Quad Short:
Natural Fiber Short
Organic cotton shell. Merino wool liner. Zero plastic.
If you're between sizes, size up. More fit details
Expect the liner to feel snug at first
The merino wool liner fits snug out of the bag (mostly around the waist and glutes). This is normal. Give it a workout for the wool to relax and mold to your body. If it feels way too tight on the first try - size up.
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- GOTS-certified organic cotton shell
- Australian merino wool
- OEKO-TEX 100 low impact dyes
Description
The Natural Performance Short
The Quad Short is our take on a natural athletic short, built for the guy who refuses to train in plastic. An organic cotton shell combined with a merino wool compression liner gives you everything synthetic shorts promise, without the microplastics against your skin.
Why Two Layers?
The heavyweight brushed terry shell is 100% organic cotton: soft, durable, and breathable. Underneath, a midweight merino wool liner delivers natural stretch, compression, and moisture-wicking that rivals any synthetic. Two natural fibers, working as a system. No blending, no compromises.
What Makes Merino Different
Merino wool is the superhero of natural fibers. It regulates temperature in heat and cold, resists odor without chemical treatments, and provides real compression and snap-back. That's why we use it where it matters most: directly against your skin during training.
Built for the Workout
- Athletic fit with 4" shell inseam and 6" liner inseam
- Side zipper pockets to secure your phone, keys, and wallet
- Internal drawstrings for a locked-in fit
- Cotton tags, no synthetic labels irritating your skin
- Made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and OEKO-TEX 100 dyes
Pair It
Match with the Only Tee for a clean training look, or try out the Classic Short on rest days when you want something more relaxed.
The Natural Performance Short
The Quad Short is our take on a natural athletic short, built for the guy who refuses to train in plastic. An organic cotton shell combined with a merino wool compression liner gives you everything synthetic shorts promise, without the microplastics against your skin.
Why Two Layers?
The heavyweight brushed terry shell is 100% organic cotton: soft, durable, and breathable. Underneath, a midweight merino wool liner delivers natural stretch, compression, and moisture-wicking that rivals any synthetic. Two natural fibers, working as a system. No blending, no compromises.
What Makes Merino Different
Merino wool is the superhero of natural fibers. It regulates temperature in heat and cold, resists odor without chemical treatments, and provides real compression and snap-back. That's why we use it where it matters most: directly against your skin during training.
Built for the Workout
- Athletic fit with 4" shell inseam and 6" liner inseam
- Side zipper pockets to secure your phone, keys, and wallet
- Internal drawstrings for a locked-in fit
- Cotton tags, no synthetic labels irritating your skin
- Made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and OEKO-TEX 100 dyes
Pair It
Match with the Only Tee for a clean training look, or try out the Classic Short on rest days when you want something more relaxed.
Details
100% merino wool built-in liner
Side zipper pockets
Cotton drawstrings
Washing & Care
Wash on cold
Hang dry only to avoid shrinking - do not place in the dryer
For best results, allow to dry in the sun
Shipping & Returns
Free shipping on U.S. orders over $150. Orders ship in 1–5 business days. 30-day return policy on unworn items with tags.
Size guide
Find your size
What's your build?
| If your pant size is | Order |
|---|
XL is our largest size. Above a 38" waist it will fit snug.
Not sure of your pant size? Measure your waist.
- Find your waist. It's the narrowest part of your torso, about level with your belly button.
- Wrap the tape around it. Keep it level all the way round, snug but not digging in. Breathe out normally.
- Read the number in inches. Find it in the table above. Between two sizes? Size up.
Wrong size? Exchange it within 30 days of delivery.
Get restock alerts
Drop your email and we’ll let you know the moment it’s back in stock.
In action
Made from the Earth
Natural fibers. Better for you. Better for the environment.
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FLOW -
TRAIN -
MOVE -
RUN -
PLAY -
HIKE
Why two layers
Two fibers.
Zero plastic.
Cotton outside for comfort that breathes. Merino against your skin to handle sweat, odor and heat. Nothing synthetic touching you.
- Organic cotton shell
- Breathes, never clings
- Soft brushed terry
- Zip pockets, no bounce
- Merino wool liner
- Pulls sweat off skin
- Resists odor
- Regulates temp
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100%
Natural fiber
of the fabric touching your skin is natural fiber. No polyester, nylon or spandex.
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35×
Moisture management
better moisture management from merino vs. polyester. Holds your sweat and still feels dry.
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66%
Odor control
less body odor held by wool than polyester after wear.
The difference
Same workout.
None of the plastic.
- Materials
- Typical gym shorts: Polyester, nylon and spandex. Plastic made from oil.
- The Quad Short: Organic cotton and merino wool
- Microplastics
- Typical gym shorts: Shed plastic microfibers in the wash and with every workout.
- The Quad Short: Natural fibers. Nothing plastic to shed
- Forever chemicals
- Typical gym shorts: Found in 1 in 4 activewear items tested.
- The Quad Short: Third-party lab tested for PFAS
- BPA
- Typical gym shorts: Found in name-brand activewear at up to 40× the safe limit.
- The Quad Short: Third-party lab tested for BPA
- Hormone health
- Typical gym shorts: BPA and phthalates mimic hormones, worn where skin absorbs 11.8× more than your forearm.
- The Quad Short: Natural fiber where your skin absorbs most
- Odor control
- Typical gym shorts: Polyester holds on to body odor, even after washing.
- The Quad Short: Merino holds 66% less odor
- Moisture
- Typical gym shorts: Sweat sits on slick plastic and turns clammy.
- The Quad Short: Merino handles 35× the moisture and still feels dry
- Comfort
- Typical gym shorts: Slick synthetics trap heat, cling and build static.
- The Quad Short: Brushed cotton outside, soft merino inside
- Athletic fit
- Typical gym shorts: Stretch comes from spandex, which is plastic.
- The Quad Short: A 6" merino compression liner under a 4" shell
The spec sheet
No hidden blends.
Every material in the short.
Shell
GOTS organic cotton
Brushed french terry. Soft, breathable and built to last.
- 290gsm
- 4" inseam
Liner
Australian merino wool
Single jersey merino, the only fabric against your skin.
- 165gsm
- 6" compression liner
Pockets
Invisible side zip pockets
Phone and keys stay put, with no visible zip line.
- 2 zip pockets
Dyes
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Low-impact dyes. Third-party tested for BPA, PFAS and phthalates.
- OEKO-TEX 100
- Low-impact
The burn test
Plastic melts. Natural fiber doesn't.
Synthetic shorts burn like plastic, because that's what they are. Ours burn like a campfire.
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Polyester shorts- Black, sooty smoke
- Melts into hard, sticky drips
- Smells like burning plastic
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The Quad Short- Light gray smoke
- Burns to soft ash
- Smells like a campfire
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After- Polyester: fused, melted beads
- Quad: ash you can crumble
Filmed by Wayve outdoors. Don't try this at home.
Why it matters
From your shorts to your body
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Every workout sheds
Heat and friction are what break synthetic fabric down. A workout does both, which means microplastic shedding.
The study Polyester clothes shed about as many microfibers into the air while worn as they do in the wash. De Falco et al. · Environmental Science & Technology · 2020 -
Your Skin Absorbs It All
Your skin is like a sponge and pulls chemicals out of fabric. The skin your shorts cover is the most absorbent on your body.
The study The groin absorbed 11.8× more than the forearm, the highest of any area tested. Maibach et al. · Archives of Environmental Health · 1971 -
The Science Agrees
Microplastics have been found in human blood and in testicles. BPA and phthalates are endocrine disruptors that interfere with hormones like testosterone.
The study Microplastics were found in every human testis sample tested. Hu et al. · Toxicological Sciences · 2024
LAB RESULTS
14 lab tests, published for transparency.
Care & fit
Get the most out of your shorts.
Wash
Cold, delicate cycle
Natural fibers last longer washed cool and gentle.
Dry
Hang dry only
No dryer. It keeps the fit, and keeps the merino soft.
Fit
Snug at first, then it's yours
It fits snug out of the box. One workout relaxes the cotton to your shape.
Join the movement
Trusted by experts, athletes, & more
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100% cotton and merino wool workout sets. They sell out fast.
Oren John700K+ followers -
GOATED brand. I wear Wayve shorts every day. Not paid to post this.
Noah Ryan715K+ followers -
I started paying close attention to what I wear. My fav shorts are from Wayve.
Jules Horn1.2M+ followers -
Some of the finest apparel money can buy. Zero plastic synthetic nonsense.
Case Bradford50k+ followers -
Quality feels amazing!
Cooking With Chris800K+ followers -
MLB approved! Insanely comfy and organic shorts.
Tyler SchoffProfessional baseball player -
I've gotten easily 200+ uses out of mine and they're still holding up.
Jason PabstPerformance chef -
Shorts are too good. I'd invest if I could.
Coach Paul70k+ followers
Before you buy
Common Questions & Misconceptions
Natural fibers are different from synthetics. Here's what you need to know.
Is the liner supportive? Does it ride up?
The liner is a 6" merino jersey under a 4" shell, so it sits below the shell hem and stays there. It is built as a compression liner to hold things in place for higher intensity training and sport. Merino gives the right amount of natural stretch without relying on spandex.
Does merino itch?
Not at this grade. The itch people remember is from coarse wool with a high micron count. This is a fine single jersey merino chosen specifically for next-to-skin wear.
Will cotton get heavy and stay wet during training?
The layer against your skin is merino, which manages moisture incredibly well. It holds up to 30% of its weight in moisture while still feeling dry. On a hard session you will come out feeling drier than you would in synthetics.
Can I run, lift, and train outside in these?
Yes. That's what the 290GSM shell and the 6" liner are for. See the footage above rather than taking the claim on faith.
How do they hold up to repeated washing?
Cold wash, gentle cycle, hang or lay flat to dry, and skip the dryer. Heat is what shortens a merino liner's life. Because merino resists odor you'll wash these less often than a synthetic short, which is a real part of why they last.
I'm between sizes.
Size up. Our shorts run on the smaller side, and the covered elastic waistband with its internal drawstring gives you room to dial the fit in.
What if something's wrong with them?
Money-back guarantee. If you don't like them we refund you and handle the return or exchange, no questions asked. If anything is damaged or defective, we sort it promptly and free of charge.
Favorite pair of shorts! They fit so nicely and feel extremely good! Great mobility in them and they look really good!
So comfy and versatile will be buying more very soon. I’m 5’11 and 185 lbs I got a size L they fit great.
Seams are coming apart after one wash
Hi Angela, we're sorry to hear about the issue with your shorts. Please contact us so we can make this right. We have actually made improvements to the stitching so the next batch of shorts will be better reinforced.
We'd be happy to send you a replacement pair from the new batch.
I’ve been in my shorts nonstop. The liner has such a great feel, comfortable, supportive, and deals with sweat in a cooling way in the heat and a heating way in the cool. Very unique. Love them for me and my whole squad! Yahli really showed love and was super into being a part of my clubs performance in a recent national club beach handball tournament ! Love every Wayve stands for!
I really wanted to love the Wayve Quad Shorts. The material feels great and they're the perfect weight. Unfortunately after just one casual wear, not even used for exercising, the merino lining developed a hole in the crotch area. The quality just simply is not there to justify the price, especially with so many competitive brands offering better durability.
Hi Raul, we're sorry to hear about the issue with your shorts. Please reach out to our customer service email so we can assist you with a replacement pair. We're working with our factory to improve our QA process and anytime this happens, we always will do what we can to make it right. We appreciate your feedback and are looking forward to getting in touch with you.
Fantastic short. Extremely comfortable, fits well and allows you to stay mobile. I do a lot of my training outdoors using functional equipment and these shorts proved to be more than durable. You’re not going to find a natural option better.
Some of my favorite shorts! At first, I didn't know if I liked a liner in my athletic shorts. But that is only because the liners I've had in other shorts are far inferior to the liner in the Quad Short. The merino wool liner truly feels so much different than any other liner on the market. I have so much peace of mind too knowing that my family jewels are touching natural fibers instead of microplastics. I can do any activity/sport in these, and I love that they are so versatile. Seriously, love these shorts!
Disappointed but hear me out 5’9 weight 192 in a run club, before use I read tag to wash and air dry in the sun order large waist size 34 I worm them 3 times I did a 40 minute outdoor walk, second day 20 minute walk follow by 15 minute run, third day 3 mile run when put to wash the seam between the crotch area is splitting. Maybe it was defect from factory but 90 dollars and made in china not happy with quality.
Hi Mike, sorry to hear about your experience. We appreciate your feedback and we are already in discussions with our factory to look into the quality concerns. Please contact us directly so we can assist you further with a replacement pair or refund.
First off I love the mission of the brand, the marketing and branding of the product, and the founder seems like a passionate dude based on his tiktoks. The quality of the product, however, has left a lot to be desired.
I've literally worn the shorts a handful of times and put it through their only wash thus far (cold, delicate, and low tumble drying) and it is genuinely coming apart at the seams in every single part of the shorts. The outer shell has threads coming apart in multiple sections, the tag is coming apart, and the inner wool liner has taken the most noticeable hit and looks particularly frayed. For a product at thid price point that tells a story about its materials, I expect a top notch pair of shorts. Mind you I've literally only worn the shorts on walks and haven't even worn them to the gym yet.
This led me to ordering from a competitor brand Ryker and the difference in quality is shocking. The Wayve shorts feel rough to the touch in both the cotton outer shell and wool inner lining in comparison. And as someone with fairly muscular quads, the inner lining felt restrictive and abrasive against my thighs relative to the outer shell that seemed to fit well.
I feel bad because the brand is trending people and the earth in the right direction. I would encourage you to order shorts from a few different places with a similar ethos and form your own opinion.
Hey there, thanks for your feedback, it really means a lot to us as we are always looking to improve the product. This shouldn't happen, and we are in talks with our manufacturing partners to make improvements to the next batch already about this. We'd be happy to send you a replacement pair if you shoot us an email with your order number. Appreciate your support and for trying us out. We want you to be happy with your purchase!
absolutely marvellous pair of shorts with exquisite attention to detail for aspects that truly matter in active wear. the ergonomics, quality and aesthetics of the entire short is top notch. even minor attention to detail like the perfect placement of the pockets, elite zipper quality + style really makes these shorts top notch. this all on top of the fact these are premium organic cotton and merino wool material too..! healthy non toxic and extremely comfortable. these are the best active wear shorts you will find in the world, spoken from the heart ⚡️
I have four pairs of these, two from the earliest run and two from a later run. There have been small improvements made, such as changes to the tag. However, all of the lining in my shorts ultimately end up with a hole in the groin which inevitably gets only larger and larger. I wash them cold and place the shorts in a net too. I primarily work out, run, and do sports in these—nothing crazy intense. The stitching could also be improved.
It's a pity, because I really love the design of the shorts otherwise. They also fit great. I still use these shorts, but I've had to cut out the merino lining. I like merino too, but there needs to be some reinforcement in the groin area.
Hey there, thanks for your feedback, we truly appreciate both the good and the bad. We'd be happy to send you a replacement pair if you shoot us an email with your order number. Merino fabric is somewhat delicate so we always recommend air drying if you haven't been doing that. Either way, we appreciate your support and your review. Feel free to contact us directly if you'd like a new pair.
As someone who’s as active as can be, the Quad short has literally changed my life!
It’s durable, yet breathable. I use mine daily for bike rides, runs, and a variety of sports.
I’ve gotten easily 200+ uses out of mine and they’re still holding up.
No chafing and they keep my jewels well hidden with the merino wool liner that offers a natural compression feel without the polyester and spandex, protecting my jewels in more ways than one.
Most underrated part is the zipper pockets too 🔥 literally never have to worry about my phone or keys falling out no matter the activity.
Well, here again. Left the last comment about the threading. The customer service rep told me to cut the threading as this was normal. Washed them after cutting it and would you look at that… a whole. This is silly now, waiting to see what will be done. But a minimum know the stitching and threading is showing issue. Only had the shorts on 3x
Hi Joshua, we're sorry to hear about the stitching issues you faced. We appreciate your feedback and are actively working on improving the next batch. We've reached out to you regarding a replacement pair, on us!
I love the fit, and I love running in breathable natural fabric.
Unfortunately there is already a hole worn in the upper thigh.
Granted, I have big thighs, but these shorts should last more than 5 weeks and 35 miles of running.
Great feel and amazing stretch
love these shorts. the only kind of shorts i want to wear in the gym, on a hike, or lounging. perfect non toxic comfort
Great pair of shorts! Been looking for an all natural fibre training short for a while and have got these in black. Super comfortable, great wicking layer with the merino wool and great customer service! Would recommend.
I'm a purist when it comes to clothing (and food as much as possible) organic workout shorts that have compression short style abilities are hard to come by these days, and these shorts fill that niche! I've got two pairs and I wear them for all my workouts. 100% recommend.
Really excellent fit, comfy, amd versatile
great, the fact that they are natural is really enough, but they look good and feel good too