• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Practical Golf

Golf Tips Made Simple

  • Home
  • Deals
  • Content
    • Physical
    • Mental
    • Reviews
    • Videos
    • Practice Games
  • Practical Golf
  • Insider Access
    • Videos
    • Practice Games
    • eBooks
    • Interviews
    • Contributors
  • Forum
  • Contact
golf tips
Big news!
My new book, The Four Foundations of Golf, is now available on Amazon ➡

Birddogs Shorts Review: Functional, Versatile, and Comfortable (Even For Golf)

birddogs shorts review

I first saw Birddogs when they premiered on Shark Tank back in 2018. They asked for 250k for a whopping 1.5% stake in their fledgling company. All for gym shorts with a built-in underwear liner. “We combine the feel of nudity with the function of a fanny pack.”

They didn’t get a deal that day, but plenty of people like myself took notice. Their marketing strategy is a bit ridiculous and in-your-face, but in a digital world dominated by startup apparel brands, you have to find a way to stand out.

Their signature gym shorts promise a comfortable, underwear-free experience combined with a versatile style. They’ve got tons of designs ranging from basic colors to outrageous.

birddogs gym shorts review
A couple of their more exotic designs

Alas, they’re just shorts. If any of you regularly go on Facebook or Instagram, you are likely targeted by a bunch of direct-to-consumer companies. They all claim to reinvent things like socks, t-shirts, and every other essential item. Many times, their products fall short of their claims.

After wearing Birddogs for several weeks, I am impressed by their product. You can wear them when you’re lounging around the house, working out, and even on the golf course.

My Impressions of Birddogs

Shorts are essential to me. Over the years, I’ve built a stockpile for every situation – working out, lounging, golf, and for casual outings. In more recent years, I’ve honed in on several companies that do an excellent job of making crossover shorts. For example, I wear Linksoul’s Boardwalkers on the golf course or even out to dinner.

While I liked the idea of Birddogs’ versatility, I was a little skeptical because of one thing – I am not a fan of built-in liners. Comfort and support is a big deal for me, and I’ve found that most lined shorts I’ve purchased in the past do a poor job of providing that. Usually, I’ve ended up cutting liners out and just worn my regular underwear. I own a bunch of 2 UNDR boxer briefs. In my opinion, they are some of the best underwear out there, so I am very hesitant to ditch them in favor of something else.

For several weeks I wore three pairs of Birddogs pretty much everywhere – even swimming. I chose some of their more traditional colors so they could work for different activities. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, and in fact, I’d say I am a convert now.

birddogs shorts review
Going casual with a t-shirt

My main hangup before I tried them was the liners. However, they changed my mind quickly. They are very comfortable and provide plenty of support. You feel a lot of freedom down there at the same time; it’s almost like you’re wearing nothing since the material is so light. So whether I was wearing them at home or playing golf, I grew to enjoy that feeling.

birddogs shorts lines
A view of the liners

I think Birddogs’ strongest feature is their design versatility. Interestingly, I got a lot of unsolicited feedback. Since I went with more neutral colors, people assumed they were different kinds of shorts based on how I was dressed. For example, I showed up to a haircut wearing a t-shirt and sandals, and my barber asked me if I had come from the beach. When I wore them with a golf polo and a belt, my playing partners had no idea they were technically gym shorts.

birddogs review
Would you know these were gym shorts?

The khaki and navy color didn’t give them away. While not all of their shorts can do it, a lot of their colors have “chameleon” possibilities. Also, there are three inseam lengths to choose from – I went with their longest option of 9 1/4″ which kept them a distance from my knees that I was comfortable with (not a fan of short shorts).

birddogs

I found the material to be very soft and comfortable. You can sweat in them while working out or playing golf on a hot day. You also can take a dip in the pool (though they did take a long time to dry off). It doesn’t seem to be cheap either, as it held up nicely in multiple washes.

Lastly, Birddogs also built some subtle functionality that I liked. One thing that has always slightly bothered me about wearing any shorts is the weight of my phone, keys, and wallet. I keep them all in my front pockets. There are two zippered pockets in the Birddog gym shorts, which allow you to keep those items closer to your hips.

birddogs shark tank
It was nice not to have my phone weighing down my front pocket

Instead of weighing down the front of the shorts, it was nice for the weight to be evenly distributed towards my sides.  Another small feature that caught my attention is that the drawstring did a better job of adjusting the tightness around my hips than other shorts I’ve had. I found that the more weight I put in the shorts, the tighter I needed the string.

birddogs zipper pocket

Birddogs may lack seriousness in their branding, but they’ve built an excellent pair of shorts that you can wear to play golf or plenty of other activities.

The Pants

Birddogs recently branched out into pants. They’ve got many of the same features as their shorts with the built-in liners and extra pockets – their goal is to give a chino look but with more comfort.

birddogs gym pants review

For a long time, men were resigned to boring, uncomfortable pants, that never fit just right. Now it seems like 50+ companies are looking to solve this problem with performance work clothing. Over the past few years, I’ve gravitated more towards these designs because I genuinely dislike traditional work pants. I own a pair of Rhone Commuter pants which I’ve worn both on the golf course and even dressed them up with more conventional work attire.

birddogs pants review
My wife said my butt looked good, you be the judge

My favorite part of the Birddogs pants is the cut. I struggle to find golf pants that aren’t too baggy or too tight – there is a happy medium here. They are comfortable around the waist because there is elastic built-in. Most importantly, they taper them in the right places. I don’t like tight pants because they are uncomfortable. Birddogs give you some more room around your thighs, and taper in around your lower legs. So if you want a more modern look, but don’t want your lower half to be strangled, I think you’ll enjoy them.

birddogs golf pants review

If you wear them to work or on the golf course, no one would ever think they weren’t specifically intended for either situation because of the fabric and design. If you’re in an office and struggle with comfort, they solve that problem nicely.

Wrapping It Up

Overall, I’m giving the Birddogs shorts and pants a big thumbs up. They’re comfortable, versatile, and functional. Despite having my concerns about the built-in liner, I dig them.

The shorts range from $54.95 – $59.95 and the pants are $89.95. They’re not cheap, but also not insanely expensive like some of the other premium direct-to-consumer brands. Because you can wear them in so many different scenarios, I think they can simplify your closet. For golfers, I think they add another layer of value.

Birddogs does offer free shipping and returns, so you’re able to try them on a risk-free basis. One thing I did notice is that some of their styles get sold out, which is something I’ve seen from a lot of growing apparel brands. I would love to get some other colors of their pants, but many of the sizes and colors I want are back-ordered – something to keep in mind.

You can learn more about Birddogs and purchase their products directly on their website.

Want to Get Exclusive Discounts on Some of the Top Golf Products?

Check out our deals for Practical Golf readers!

SEE THE DEALS

About the Author

Jon Sherman is the owner of Practical Golf, a website dedicated to being an honest resource for the everyday golfer who is looking to enjoy the game more, as well as improve. He is the author of the bestselling book 101 Mistakes All Golfers Make (and how to fix them). You can find him on Twitter here - @practicalgolf, where he is happy to chat about golf with anyone.

More Practical Golf Articles:

eyeline speed trap 2.0 review

EyeLine Speed Trap 2.0 Review: A Dose of Medicine for Your Golf Swing

best fairway woods for high handicappers

The Best Fairway Woods for High Handicappers

The Ultimate Practice Game…for Your Short Game

iron fitting guide

Iron Fitting Guide: Everything You Should Know Before Getting Fit

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. birddogcurious says

    September 4, 2019 at 2:47 pm

    Jon, nice review. Got a question. The Birddog pants you’re wearing in the photos don’t look too tight as opposed to the photos on the Birddog website. Did you order them a size larger? How tall are you and what size did you get? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Jon says

      September 4, 2019 at 7:01 pm

      Thanks – I’m usually between small and medium in most brands (waist size 31, and I’m 5’8″), so I went with the medium. Not a fan of tight-fitting shorts so I like to size up! Also, those are the longest inseam length they offer in the photos.

      Reply
      • Hollywood says

        January 16, 2021 at 2:08 am

        Birddogs are the best looking and fit is excellent. I wear them everywhere. I jog, swim, shop and dine in them. I go with the 6″ inseam M for the versatile use. I your in shape, and trim waistline and live in S.Florida you will look fine in this length. I am 69 and weigh what I did in high school and dont want that long short hip hop grandfather look.

        Reply
  2. Cindy Hart says

    December 29, 2019 at 2:08 am

    I ordered 2 pair of these Birddog shorts for my son’s
    Christmas gift. I ordered these on December 9th and as of December 28th, I still have not received them. I have contacted Birddogs twice, but received a FEDEX link that said they would be delivered on the 26th. The current link says they are out for delivery, with no current delivery date. I have asked for a full refund as there does not appear to be any caring customer service. I will not order from them again and I would advise any future customers to be aware of their poor service. Cindy Hart

    Reply
  3. Birddogsdouches says

    June 15, 2020 at 2:30 pm

    Marketing $ at its best. Flood. Their email conversion is 40%. 40%. 40%.

    Reply
  4. Dan says

    June 4, 2022 at 11:09 am

    The shorts are very poor quality and they don’t stand behind their product. They are a bunch of clowns who think a funny ad is how you run a business. They can’t even figure out inventory never mind customer service. Find a different brand!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Before Footer

  • Insider Access
  • Account
  • Logout
  • Login

Footer

About The Site

Practical Golf is an honest resource for the everyday golfer who is looking to enjoy the game more, and find ways to improve - Learn More
golf tips

The Book

101 Mistakes All Golfers Make is your complete guide to golf. It will be your reference guide for years to come!

Subscribe To The Newsletter

Join more than 30,000 golfers and receive email updates when new articles post. We'll also send you a free copy of our bestselling eBook on course strategy

Become a Fan On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter

Copyright © 2023 Practical Golf | Powered by: WP Engine | Built on: The Genesis Framework
Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Affiliate Disclosure | Site Design by 3200.PRO

/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Single Post - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /*.logged-in .non-logged-in-ad-block { display:none; } .non-logged-in-ad-block { display:block; position: fixed; right: 0px; top: 250px; } @media only screen and (max-width: 1400px) { .non-logged-in-ad-block { display:none; } } .code-block-2:nth-of-type(even) { display:none !important; } */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Single Post - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */
Practical Golf
  • Home
  • Content
    • Physical
    • Mental
    • Reviews
    • Videos
    • Practice Games
    • Back
  • Deals
  • Forum
  • Insider Access
    • Videos
    • eBooks
    • Interviews
    • Practice Games
    • Back
  • Insider Login
  • Contact