I Put Ten Thousand’s New Foundation Short Up Against Vuori Kore—Here’s the Winner

I’ve been through more athletic shorts than I can count—staying active means I practically live in them. 

When Ten Thousand dropped their new Foundation Short, I couldn’t wait to see if it could beat out one of the most popular staples in my closet: the Vuori Kore Short. Both are marketed as versatile, everyday-performance shorts, but the Foundation promised a step up in technical design and all-day comfort. 

So, I put them both to the test across workouts and daily life. Here’s how they stacked up.

If Performance Is the Priority… Foundation Wins

This is where the Foundation Short really separates itself. With the elastic waistband and internal drawcord, they stayed perfectly secure during sprints, box jumps, and heavy lifts. The breathable, moisture-wicking fabric also handled sweat better than the Kore, which sometimes felt weighed down after longer sessions.

As a fitness buff, I need shorts that don’t just look good but perform under pressure. Staying active requires gear that works as hard as I do. The Kore works for casual training, but the Foundation feels purpose-built for athletes.

If You Want Comfort… Foundation Wins

I’ll give Vuori credit: the Kore has a soft liner, and it’s earned fans for a reason. But after long days, it always felt a bit compressive—almost like it was “reminding me” I was still wearing them.

The Foundation Short solves that problem with its ultra-soft, non-compressive integrated liner. It offered just enough support without ever feeling tight, pinchy, or restrictive. I tested them on a humid summer day, and I didn’t think about my shorts once. That’s how you know they nailed comfort.

It’s not just about softness, either. The liner’s breathability, paired with the lightweight, quick-dry shell, kept me cooler and more comfortable than the Kore ever did in the same conditions.

If You’re Wearing Them All Day… Tie

This category was closer than I expected. The Vuori Kore is easy to wear for a full day—it’s casual, it looks good, and it doesn’t scream “gym short.” That’s why it’s been such a popular pick for years.

But the Foundation Short surprised me here. The Permanent Odorblock™ treatment kept them smelling fresh long after a training session, which meant I didn’t feel self-conscious stopping at the store after a workout. Add in the 7” inseam that hits just above the knee, and the fit is both sharp and athletic.

If You Want Versatility… Foundation Wins

Athletes don’t live in one lane—we’re lifting one hour, coaching drills the next, then running errands afterward. That’s where versatility matters.

The Vuori Kore is a comfortable, casual short that transitions well outside the gym, but it doesn’t always feel like it was designed for heavy training. On leg day, I noticed the Kore felt a little restrictive, especially when I was moving through deeper squats or lunges.

The Foundation Short, though, felt like it was built exactly for this lifestyle. The premium warp knit fabric with 4-way Proplyo Stretch™ gave me complete freedom of movement, and the lightweight design meant I wasn’t weighed down by sweat. Whether I was sprinting or lounging, these shorts moved with me instead of against me. For athletes who live in their gear, that makes all the difference.

If You’re Thinking About Value… Foundation Wins

Price matters, especially when you’re investing in something you’ll wear daily. The Vuori Kore retails for $68, while the Ten Thousand Foundation Short comes in at $78. At first glance, that’s a $10 difference—but the added performance features in the Foundation make it feel like you’re getting more than just a short.

Where the Kore feels like a comfortable lifestyle short that can dabble in the gym, the Foundation feels like a full-on performance short that easily transitions into lifestyle wear. For me, that $10 upgrade is worth it every single time.

If You Care About Pockets… Foundation Wins

Let’s talk storage. Because if you’re an athlete, coach, or trainer, you know you can’t just toss your phone, keys, or whistle into any pocket and hope for the best.

Vuori’s Kore has basic pockets—they work, but I never trusted them during more dynamic workouts. My phone was always bouncing or shifting around.

The Foundation Short completely rethought the pocket design for athletes. You’ve got a bounce-free side-zip phone pocket (no shifting mid-sprint), open hip pockets with pocket-in-pocket design for smaller essentials, a secure back utility pocket, and even an internal waistband key pocket. Not only did everything stay put, but I didn’t feel weighed down or distracted. It’s a small detail, but one that makes a huge impact in daily use.

My Winner is the Foundation Short

The Vuori Kore is a solid leisure-performance short, and it’s had its place in my rotation. But if you’re looking for a true training-first short that can seamlessly transition into the rest of your day, the Ten Thousand Foundation Short is the clear winner.

It outperformed in versatility, comfort, performance, pocket design, and overall value, while holding its own in all-day wearability. For athletes who don’t stop moving once they leave the gym, this short does it all—and does it better.