a longish run without a pack. T8 say you can hold up to 1L of water in them! My only issue with these pockets is that I have lost things in there and I recall that after the 12 hour track run, I forgot I had been carrying nutrition in the back the entire time until I sat down at the end. They are definitely light and wicking.
The T8 Sherpa shorts are definitely part of my general running kit. They are super comfortable and if you wear them with the T8 commandos, can feel like you’re not wearing much at all.
Cora
