You know how some clothes just disappear into the back of your closet, never to be seen again? That never happened with the Lululemon What The Sport shorts. If you were around the Lululemon scene circa 2014 or 2015, you probably remember the absolute frenzy. People weren't just buying them; they were hunting them. It’s kinda wild to think that a pair of running shorts could cause that much drama, but here we are, years later, and people are still scouring Poshmark and eBay for a pair that hasn't lost its elastic.
They weren't just shorts. They were a weird, hybrid experiment that somehow worked.
What Made the What The Sport Shorts Actually Different?
Lululemon has a habit of naming things in a way that feels a bit "inside baseball." When they dropped the Lululemon What The Sport shorts, the name itself was a nod to the versatility. They were designed to be the "everything" short. You could run a 10k, hit a CrossFit WOD, or just grab a latte without feeling like you were wearing a diaper or something too skimpy.
The design used Swift fabric. Honestly, Swift is the GOAT for high-intensity sweat. It’s lightweight, it has that four-way stretch, and it doesn’t hold onto moisture like a sponge. But the real magic was the cut.
Most Lululemon shorts at the time—and even now—fall into two camps: the Speed Short (now the Speed Up) or the Tracker. The Lululemon What The Sport shorts sat right in the middle. They featured a 3-inch inseam, which is the "Goldilocks" length for a lot of runners. Not so short that you're flashing the neighborhood, but not so long that they're dragging on your quads during a sprint.
The waistband was another huge talking point. It was wide. It stayed flat. Unlike the original Speed Shorts that had a bit more of a gathered, "scrunchy" waistband, these felt sleek.
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The Split Leg Drama
One thing you'll notice if you look at a pair today is the side split. It wasn't a huge, gaping hole, but it provided just enough room for your legs to move. If you have muscular thighs—what the fitness community affectionately calls "quads"—you know the struggle of shorts riding up. The Lululemon What The Sport shorts mostly solved this.
- They had a continuous drawcord. This is huge because losing a drawstring in the wash is a special kind of hell.
- The back zippered pocket was actually big enough for a key and a gel.
- The liner didn't dig in. Most "Lulu-heads" agree the liner was one of the softest they ever produced.
Why Did They Stop Making Them?
It's the question that haunts the Lululemon subreddits. Basically, Lululemon's business model relies on "scarcity and iteration." They release something, it sells out, and then they tweak it. Sometimes the tweak is good. Sometimes it’s the Speed Up short, which many people love, but others feel lacks the "soul" of the What The Sport.
There was a period where the brand leaned heavily into the "Speed" franchise. They consolidated their designs. Having twenty different types of running shorts is a logistical nightmare for manufacturing. So, the Lululemon What The Sport shorts got the axe to make room for more streamlined production.
It's a shame.
The secondhand market for these is still surprisingly robust. You’ll see them listed for $40 or $50 even now, which is impressive for a garment that might be eight years old. It speaks to the durability of the Swift fabric. If you take care of it, it basically lasts forever. Just don't put them in the dryer. Seriously. The heat kills the Lycra, and then you get those weird little white elastic "hairs" sticking out of the seams. Nobody wants that.
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Comparing the "What The Sport" to Modern Alternatives
If you're looking for that same vibe today, you’re probably looking at the Speed Up Low-Rise Short 2.5" or 4". But it isn't quite the same. The Lululemon What The Sport shorts had a specific rise—it wasn't quite "low" but it wasn't "high" either. It hit that perfect mid-rise spot that felt secure during burpees.
The Speed Up vs. What The Sport
Speed Ups are great. Don't get me wrong. But they feel more "structured." The What The Sport had a flowiness to it. It felt less like a piece of equipment and more like a second skin.
A lot of runners also miss the specific pocket placement. Modern Lulu shorts often put the pocket right on the center back of the waistband. That’s fine for a phone, but if you’re doing floor work or stretching, that zipper can dig into your spine. The Lululemon What The Sport shorts had a slightly offset pocket that was just more ergonomic for "all-around" athletes.
Real-World Performance: A Long-Term Review
I've talked to people who have run marathons in these. I've talked to people who use them solely for hot yoga. The consensus is always the same: they don't move.
The biggest "fail" in athletic shorts is the "ride up." You start running, and within three minutes, the hem has migrated into places it shouldn't be. Because of the way the Lululemon What The Sport shorts were weighted—the hem had a slightly thicker bonded edge—they stayed put.
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- Breathability: 10/10. Even in 90-degree humidity, they don't get heavy.
- Chafe Factor: Minimal. The liner was seamless enough that most people didn't experience the dreaded "inner thigh burn."
- Style: They look "classic." They don't have the weird neon piping or over-the-top branding that some 2010-era gear had.
The Counter-Argument: Why Some People Hated Them
Look, not everything is perfect. Some people found the 3-inch inseam to be "no man's land." Too long for the track purists who want a 1-inch split short, and too short for the gym-goers who want 5 inches of coverage.
Also, the sizing could be wonky. Lululemon is notorious for "vanity sizing" or sometimes the opposite—making things so tiny you feel like a giant. The Lululemon What The Sport shorts tended to run a bit small in the waist. If you were a true size 6, you often had to grab an 8 just so you could breathe after a mile.
How to Spot a Fake or a "Dud" Online
If you're hunting for these on the resale market, you have to be careful. Because they are so old, the "rip tag" (that long skinny tag) is usually gone.
- Look for the "dot." Every pair of Lululemon What The Sport shorts should have a size dot hidden inside the back pocket.
- Check the "pilling." Swift fabric shouldn't really pill. If the shorts look fuzzy, they aren't Swift, or someone washed them with a bunch of velcro towels.
- The logo. On this specific model, the reflective logo is usually on the left leg hem. If it’s peeling off, that’s a sign of high heat drying, and the elastic might be shot.
Final Verdict on the Legend
The Lululemon What The Sport shorts represent a time when the brand was taking more risks with silhouettes. They weren't trying to please everyone; they were trying to make a high-performance hybrid.
If you find a pair in good condition, buy them. They’re a piece of athletic history that actually holds up under pressure.
Actionable Next Steps for Enthusiasts
If you’re trying to replicate the experience of the Lululemon What The Sport shorts in the current market, do this:
- Check Resale Sites Daily: Set a saved search for "Lululemon What The Sport" on Poshmark and Mercari. Sort by "Newest" to catch the deals before the collectors do.
- Inspect the Material: If buying used, ask the seller for a photo of the fabric held up to the light. You're looking for "thin spots" which indicate the Lycra has degraded.
- Try the Speed Up 3" (Modified): If you can't find the originals, the Speed Up 3" is your closest current relative. Some tailors can actually "relax" the side split to give you that What The Sport freedom.
- Focus on Swift Fabric: Always prioritize "Swift" or "Swift Ultra" over the "Luxtreme" versions for shorts. Luxtreme is great for leggings, but it’s often too heavy for the breezy feel that made the What The Sport shorts famous.
Check the size dot code. If you find a pair, look for the code on the size dot. You can plug that into the Lululemon Fanatics database to confirm the exact year and colorway, ensuring you’re getting the authentic 2014-2015 era construction.