TL;DR: 100% polyester. No blend, no recycled content, no liner, no certification. Exactly what it says. The Quad Short is 100% organic cotton over 100% merino wool with zip side pockets, at $90.
Full spec comparison
| Wayve Quad Short | Gymshark Arrival Short | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $90 | ~$40–55 |
| Shell / body fabric | 100% organic cotton | 100% polyester |
| Liner | 100% merino wool | Unlined |
| Synthetic in fabric | None | 100% |
| Inseam | 4" shell / 6" liner | 5" or 7" |
| Pockets | Zip side pockets | Open hand pockets, polyester |
| Trims | Cotton drawstring, tags and care labels | Synthetic |
| Sheds microplastics | No | Yes |
| Dyes | OEKO-TEX 100 low-impact | Not published |
| Chemical finishes | None | Not published |
| Certifications | GOTS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | None published |
| PFAS tested | Yes, via OEKO-TEX certification | Not published |
| Odor resistance from | Merino wool, inherent | Synthetic engineering + finishes |
| Breathability | Natural fiber | Poor; managed with engineering |
| Biodegradable | Yes | No |
What's actually in each
Gymshark Arrival Short:
- 100% polyester
Wayve Quad Short:
- Shell: 100% organic cotton, 290GSM brushed terry
- Liner: 100% merino wool, 165GSM jersey knit
- Trims: covered elastane at the waistband, cotton drawstring, cotton brand tag, cotton care and material labels
This is the cleanest comparison in the series, because Gymshark isn't hiding anything. The Arrival Short is 100% polyester and they say so plainly. There's no recycled-content story and no sustainability framing to unpick. It's an inexpensive plastic short, sold as one.
Worth noting on price: at $40–55 the Arrival is genuinely cheaper than anything natural fiber, and if budget is the deciding factor that's a real answer. The closer Wayve match on price and construction is the unlined Classic Short at $55 — 260GSM organic cotton, 5" inseam.
Microplastics
Synthetic fabric sheds microplastic fibers through wear and washing. Organic cotton and merino wool shed no plastic, because there isn't any in the fabric.
Dyes and chemical inputs
The Quad Short uses OEKO-TEX Standard 100 low-impact dyes, and the GOTS certification on the cotton prohibits azo dyes releasing carcinogenic amines, formaldehyde, chlorine bleach and heavy metals as chemical inputs at every processing stage. Since 1 January 2024, Standard 100 has also carried a general PFAS ban, assessed by total fluorine to a 100 mg/kg limit.
Gymshark publishes no equivalent standard for this product, so there's no public answer to what's used in its dyeing and finishing.
Odor, performance and end of life
Odor. Polyester traps odor — the fiber's best-known weakness, and the reason synthetic activewear so often carries an antimicrobial finish. Merino resists odor as a property of the fiber. Nothing is applied to the Quad Short.
Breathability. Natural fibers move air and moisture without engineering. Synthetics need construction and finishes to approximate it.
Pockets. The Quad Short has zip side pockets — uncommon in this category, and the difference between running with your phone and leaving it behind.
End of life. Cotton and wool are cellulose and protein fibers; they break down. Polyester doesn't biodegrade in any meaningful timeframe — it fragments into smaller pieces of the same plastic.
The verdict
Buy the Gymshark Arrival Short if synthetic fabric doesn't concern you. Gymshark is the cheapest short here by a wide margin, and it's honest about what it is.
Buy the Wayve Quad Short if you'd rather the thing against your skin for two hours a day not be plastic — no microplastic shedding, no chemical finishes, certified low-impact dyes, odor resistance from merino wool, zip side pockets, and a garment that biodegrades.
One honest trade: for very high-output endurance work in heat, polyester dries faster. For training, lifting, everyday wear and most running, natural fiber is the better garment.
Shop the Quad Short — $90 · Classic Short, $55 · All men's shorts
FAQ
What is the Gymshark Arrival Short made of?
100% polyester. Note that Arrival joggers are different — 87% polyester and 13% elastane.
Is Gymshark clothing all polyester?
The Arrival Short is 100% polyester, and Gymshark's range is predominantly synthetic.
Is there a natural fiber alternative to the Arrival Short?
Yes. For an unlined short at a similar price, the Wayve Classic Short at $55. For a lined training short, the Quad Short at $90.
Does the Gymshark short shed microplastics?
Yes. All synthetic fabric sheds microplastic fibers during wear and washing.
Which is better for sweat and odor?
The Quad Short, on mechanism. Merino resists odor because of what the fiber is; polyester traps it and needs a finish applied to compensate.
Is the Gymshark short biodegradable?
No. Polyester fragments rather than breaks down. Organic cotton and merino wool biodegrade.