Traditional panelsMuay Thai cut9 colourwaysXS to 4XL
In short: The Muay Thai short in its most recognisable form: a leg cut into pointed panels edged with gold trim. Available in 9 colourways, from white to purple. 8 sizes, XS to 4XL. €49.
Why Thai shorts have a panelled leg
The silhouette is not a styling trend, it comes from a movement problem. A leg closed all the way round slows a head kick and pulls on the thigh when you check. Thai tailors opened the hem.
Rather than simply slitting the fabric, the traditional cut divides the leg into pointed panels separated by openings. The cloth parts freely at the moment of the movement and falls back into place afterwards — the compromise between total freedom and a garment that stays where it is put.
The gold trim edging each panel is the second half of the tradition. Decorative to begin with, its real work is making the cut legible from the seats, which matters when a fighter is seen at distance.
What the shorts look like
Nine plain grounds: white, black, red, blue, light blue, green, yellow, pink and purple. On every version the leg is cut into four pointed panels, each edged with gold trim.
The wide elastic waistband is white and carries a tab. Satin finish, with no print or lettering on the body of the short.
Four panels, and what they actually do
Count the openings on the leg and you have the whole design: four panels, three gaps. Each gap sits where the fabric would otherwise pull — on the outside of the thigh through a round kick, at the front through a teep.
Above them the high side split and the wide elastic waistband do the usual Thai job: the hip clears for a kick or a clinch, and the band stays put through jumping knees instead of rolling on itself.
Technical specifications
Worth knowing: nine colourways on one cut is the widest single choice in the range — if you need a specific colour to match a club kit or a corner, this is where to look first.
Getting the size right
European cut — take your usual size. Thai-made shorts are sized to the Thai market, which is why almost every seller tells you to order one size up. These are cut to European sizing, so that correction does not apply. Eight sizes, XS to 4XL, where most of the market stops at XXL. If you train in a groin guard, go one size up.
Also worth a look
Frequently asked questions
Why do Thai boxing shorts have a split leg?
A closed leg pulls on the thigh through a round kick and slows the movement. The traditional cut divides the hem into four pointed panels so the cloth opens at the moment of the kick and falls back afterwards. The gold trim makes that cut visible at distance.
What size Muay Thai shorts should I get?
Take your usual size. These are cut to European sizing, so the standard advice to order one size up — which applies to Thai-made shorts — does not apply here. Eight sizes run XS to 4XL. If you train in a groin guard, go one size up.
What colours does this come in?
Nine: white, black, red, blue, light blue, green, yellow, pink and purple, all on the same panelled cut with gold trim.
What is the difference between Muay Thai shorts and kickboxing shorts?
Length. Muay Thai shorts stop above the knee with a high side split; kickboxing and K-1 shorts sit lower. Clearing the knee frees the head kick and the clinch.
Can you wear Muay Thai shorts for boxing?
Yes. The short leg and high split take nothing away from footwork, and plenty of boxers train in them. The one difference is the low-blow line: boxing shorts mark it with a waistband above the navel, Thai shorts do not.
How do you wash Muay Thai shorts?
Machine wash inside out at 30 °C / 86 °F, no tumble dryer, and never put an iron directly on the design. Skip the fabric softener: it coats the weave and slows how fast sweat moves through it.
