01Microfibers
It sheds.
Synthetic fabric releases tiny plastic fibers as it is worn and washed. One wash load can release hundreds of thousands of them, and they turn up in water, in air and on skin.
New
Shorts
Optim Wool Short
$128
Made in USAOptim merino woolFree returns
A training short woven from Optim merino wool. It resists odor, dries fast and sheds wind and light rain without a coating.
- Does not hold odor, so you wash it less
- Wind and water resistant from the weave, not a coating
- Light, fast drying and cut to train in
In stock. Ships in 1 to 2 days. Free returns for 30 days.
30-day fit guaranteeWear it, wash it. If the fit is off we swap it.
Made in USAKnit, cut and sewn here.
Details
- 5 inch inseam, sits above the knee
- Flat elastic waistband with a cotton drawcord
- Room through the thigh for squats and sprints
- Small VIE logo at the front left hem
- Optim merino wool, tightly woven
- No polyester, nylon or coating
- Made in USA
Fit and size
True to size with room through the thigh. The 5 inch inseam sits above the knee.
Between sizes, take the larger one.
Fabric and care
Optim merino wool, tightly woven. No polyester, no nylon and no coating.
Machine wash cold on a gentle or wool cycle. Lay flat or hang to dry. Do not tumble dry. Wool resists odor, so air it out between sessions and wash it when it needs it.
Shipping and returns
Orders ship in 1 to 2 business days. US shipping is free over $150.
You have 30 days from delivery to return or exchange. Wear it and wash it first if you like. If the fit is off, we swap the size or refund you.
Optim Wool ShortBlack / S
Made in USA
No polyester. No nylon.
30-day fit guarantee
Free US shipping over $150
Free returns
Made in USA
No polyester. No nylon.
30-day fit guarantee
Free US shipping over $150
Free returns
Made in USA
No polyester. No nylon.
30-day fit guarantee
Free US shipping over $150
Free returns
Why VIE
what you get instead of plastic.
Most training shorts are a polyester shell over a polyester liner. This one is wool, start to finish.
Nothing synthetic against you
Shorts sit against skin that absorbs more than most, usually while you sweat. This one puts wool there instead of plastic.
It does not hold odor
Wool resists the bacteria that make polyester smell. Train in it, air it out, wear it again.
Weather resistance from the weave
Optim wool is stretched and woven so tightly that it sheds wind and light rain on its own. No coating and no PFAS finish.
Cooler when it is hot
Wool moves moisture away as vapor before it pools on your skin, so it regulates temperature across a wide range.
Cut to move
A 5 inch inseam, a flat waistband with a cotton drawcord, and room through the thigh for squats and sprints.
Made in the USA
Cut and sewn here, in small runs, by people paid a US wage.
The problem
your shorts are plastic.
A polyester shell, a polyester liner and spandex for stretch. Worn close to the most heat-sensitive part of your body, usually while you sweat.
02Chemistry
It carries extras.
Independent testing has found BPA in polyester and spandex athletic shorts and shirts from major brands, at up to 40 times California's safe limit. Water resistant finishes are a common source of PFAS.
03Heat
It holds heat.
Polyester keeps warmth and moisture where you want neither. That is where odor, chafing and irritation start.
BPA figures: Center for Environmental Health, 2023. Fiber shedding: Napper and Thompson, 2016. These describe synthetic activewear in general, not a specific brand.
The bigger picture
the variable most men never check.
Sperm counts have fallen for decades and researchers are still sorting out why. Heat and chemical exposure are among the factors being studied. What you train in is one of the few you control.
50%+
drop in average sperm concentration among men in Western countries between 1973 and 2011.
Levine et al., 2017
40x
California's safe limit for BPA, found in athletic shorts and shirts from major brands.
Center for Environmental Health, 2023
700k
plastic fibers can come off in a single wash load of synthetic fabric.
Napper and Thompson, 2016
Sources are listed on our science page. None of these studies tested VIE products, and none proves that a garment causes a health condition.
The comparison
what's in the shorts you train in now?
| Feature | VIEOptim wool | Typical gym shortsPolyester, spandex | Cotton shortsConventional cotton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber against your skin | Merino wool | Polyester | Cotton |
| No polyester, nylon or spandex | Yes | No | Yes |
| Resists odor | Yes | No | No |
| Dries fast | Yes | Yes | No |
| Weather resistant without a coating | Yes | No | No |
| Regulates temperature | Yes | No | No |
| Made in USA | Yes | Rarely | Rarely |
| Fit guarantee | 30 days | Varies | Varies |
Comparisons describe what is typical for each category, not a specific brand.
The whole ingredient list
what it's made of
One fiber. The performance comes from how it is spun and woven, not from anything added.
100%
Merino wool, Optim woven
0%
Polyester, nylon or spandex
0
Coatings or PFAS finishes
Questions
before you ask.
Is wool itchy?
Not this one. Optim uses fine merino fibers that are stretched and tightly woven, so the surface is smooth and crisp, closer to a technical shell than a sweater.
Can I really train in wool?
Yes. Lifting, running, hiking, court sports. It is light, it dries fast and it does not hold odor the way polyester does.
How often do I wash it?
Less than you think. Air it out between sessions and wash it cold on a gentle cycle when it needs it. Lay flat or hang to dry. Do not tumble dry.
How does it fit?
True to size with room through the thigh. The inseam is 5 inches and sits above the knee. Between sizes, take the larger one.
Why does it cost more than other shorts?
Merino wool costs several times what polyester does, and making it in the USA costs more than making it overseas. That is the whole difference.
What if it doesn't fit?
You have 30 days. Wear it, wash it, and if the fit is off we swap the size or refund you.