Which LumberLegs Shorts Should You Get? Core Mesh, Flex, Sculpt, OGs and Quad Day Explained

You know you want shorts that actually fit your legs. Now you're looking at Core Mesh, Flex Cut, Sculpt Cut, OGs and Quad Day wondering what the hell the difference is.

Fair question. They're different fabrics and different cuts, and that changes how they sit on your quads, how they move and how much leg you're showing.

Here's how I'd explain it if you asked me at the gym.

First, what does GSM mean?

GSM means grams per square meter. It's the weight of the fabric, not the weight of the whole pair of shorts.

For our mesh shorts, Flex is 130 GSM, Sculpt is 170 GSM and Core Mesh is 200 GSM. Flex has the lightest drape. Sculpt has more structure. Core Mesh has the most substantial feel of those three.

A bigger number doesn't automatically mean a better pair of shorts. Sometimes you want lighter fabric that hangs loose. Sometimes you want a heavier mesh with more body.

GSM also doesn't tell you everything about stretch, breathability or fit. The fabric and the actual cut matter too.

The quick comparison

One thing to clear up: double-layer mesh isn't the same thing as a fitted inner liner. Flex, Sculpt and Core Mesh have two layers of mesh. Quad Day has a separate built-in liner.

Flex Cut: light fabric, loose drape

Flex is our 130 GSM double-layer mesh. It's the lightest of the three mesh options and has a thinner, looser drape.

The triangle side slit helps open up the leg, and the pockets are very deep. If you like lighter mesh that hangs more freely around your thighs, this is the one I'd point you toward.

You can get Flex in 4" or 6". Same fabric and cut family, different amount of coverage.

Pick Flex if you want lighter mesh, a relaxed drape and very deep zip pockets.

Sculpt Cut: more shape around the quad

Sculpt is our 170 GSM double-layer mesh. It has more body than Flex, with a rounded cut that gives the shorts a more shaped look around your quads.

This is where the cut matters as much as the fabric weight. If you like the leg opening to follow the shape of your thigh a little more, Sculpt is worth a look.

Sculpt comes in a 4" inseam. The zip pockets are a little shallower than Flex's, but still fit an iPhone Pro Max.

Pick Sculpt if you want a 4" mesh short with more structure and a rounded, quad-focused cut.

Core Mesh: the everyday rotation

Core Mesh is our 200 GSM double-layer mesh. It has the heaviest fabric feel of our three mesh options.

If you like your mesh shorts to have a little more substance, start here. This is the pair I'd build a regular gym rotation around. Train in them, throw on a tee and wear them out afterward.

Core Mesh comes in 4" and 6", so you can choose your coverage without changing fabric families.

Pick Core Mesh if you like heavier mesh and want an everyday gym staple.

OGs: 3 inches, nylon and spandex

OGs feel different from the mesh options because they are different. They're a single-layer blend of 90% nylon and 10% spandex.

You get a smoother fabric with stretch, a 3" inseam and plenty of quad showing. If you prefer that smoother feel over mesh, or you want a shorter cut for leg day, this is your lane.

The 3" inseam is the shortest unlined option in this lineup.

Pick OGs if you want smooth, stretchy fabric and a short cut without a built-in liner.

Quad Day: the 3" shorts with a liner that actually fits

Quad Day Lifting Shorts are our 250 GSM option with a 3" outer inseam and a built-in liner.

I've worn plenty of lined shorts where the outer short fits fine, then the liner acts like it wants to cut circulation off to my quads. Quad Day is the first pair of lined shorts that has actually fit mine.

You get a phone pocket in the liner plus deep zippered side pockets. That gives you somewhere to keep your phone against your leg and separate pockets for the rest of your stuff.

The 3" measurement refers to the outer short. The liner is a separate part of the fit.

Pick Quad Day if you want built-in coverage underneath a short outer cut, with a liner phone pocket.

Should you get 3", 4" or 6"?

The inseam is measured along the inside of the leg, from the crotch seam to the hem. It isn't the total length of the shorts.

3" is for the guys who want more thigh showing. Choose OGs for the smooth nylon/spandex feel or Quad Day if you want a built-in liner.

4" is the middle ground. Plenty of quad showing with a little more coverage than the 3". You can choose Flex, Sculpt or Core Mesh depending on the feel and shape you like.

6" gives you more coverage. Go Flex for the lighter drape or Core Mesh for the heavier feel.

Where the hem lands also depends on your height, build and how high you wear the waistband. A 4" inseam won't look identical on every guy.

My advice: choose the feel, then the length

If you already know you like light, loose mesh, get Flex. Want more shape around the quad? Sculpt. Prefer a heavier mesh short? Core Mesh.

If mesh isn't your thing, go OGs. If you've been looking for lined shorts that give your quads some room, go Quad Day.

Then choose how much leg you want showing. Don't size up just to get more length; use the inseam options for that. Check the size chart on the specific pair for your waist and fit.

Different legs, different preferences. That's why we make different cuts.

Find your pair. Wear the Work.