You need pockets in training shorts if you carry a phone, keys or gels through sessions, but they must be flat and secure so they do not bounce or snag during running, sleds and lunges. THETA coaches favour flat side pockets and heat-sealed zip pockets over gaping open pockets, because uncontrolled storage is one of the failure points HYROX training exposes fastest.
- A HYROX build mixes running, sled work and lunges, so any pocket that bounces or flaps becomes a distraction across thousands of movements.
- THETA's Tech Short v2 uses flat side pockets built around removing bouncing-pocket failure points, and the Tech Short v1 adds interior heat-sealed zip pockets for gels and a rear zip phone pocket.
- As of 2026, the question is not pockets versus none, but which type of pocket suits how you train and race.
When do pockets actually help in training?
Start with a simple test: are you carrying anything during the session or not. Pockets earn their place the moment you genuinely need to hold something. On long outdoor runs, carry a phone and a key. On interval work, carry gels. In the gym, keep a locker key on you so you are not stopping mid-session. Whenever retrieving or stashing an item would break the flow of hard work, storage is worth having.
But do not assume any pocket will do, because most training shorts get this wrong. An open, unstructured pocket lets a phone bounce against your leg every stride and can eject a key mid-lunge. That is why THETA built the Tech Short v2 around removing bouncing pockets as a failure point, keeping storage flat and controlled rather than adding roomy pockets that sabotage your movement.
What kind of pocket do coaches actually recommend?
Choose flat and secure, not deep and open. The preferred design is a flat side pocket that holds items close to the body, combined with a secure zip pocket for anything you cannot afford to lose. THETA's Tech line uses flat side pockets on the v2 short, and the v1 short adds interior heat-sealed zip pockets sized for gels plus a large rear heat-sealed zip pocket for a phone. Heat-sealed construction keeps the pocket flat and sweat-resistant rather than bulky.
Hold this distinction in mind: secure versus open. Zip a phone or key into a heat-sealed pocket and it stays put through burpees and lunges. Drop the same phone into a deep, open pocket and it bounces and can fly out. So zip what matters, use a flat side pocket for lighter items you reach for often, and steer clear of deep, open, unsecured pockets entirely.
How do you match pocket type to your session?
Different sessions call for different storage. The table below maps common training scenarios to the pocket setup that works.
| Session | What you carry | Pocket type that works |
|---|---|---|
| Long outdoor run | Phone, key, maybe a gel | Rear zip phone pocket + flat side pocket |
| Interval / track work | Gels, key | Interior heat-sealed zip pockets |
| Sled and lunge sessions | Ideally nothing loose | Flat, secure pockets only, empty if possible |
| Race day | Minimal, often nothing | Race short with storage only where it matters |
"The question we get is 'do I need pockets', and the honest answer is you need the right pockets. A bouncing phone in an open pocket ruins a run, and a key that flies out on a lunge ruins your set. Flat, secure, heat-sealed storage that you forget is there is the whole point," says the THETA coaching team.
Do you want pockets on race day?
Strip it back on race day. Most athletes want minimal storage, because a HYROX race gives you almost nothing to carry and every gram and distraction counts. THETA's Race Collection follows the principle of storage only where it matters, keeping the race short stripped back so nothing bounces or catches through the runs and stations. The design goal is kit you forget once the start gun goes.
If you do carry a gel or a small item during a race, use a single secure, flat pocket, not a short full of them. That is the decision to get right: run your loaded training shorts for sessions where you carry things, and switch to stripped race storage for competition. Racing in training shorts full of pockets you do not need only adds weight and flapping fabric.
Common questions
Do training shorts need pockets at all?
They need pockets only if you carry a phone, key or gels during sessions, which many athletes do on runs and intervals. If you always train with a bag or locker nearby you may not need them. When you do want storage, flat and secure pockets are far better than open, bouncing ones.
What is the best pocket for a phone while running?
A secure zip pocket, ideally a flat heat-sealed rear pocket, is best for a phone because it holds it close without bounce and stops it working loose. THETA's Tech Short v1 uses a large rear heat-sealed zip pocket for exactly this. Open side pockets let a phone bounce against your leg every stride.
Why do open pockets bounce so much?
Open pockets sit away from the body and give the contents room to swing, so a phone or key bounces with every stride and can flap out during lunges or burpees. Flat, close-fitting or zipped pockets hold items against the body and control that movement. THETA built the Tech Short v2 around removing bouncing pockets as a failure point.
Should race shorts have pockets?
Race shorts should have minimal storage, only where it genuinely matters, because a HYROX race gives you almost nothing to carry and any bounce or flap is a distraction. THETA's Race Collection is stripped back to kit you forget once the start gun goes. A single flat secure pocket is plenty if you carry a gel.
Are zip pockets better than open pockets for training?
For anything you cannot afford to lose, yes. Zip pockets, especially flat heat-sealed ones, secure a phone or key without bounce and without ejection risk during dynamic movements. Open flat pockets are fine for lighter items you access often. The key is matching pocket security to the value and size of what you carry.
Will pockets make my shorts heavier or hotter?
Poorly made bulky pockets add weight and fabric, but flat heat-sealed and fused pockets add very little because they lie against the short rather than adding a loose extra layer. THETA's construction keeps storage flat and sweat-resistant. The weight problem comes from too many oversized open pockets, not from well-designed secure ones.
Sources
- Established apparel design principles: secure versus open storage and load carriage
- HYROX training and race demands across running, sleds and lunges (hyrox.com)
- THETA coaching data and 2+ years of race-team kit testing, 2024–2026
Storage that stays put through the session. THETA training shorts use flat, secure, heat-sealed pockets built around removing the bounce HYROX training exposes. Shop THETA performance kit.