Skorts are back, baby! As a self-proclaimed skort-lover, I couldn’t be more thrilled about the news. While it’s been a very, very long time since I rocked a skort—we’re talking Limited Too days—this trend resurgence made me want to suss out the very best skorts to assist my fellow fans.

While skorts are nothing new, the designs today truly are innovative in both textile and design. And I would know! For this piece, I tried over two dozen versions, paying close attention to sizing, length, breathability, comfort, and, of course, color selection. Ahead, find the 10 best skorts.

What materials to look for in a skort

Once upon a time, skorts were primarily sold in cotton and polyester. Nowadays, they’re available in all sorts of fabrics, including denim, khaki, spandex, and, best of all, recycled materials. No matter your textile preference, you’re bound to be able to find a skort that fits your fancy. That said, if your main goal is comfort, skorts designed with a bit of stretch (whether in the form of spandex or elastane) are best, as are those made with lightweight, breathable material (like cotton and polyester).

The 10 best skorts for Summer

Most versatile:

Athleta, Transcend Skort — $79.00

Available sizes: XXS-3XL

Size tested: L

Of the dozens of skorts I tried, the Athleta Transcend Skort surprised me most of all. When I unpackaged it, I wasn’t impressed with the silhouette (to say the least). It’s long and ruched on the sides and, to be frank, looked like something I would never wear. But then I put it on. The buttery-soft black skirt is so versatile, I cannot emphasize this enough: If you’re looking for a skort that you can run errands in, run to the office in, and run to the bar in, this is it.

It can be worn fully extended to hit right around the knees, or it can be pushed up to be a mid-thigh or mini skirt. No matter how high you push it up, though, it never looks bulky or bunched. And the fact that it has pockets and a breathable mesh gusset on the shorts underneath? I’m swooning.

Of course, no product (or at least very, very few) is truly perfect. My one complaint about this skort is that it has the Athleta logo in white on the back waistband. If it didn’t have that, you’d truly never guess that this is from an athletic brand.

Material: Polyester and spandexColors: 4

Pros:

• Adjustable length
• Hidden pockets
• Breathable gusset

Cons:

• Visible logo on the back

Best running skort:

Free People Movement, On Point Skort — $30.00

Originally $50, now $30

Availablesizes: XS- XL

Size tested: L

The FP Movement On Point Skort is so breezy and breathable that it barely felt like I had anything on. Of course, that may have also been due to the super short silhouette. Keep in mind, this skort has a flowy dolphin hem, so it lets the shorts peek out from beneath on the sides while being fully covered from the front and back. It’s because of this hem and the breezy, lightweight fabric that this skirt is particularly fab for jogging and running. One more thing: If you’re not into logos of any kind, know that the shorts have a small FP Movement logo.

Material: Polyester and elastaneColors: 3

Pros:

• Super lightweight
• Elastic waistband
• Drawstring for adjustability
• Side pockets

Cons:

• Sold out in some sizes/colors
• Is very short (shorts: 10-inch rise, 2.5-inch inseam)
  

Best crossover skort:

OFFLINE By Aerie, Real Me Crossover Tennis Skort — $30.00

Available sizes: XXS-XXL

Size tested: L

The OFFLINE by Aerie Real Me High Waisted Legging is my go-to everyday black legging, so when I saw that the brand debuted a skort in the same buttery fabric, I had to get my hands on it. Like the leggings, this skort fits like a dream. The crossover waistband is wide, so it doesn’t dig in, nor fall down. The material is super lightweight and the shorts are long enough to prevent my thighs from chafing. All wins in my book.

Material: Nylon and elastaneColors: 2

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Breathable
• Stretchy and unrestrictive

Cons:

• No pockets
• Only two colors (black and white)

Best denim skort:

AFRM, Madelyn Mini Skirt — $88.00

Available sizes: 24-32

Size tested: 32

A denim skort! Despite being a devoted skort wearer back in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, I’d never see a denim skort (unless it was one of those ones that looked like shorts from the back). While I typically despise non-stretch denim, AFRM nailed it with its Madelyn Mini Skirt, which looks like a true high-waisted mini but features shorts underneath. I particularly love the thigh slit on this skort, though, in my size, I find that it pulls a bit despite fitting overall.

Material: Cotton denimColors: 1

Pros:

• Cute style
• Relaxed feel
• Back zipper

Cons:

• Slight gaping at the waist
• Slight pulling at the slit

Best tennis skort:

Lululemon, Court Rival High-Rise Skirt — $88.00

Available sizes: 0-14

Size tested: 12

The Lululemon Court Rival High-Rise Skirt feels a lot like the Free People one, only instead of showcasing the shorts on the side, it has extra fabric to conceal them. The skort has a wide elastic band that doesn’t dig in or roll down, and is made of moisture-wicking fabric designed with four-way stretch for optimal comfort and movement.

My favorite feature? The dual-entry pockets that let you store tennis balls from the bottom and items you don’t want to fall out from the top. But that’s not all: The right pocket even has a reinforced cord hole, that I imagine is for weaning headphones through. (Though, I’m not sure who still uses corded headphones, so that may not be quite the perk the brand intended.)

Material: Polyester, elastane, nylonColors: 7

Pros:

• Lightweight and breezy
  
• Full coverage
• Stretchy
• Unique pockets for tennis balls
• Mesh panels for airflow

Cons:

• Select styles/colors sold out
• Silicone grippers might be uncomfortable for some

Best khaki skort:

Abercrombie & Fitch, Pleated Chino Mini Skort — $48.00

Originally $60, now $48

Available sizes: XXS -XL

Size tested: L

Abercrombie & Fitch is another brand that’s really upped their game in the past few years. While they have a few styles that I genuinely love and look forward to wearing this summer, none compare to the Abercrombie & Fitch Pleated Chino Mini Skort.

Thought it gaps a bit in the waist, the soft, lightweight skort has edgy pleating and small belt loops for a ‘90s or early ‘00s skater vibe. Best of all, the shorts, while offering full coverage, feel light the coziest PJ shorts, so this is a genuine delight to wear all day long. (P.S. It looks a lot like the Free People Heartbreaker Skort Taylor Swift was seen wearing recently, but for nearly half the price.)

Material: Cotton and elastaneColors: 2

Pros:

• Soft yet structured
• Lightweight
• Belt loops

Cons:

• Slight gaping at the waist
• Select colors/sizes sold out
• Only sold in two neutral colors

Best cotton skort:

Victoria's Secret Pink, Cotton Active Skort — $30.00

Available sizes: XS- XXLSize tested: L

Craving more cotton in your wardrobe? The Pink Cotton Active Skort is a nice option. The mini silhouette features a flirty slit detail that looks straight out of the ‘90s or early ‘00s. It shows off a peek of the shorts beneath, which have built-in pockets. And since it has a cotton gusset, you can go commando without any concern (should you want to, that is).

Just keep in mind that, since it’s made primarily with cotton (with a touch of stretch), it likely will show sweat lines, so you may not want to get too active (or too hot) in it. I also recommend going a size up as it runs small.

Material: Cotton and elastaneColors: 5

Pros:

• Fun colors
• Breathable
• Slit detailing

Cons:

• Might show sweat easily/not dry fast
• Runs small

Best pleated skort:

Adidas, Ultimate365 Tour Pleated 15-Inch Golf Skort — $51.00

Originally $85, now $51

Available sizes: XS-XL

Size tested: L

The Adidas Ultimate365 Tour Pleated 15-Inch Golf Skort is longer and more modest but that bright orangey-red color drew me in. Beyond looks, the skort is made with super soft and remarkable lightweight jersey and polyester that has a slight athletic sheen (you know what I’m talking about).

Material: Jersey and recycled polyesterColors: 3

Pros:

• Classic pleated design
  
• Wide band with zip pocket
• Hidden exterior pockets
• Hidden pocket underneath shorts

Cons:

• Runs large
• Longer than other skorts

Most unique design:

Nike, NikeCourt Dri-FIT Advantage Women's Pleated Tennis Skirt — $48.00

Available sizes: XS-XL

I love the look of the NikeCourt Dri-FIT Advantage Women’s Pleated Tennis Skirt, which features a flowy skirt overlay that’s long enough to conceal the crotch of the spandex shorts underneath, but not long enough to cover up the hems—but it’s purposeful. It’s a quirky, design-forward silhouette that I could see working to tennis, as well as running to the farmer’s market.

Material: Recycled polyesterColors: 5

Pros:

• Wide elastic waistband
  
• Breathable spandex shorts
• Hidden side pockets
• Colorful

Cons:

• Sold out in some colors/sizes

Best golf skort:

Spanx, Sunshine Skort — $88.00

Available sizes: XS-XL

If you like the look of old-school skorts where you can see the shorts from the back—and if you love the idea of light shaping—the Spanx Sunshine Skort might be a solid choice. The new style features a mid-rise with a modest short, making it great for golfers and those looking for more coverage in general.

Material: Nylon and elastaneColors: 4

Pros:

• UPF 50+
  
• Pull-on design
• Chlorine and salt-resistant fabric
• Faux-wrap style
• Functional back pockets

Cons:

• Shows shorts from the back like a traditional skort