Brooks Journey Shorts Review: The Everyday Workhorse Trainer

They’re not the kind of shorts you “gear-nerd” over. They’re the kind you grab because you’re heading out the door, you want to carry your essentials for the 30-60min run you’re heading out on.

Intro:

We gearheads here at Adventure Worthy do enjoy getting our hands on the latest and greatest equipment. However, we love seeing a gear item that has all the same bells and whistles as the premier price point gear items, but at a price point that is a lot more approachable. Brooks Journey shorts hit the nail with these: 6 pockets that are made with running in mind, a liner with little stitching, and manufactured with fabric that just works.

The Verdict:

If you want a running short that feels straightforward, carries your phone/keys/gels, the Journey Shorts make a strong case, especially at the price point. These shorts are great for someone getting into trail running and wants a pair of shorts that carry the essentials and do not necessarily need a belt or vest.  These shorts are perfect as a daily trainer: quick trail runs, weekday fitness miles, and the kind of 5–10K where you want to carry a phone and a gel or two

The one thing to know up front: the fabric doesn’t feel premium. This is workhorse gear. It’s built to get sweaty, get dusty, go in the wash, and get back on the line.

+What We Like:

• Storage done right: Pockets on the side and towards the rear. 

• Everyday-trainer comfort.

• Strong value for the feature set. MSRP is $65 for the Journey Shorts, which is reasonable given the storage, liner, and fabric package.

-What We Don’t Like:

• The liner won’t be everyone’s favorite. The cut and fabric aren’t the most comfortable compared to others.

• Pockets may not be secured enough for smaller items

Nitty Gritty: (We reviewed the 7in)

• Fit: Semi-Fitted

• Inseam: 7” (17.8cm)

• 6 Pockets: 1 Zipper, 1 inner pocket in liner, 4 drop-in pockets

• Colors (at time of writing): Black, Midnight Run, Slate Grey/Black, Burgundy Blaze

• Fabric: 89% polyester / 11% spandex; Liner Fabric, 91% polyester / 9% spandex

• Weight (Size M): 4.55 oz

• Price (At time of Writing): $65

Fit and Feel:

The Journey is built simply and not complex: give the legs room to move, the waistband is stable, and let the fabric stretch and not restrict. 

On the trail, the fit works across a lot of terrain: climbing, bounding over rocks, and descending without the shorts feeling restrictive. The waistband uses a drawcord/adjustability system that helps you narrow down the fit you want, and easy to make adjustments on the go.

Pocket System:

The Journey shorts offer a great number of pockets. The shorts use 4 expandable drop-in side pockets. On the back, the shorts have a great phone pocket that easily holds my phone with out and problem. (I have an iPhone 13). There is a small pocket inside that is part of the liner. 

The hip pockets are great for carrying gels. They’re positioned for quick access and don’t require you to fish around mid-run. Due to the fabric that is used to create the side pockets, when the pockets are loaded, they are prone to bouncing around. I would recommend not putting any valuables in these pockets as they can bounce out. I solely use these pockets for gels. I leave a key in the small pocket in the liner and my phone in the dedicated phone pocket.

Personal Drawbacks with these shorts:

Brooks builds the Journey around a supportive brief liner. On paper, it’s a good solution: fewer seams to fight, less chafe risk, and a “put them on and go” setup. 

But preference matters here. Personally, I’m in the camp that likes choosing my own liner/boxer briefs, especially for longer runs, so the built-in liner is the reason these aren’t the first pick I’m going for a long run. For a quick 5–10K, though, it’s a non-issue: the convenience wins, and the shorts do exactly what they’re supposed to do. The reason I prefer boxer brief style liners is due to my thighs. I have thicker thighs than most, and I easily chafe in the upper inner thigh region. Unfortunately, liner briefs don’t cover this region for me. So that is why I wish Brooks offered these shorts w/o a liner.

Who it’s for:

At $65 MSRP, the Journey lands in a sweet spot: not bargain-bin cheap, but meaningfully more accessible than the premium shorts tier, especially when you factor in how much storage is built in. 

This is the short I’d recommend to:

• Newer runners who want one pair that can handle most training runs, and who want to carry keys/gels/phone without buying a separate belt. 

• Trail runners doing shorter efforts who want a clean, practical kit: minimal, stable, functional pockets. 

Final Thoughts:

For runners who want a reliable, everyday training short, especially newer runners looking for a good entry-level pair, the Journey Shorts are a smart buy. The pocket system is great, and the $65 price point makes it feel like a “workhorse” option you won’t hesitate to wear hard