Movement and Comfort in Style with the Essential Short from Branwyn

I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing several items from Branwyn Performance Innerwear in the past (read about that here) and I was thrilled to try out the Essential Compressive Short. I’ve always been a big fan of Merino wool, and I love that Branwyn is so eco-friendly. These aren’t available to buy yet, but they are coming soon and you can put your name on the wait list on their website today!

Looks & Fit

You can’t go wrong with basic black, and that’s the color I got for these shorts. I don’t know if other colors will be available when these release, but I’m here for the black.

The website advises that if you are between sizes, you should consider sizing up. I sometimes wear a size medium and sometimes a large and I opted for a size large knowing that they were meant to be compressive. I carry my weight in my hips and thighs and the large was the right call. These hug your hips and are on the short side, in my opinion, despite the fact that the inseam is 6.”

Function & Construction

The fabulousness of these shorts is that they are seamless. No itchy seams in weird places, no lumps and bumps in the material, no fuss at all. The 4-way stretch knit is also a huge plus, as these shorts are very comfortable and will accommodate all methods of movement through your day. The waistband is nice and wide, which is great for those of us who carry a bit of extra weight in the tummy area, and this also means they won’t dig in or slide down easily. All of these components amount to a wonderful second-skin feel on your body.

Did I also mention that these shorts are made with Branwyn’s proprietary POWRspun Merino tech? This naturally sustainable material from New Zealand is magical. Being wool, these are warm when they need to be, but Merino is not at all itchy. The material is also sweat-wicking, which means moisture is pulled away from your skin when you sweat and it also dries really quickly. This material is also temperature regulating and odor resistant as well as “BPA-, PFA- and forever-chemical free.”

These shorts are “essential” as the title suggests because they are a great everyday pair of shorts if you’re on the move. Take them for a run, a bike ride, a fitness class, or even on a boat. You’ll forget they are on but there’s no awkward nakedness.

One thing worth mentioning is that the shorts aren’t totally “squat proof.” There may be some transparency depending on the activity you are engaging in, but throwing on a pair of black underwear will help with that.