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It was a chaotic week on The Block for house one, with Maddy and Charlotte’s builder Zak deciding to leave the show after they had a heated disagreement.
Now, former contestant Paige Beechey has spoken out to defend Zak, who she and partner Jesse worked with for the first four weeks of the 2024 season.
Zak left The Block as he and Charlotte didn’t see eye-to-eye. (Credit: Nine)
Since coming in late, pink team Maddy and Charlotte struggled to form a relationship with their builder Zak, with the latter labelling him as “intimidating.” They tried to talk things through and clear the air, but Zak didn’t see a way forward and decided to depart the show, taking his team with him.
After the episode aired, Paige took to social media to share her support for Zak and urge viewers to be kind and not attack his small business based solely on what was shown on television. Read her full statement below.
“From my personal experience, Zak was nothing but a passionate, respectful, hardworking member of our team. I found him very approachable and easy to talk to, even as a woman,” Paige shared in the The Block 2024 Phillip Island Facebook group.
“Zak didn’t have a single issue, when I spoke to him, asked for his help or even told him how I wanted things to go on site. He was always there with open ears, a logical approach and an amazing attitude.
“Amongst all the chaos and the most busiest of times, I could not believe how patient Zak was with teaching me – teaching me how to cut ties so carefully, how to use a corrugated gun to sheet and building up my confidence with any new tool I was using. God knows he didn’t have the time and he didn’t have to, but he was someone who uplifted me to have a go at anything, especially as a woman.”
Paige took to social media to back up Zak. (Credit: Nine)
Paige continued, “Zak and I forged a fantastic relationship where we were able to not only work under immense pressure together, but we could do it having a laugh, ripping into each other, and having tough conversations if we needed it. As a ‘client’, I never batted an eye at the way he spoke or interacted with anyone. He was there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, he was there when I needed to vent and he was there to pull my head back in the game when I needed it. Zak was also a fan favourite amongst every single person on that site and very well respected.
“Zak was all in with The Block, but one of the most admirable qualities about Zak that I remember, was how he put his daughter and his family first no matter what. The way he always spoke about his family with such pride and care, speaks to the person he is at the core, and it was something I really admired.
“I haven’t stepped foot in one of these [Facebook] groups for 6 weeks and my Facebook is going straight back to being deleted once I hit post, but I wanted to post in defence of Zak to share this side of the experience you don’t get to see. It’s not to undermine any experience that Maddy and Charlotte felt by any means because what’s real for them is real and I sympathise with their position; but it’s to bring humanity back to all of this and implore you to remember that there are more sides to what you watch every night.”
Charlotte walked away from a disagreement with Zak in tears. (Credit: Nine)
Paige concluded, “Be more perceptive and don’t attack a business on a small island based on one experience a tv show put in front of you. If there was anything that was of importance to Jesse and I throughout this whole experience, it was working with all local trades, and respecting the island and the people who came with it. You don’t go around bashing any local tradesperson who is giving up their life, leisure, family and sanity to help out.
“Show some restraint towards his local business because you really don’t even know the half of it. Both Zak and the girls deserve big kudos for everything they did regardless of how it turned out.”
Whether you’re an avid runner, a fitness enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys a day out in the sun, chafing can be a real problem.
To prevent the discomfort, we look to anti-chafing shorts – the perfect blend of functionality and comfort that eventually become a staple in our summer wardrobes.
Designed with moisture-wicking fabrics, strategic seams, and breathable materials, these shorts are the gateway to preventing that irritating, often painful, friction of the skin.
What are the best shorts to prevent chafing?
With that said, it will take more than your regular bike shorts to do the job, which is why we’ve gathered some of the best anti-chafing shorts to try instead.
The best materials to prevent chafing are those that are moisture-wicking, breathable, and offer a smooth surface to reduce friction.
Synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester are popular for their ability to keep skin dry and comfortable, while spandex adds stretch for a snug, friction-free fit.
Natural options like merino wool and bamboo are soft, breathable, and gentle on the skin, offering excellent moisture control and anti-bacterial properties. Microfiber, with its smooth texture, is also effective at reducing friction.
For the best results, many anti-chafing shorts combine these materials to offer the right balance of stretch, breathability, and moisture control. Look for products labelled as “seamless” or with flat-lock seams to minimise skin irritation further.
There was a time when Stephen Peacocke found acting so stressful, it took a physical toll.
“When I started work in Home And Away, I was so nervous for the first two or three months – I was certain I was going to lose my job,” he tells TV WEEK.
(Credit: Supplied)
“When I came home from work, I could taste blood in my mouth just from talking at the back of my throat, which is the first thing you do when you’re nervous. Everything constricts.
“I was like a ball of tension until the first episodes went to air and I realised that the audience kind of liked it and it was OK.”
Thirteen years after the audience decided they “kind of liked” his Home And Away performance as Brax, Stephen, now 42, is one of Australian television’s most in-demand actors. He’s currently starring in three of the biggest dramas on free-to-air: RFDS, The Newsreader and new crime thriller Human Error. But the nerves are still there.
“Oh look, I’m endlessly insecure about what I do,” he admits with a laugh. “But with acting, you can never be too comfortable in what you’re doing. I find I’ve got to be thinking, ‘Is this really good enough?’ to get good stuff out of myself.”
(Credit: Supplied)
Human Error follows the investigation into the shooting death of a suburban mum-to-be, a murder that baffles police. Stephen first heard about the series from director Fiona Banks when he was shooting comedy drama Five Bedrooms.
“She mentioned she was about to work on this project,” he says. “I looked into it a bit, and the story it’s inspired by was so tragic and shocking. And to play a character who’s a bit different to those I’ve done in the past couple of years was exciting.”
For Stephen, researching the role of Detective Dylan McKenzie wasn’t too hard. He just spoke to his “good mate”, who’s a retired police officer.
“That was the extent of my research – just annoying my mate with lots of conversations and lots of questions,” he explains.
More difficult was getting inside Dylan’s head. He’s a well-respected cop, head of the gangs unit, but he’s done something he shouldn’t have done. Stephen says he had to do “a bit of digging” to be able to understand why Dylan did what he did.
(Credit: Supplied)
“This whole situation would be like the worst thing I could ever imagine being in myself,” he admits. “But I thought, ‘Well, you’ve got to justify it.’”
Not that Stephen minds being cast as a flawed character.
“The more flaws you can have in a character, the more interesting they are to play,” he says.
Publicity material for the show describes Dylan as “tough and sexy”, although Stephen laughs off the “sexy” tag.
“That was the one part of the casting that I really scratched my head about – why they got me!”
Stephen might deny he’s sexy, but there’s no doubt he’s popular. He already has three TV WEEK Logie Awards to his name and, at this year’s awards, was a presenter, alongside Michelle Lim Davidson, his co-star in The Newsreader.
(Credit: Supplied)
“Whenever I have to speak publicly, I can’t eat or drink,” he explains. “So I was sitting there with my heart thumping. I’m getting a little better at it, but I still get so nervous.”
Later, when RFDS took out the Logie for Best Drama Program, Stephen had a reason to celebrate.
“It was genuinely a massive surprise and it made the whole night excellent for us [the cast and creators],” he says.
Stephen, who’s married to actress Bridgette Sneddon and has a young daughter, will soon be filming the third season of RFDS, in which he plays flight nurse Pete Emerson. This season will be shot in South Australia instead of Broken Hill, with locations including Adelaide and the Flinders Ranges.
“I’ve only been to Adelaide briefly, but we’re looking forward to exploring that,” Stephen says. “Then when we’re shooting on location, it should be really good.”
Having been born and raised in Dubbo, in regional New South Wales, Stephen says moving back to the country to live is “probably the goal at some point”.
“The good thing about this line of work is that, in between jobs, you can be anywhere, really,” he explains. “So as much as I enjoy short bursts of Sydney and Melbourne, I like the open spaces and particularly that red country out around Broken Hill, and even Dubbo. It’s what feels like home to me.”
If the TV roles should dry up, Stephen isn’t worried. It took him more than six years from the time he decided to become an actor until he scored his breakthrough role in Home And Away.
“I’ve done my share of sitting around and not getting really cool jobs,” he says. “I like the adventure of that. I chose a job that’s a bit risky, with a chance of unemployment, but the rewards are great. If you’re lucky enough to get a job, it’s so much fun. And it’s what I want to do.”
He became a household name thanks to a reality TV singing show, so it just makes sense that Guy Sebastian is now holding court as the king of The Voice Australia.
Guy first took his spot in a big red chair back in 2019, when the show was still on the Nine Network. Now in his sixth season on the series, he’s the longest-serving coach of the Channel Seven era. Clearly, the gig is a natural fit.
(Credit: Instagram)
“The other night [while filming], I realised this is a set of skills,” Guy, 42, tells TV WEEK. “I just find it really easy to talk about music. And after twenty-something years, I find it easy to analyse and be able to articulate what I’m seeing. For that reason, I find it really fun. It’s not a pressure gig for me.”
Guy also values the way The Voice lifts up its contestants, rather than exploiting them for the sake of a storyline.
“It’s a really safe place for the artists,” he explains. “Obviously, they [the producers] need a bit of drama to keep people watching, but it’s never at the expense of them. It has given artists a platform in an extremely weird time in this industry.”
The Voice veteran (he was also a judge on The X Factor) is joined by a brand-new coaching line-up for the 2024 season, welcoming Aussie singer Kate Miller-Heidke and US hitmakers LeAnn Rimes and Adam Lambert to the team. And it seems the newbies all have Guy’s stamp of approval, with country star LeAnn winning over Guy during a FaceTime call.
“As a local coach, you get a bit protective of the talent here,” he points out. “So you don’t want to see internationals come in and it’s just a gig for them, just a pay cheque. You want to see them actually care.
(Credit: Supplied)
“I remember FaceTiming LeAnn before this show, and all her questions were centred around the artists, such as, ‘Do they look after them?’ I could tell immediately that she cared.”
Guy’s protectiveness of the contestants comes from recognising that the world they live in is vastly different to when he won Australian Idol, triumphing over Shannon Noll, back in 2003.
“When I was on that show, there was no social media – I don’t even think there was MySpace!” he says with a laugh. “There were just, like, fan forums. So I think we had an advantage back in those days. You could develop this solid base and this foundation of who you let in and whose opinion you let in.”
After Idol, Guy had a string of No 1 hits in Australia, starting with “Angels Brought Me Here” and also 2012’s “Battle Scars”, which charted in Europe and the US.
(Credit: Instagram)
As the dad of two boys – Hudson, 12, and Archie, 10, who he shares with wife Jules – protecting young people’s mental health is a cause close to his heart.
Guy and Jules started their youth-focused charity The Sebastian Foundation in 2013, after Hudson was born. They’re both passionate about supporting young Aussies and giving them the best possible start in life.
“We have a program called Open Parachute, which is all about mental health and building those skills among kids in schools,” he says.
“One of the big messages is to be aware of what they’re growing up in. These days, there’s so much external noise and so many opinions on who you are as a person, so it’s harder to develop your identity that you can stand strong in.”
Being in the public eye for more than 20 years has seen Guy weather plenty of opinions from people online, whether it was over his stance on COVID vaccinations or appearing alongside former PM Scott Morrison to announce funding for the arts.
“The biggest lesson is, when you start out, you just want everyone to like you,” he reflects. “And you’re not quite aware of how it can be a pretty nasty world out there. So you overcorrect. You go, ‘Oh God – everyone hates me’, and then you remember that you have a little core community of people – you can get back to that place and shut out the noise.”
Guy admits it takes work, but he’s getting better at focusing on what really matters.
“It’s a constant navigation of remembering that you can’t please everyone,” he says. “If you try to correct everyone’s [opinion on social media], you’re going to go mad! I can’t be bothered anymore, because I have kids and way more important things to do.
“I know the people who do love me. We all need to identify them and then not waste energy on the people who don’t. For the little energy I have, it’s going to the people who are for me.”
Reformed gambler Libby Mitchell speaks candidly about how playing the pokies led to a chronic addiction.
Libby Mitchell had gone to celebrate the sale of her business in 1993 at her local pub which had just opened a new gaming room
While she lost $5 that night, she decided to go back again and soon after won $200
Playing the machines every day, Libby soon formed a gambling problem and was spending thousands
For the next 23 years, she struggled to free herself of an addiction to pokies.
Today, she is a reformed gambler who continues to campaign for reform to address gambling harm
Here, Libby Mitchell, 75, from Yallourn North, Vic, shares her story
All dressed up, I was excited.
Thanks to the recent sale of my textile business, I was looking to celebrate.
When one of the new owners suggested we pop into the pub for a flutter, I agreed.
It was 1993. Our local in Mornington, Vic, had just opened a brand-new gambling lounge. Its poker machines reminded me of bingo, and games only cost 10 cents a pop.
But in 15 minutes, I’d lost five bucks.
“I’m done,” I said.
I thought there was no harm in having a flutter with friends.
It was fun though, so a few weeks later, I went again. Within moments, the numbers spun in my favour. I’d won $92.50!
Moving to a different machine, the bells rang, announcing another win.
That night, I’d made close to $200!
I started playing a few times a week with friends.
We’d lose a few dollars at most, but told ourselves it didn’t matter. We weren’t gambling as such, and there were signs saying our money went back into the community.
A few months in, I was going on my own.
When I got a job in an office, I’d play the pokies after work. Before I knew it, it would be 2am.
By then, my eldest girl, Christina, 19, had moved out, but Belinda, 18, was waiting for me at home.
Me with my dad (far left) and my daughters, Christine (left) and Belinda (right)
“You’re late again,” she’d say.
“I was trying to avoid rush hour traffic,” I lied. “I didn’t realise the time.”
I’d keep a minimal amount back for food and bills, but four years after I’d started playing, I could no longer afford my mortgage and rented out the house before eventually selling it.
Moving to Melbourne, I started a business running networking events for singles. Some nights, I made $2000. Afterwards, I’d head straight to the 24-hour Crown Casino.
Once I’d burned through my earnings, I’d dip into my $85k from the house sale.
Soon, my nest egg had dwindled to just $5000.
One Tuesday morning, I was feeling lucky. So, at 10am, I settled myself at my favourite machine and fed my notes into the slot.
Hypnotised by the tinny music, bright lights and desperation to win back the thousands I’d lost, hours slipped away like minutes.
I didn’t speak to another soul. I survived on coffee and tomato toasties, only stopping to go to the toilet.
Casino workers came and went. “Are you still here?” one asked as she started another shift.
My beautiful home in Mount Eliza that I heartbreakingly lost to Pokies.
By the time I stumbled out, it was Thursday – I’d been there 52 hours.
I’d not only lost my last $5k, I had less than a dollar in my account.
I had countless missed calls and texts from my girls.
Back home, they were waiting for me.
“It’s all gone,” I choked. “There’s nothing left.”
“You need help, Mum,” Christina said sadly. “We’re finding a counsellor.”
I went to one session, before landing a teaching job, believing if I got my career back on track I’d be less tempted.
But I couldn’t stay away. I’d play through the night then go to work exhausted.
I pawned my jewellery. Men offered me money for sex which I said no to, and I was on the brink of homelessness.
One night, as I drove home, I pulled over on a bridge. I stood at the edge.
I can’t face myself anymore, I thought.
When I quit gambling cold turkey at Dad’s, I went into severe withdrawals.
A loud blast from a ship passing snapped me back. I couldn’t do that to my family. So, I drove straight to the hospital where they kept me in for the night and suggested Gambler’s Help.
Meanwhile, my girls told my dad everything.
“I’m putting you under house arrest,” Dad said.
Withdrawing at his place, I suffered terrible headaches, stomach pains and shakes for three weeks.
Then, Dad and I googled ‘problem gambling’. Seeing the characteristics of a gambling addict, I recognised myself.
“I finally understand what has been happening to me,” I sobbed.
I moved to a community in Western Australia in 2005, where pokies are restricted to casinos.
I didn’t touch the pokies for two years, but moving back to Victoria, I relapsed many times. In 2016, after I sold another house, I spent $30k in three weeks.
Sick to my stomach, I vowed never to return to a casino again, and I haven’t.
Today, the craving has gone. I’ve repaired my relationships with my daughters and am a grandmother to Ella, 17, twins Harry and Oliver, 15, and Evie, also 15.
“I’m so proud of you, Mum,” Christina tells me.
Sadly, Dad died before he got to see me live as a fully recovered woman.
Me, alongside other group members for the Alliance for Gambling Reform Anti-Pokies.
Over the years, I gambled away around half a million dollars. I’ve made it my mission to learn everything I can about the gambling industry and the harm pokies do.
One man I met went through $250,000 of his superannuation and took out a loan against his house, unbeknown to his kids.
I saw a woman wearing an adult nappy to play.
Others have died by suicide.
In 2021, I publicly submitted my story to the Royal Commission Into the Casino Operator and Licence, in the hope Crown Casino, and other venues, would take more accountability, such as restricting hours people could play and introducing mandatory ID cards for gamblers.
It found Crown was unsuitable to hold a licence, but could continue operating on a two-year probation period, and made 33 recommendations.
This March, it was announced that Crown Casino had made improvements, including funding a responsible service of gambling program, and could keep their licence.
While I have hope for change, I am not sure this is enough to really help people who have serious gambling addictions.
Gambling should be seen in the same light as alcohol or drugs. I’m 75 now, and I’ve no plans to stop fighting for reform.
Gambling Help
If you think you may have a gambling problem and want to take steps to address this, the following services are available at no cost.
BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register. Adding yourself to this national register will exclude you from all Australian licensed online and phone wagering services for a minimum of three months and up to a lifetime. To register, you need a mobile number, email address, an Australian driver’s licence or Medicare Card.
Gambling Help Online Free and confidential support for anyone affected by gambling: visit Gambling Help Online to find out more about online counselling, live chat, email support, self-help and information.
Telephone support Immediate assistance is available via the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858. The service is free, professional and confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Isla Fisher may have been born in Oman and raised by Scottish parents, but she’s Australian through and through.
However, the 48-year-old has just listed her Sydney apartment for sale, and reportedly has plans to move from Australia to the United Kingdom.
Isla Fisher has put her Woollahra apartment on the market, and listed the two-bedroom, one-bathroom art-deco property for $1 million.
The actress originally purchased the apartment for $171,500 back in 1995 when she was just 19 years old and working on Home And Away.
Located at 96 Wallis Street in Woollahra, the property sits on the edge of Centennial Park and is scheduled for auction on 28 September.
Isla bought the property back in 1995 while she was filming Home And Away. (Credit: Getty)
“With a New York-inspired feel, this immaculate Art Deco apartment offers the best of the East in location and lifestyle,” the advertisement for the unit states.
“Flooded with natural light, it blends serene park-side living with a cosmopolitan flair, all within a stone’s throw from Sydney’s most sought-after spots.
“Directly across from Centennial Park, this newly renovated home brings you the ultimate convenience.
“Whether it’s a morning coffee at Woollahra Village or a shopping spree at Bondi Junction, you’ll enjoy the perfect balance of nature and city life.”
Take a look inside:
The kitchen. (Image: Domain)The main bedroom. (Credit: Domain)The living room. (Credit: Domain)
The Eastern Suburbs property is reportedly the only home Isla owns in Australia, so her listing further fuels rumours that she is looking to permanently relocate overseas.
According to an insider, Isla is currently house-hunting in London, and has a generous budget of around $13 million.
A source close to the actress told Daily Mail, “It’s all about the kids and what is best for them; there seems to be no drama at all. Judging by the size of the budget, the family will now be based in London.”
Following on from the successful Titans vs Rebels season in 2024, Australian Survivor fans are in for a treat in 2025, with the reality show entering its landmark tenth season.
The theme for the 2025 season has now been revealed, with the castaways set to partake in another iteration of Brains vs Brawn.
Jonathan LaPaglia is set to return to the show in 2025. (Image: Channel 10)
Brains V Brawn II will soon begin production and the theme “will pose the question: what gets you further in the world’s toughest game, brute strength or intelligence?”
Two tribes separated by those whose strength is physical and those with clever minds will battle it out in the hopes of becoming the next to take home $500,000.
Details remain limited but Channel 10 has confirmed the fan-favourite show is set to be embarking on another epic showdown on the beaches of Samoa.
Not only that, it has also been confirmed that the show will be going bigger and better than ever before, airing two seasons in the one year with an Australia v World theme also set to hit screens in 2025!
Iconic players from past seasons of franchises around the world will appear alongside some local favourites. It’s already been revealed that some Australian legends of the game including “King” George, Kirby, and Shonee will be taking part, as well as icons from the original US show such as Parvati, Tony and Cirie.
Since the announcement, fans have speculated who will be joining the US icons and have targeted former Survivor contestant, Simon Mee who featured in the original Brains v Brawn as well as Heroes v Villains.
In response to the speculation, Simon shared a video to Instagram (above) denying his involvement in the 2025 season – that is until a twist ending which left fans even more confused.
“I don’t know where the rumours have come from, but consider this my proof of life that I’m not flying out to Samoa to film the Survivor season Australia v The World. I’m just here on my couch,” he said moments before turning the camera away from himself.
“Sweet babe, I reckon if you just post that to my account days after we fly out, that should keep everyone off my back,” Simon said to his partner, Bec prior to ending the video.
A second epic season of Australian Survivor will air in 2025. (Image: Channel 10)
It’s alleged that the Brains V Brawn II season of Survivor will air at a similar time to 2024, in late January. Host Jonathan LaPaglia will also return to Australian Survivor again in 2025.
The Australian version of Survivor is highly regarded, with fans deeming it one of the best in the world.
The show has featured some big personalities and memorable characters over the years, with both winners and regular castaways alike winning over, and dividing, the nation.
There’s no doubt that the 2025 seasons will produce more lovable as well as polarising contestants!
There were fears that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would no longer be going ahead following Victoria’s shock withdrawal from hosting, but it now seems that the Games are set to be revived.
Coming off the back of the immensely successful Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a previous host of the Comm Games has put their hand up to host once again.
Australia has a rich history at the Commonwealth Games. (Image: Getty)
The Scottish government has confirmed its support for Glasgow to host the 2026 event!
There is no confirmation yet as it still needs to be proposed to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) who are in charge of the event, but sources say it’s likely to go ahead.
Glasgow last hosted the Comm Games in 2014, where nearly 5000 athletes competed across 17 sports.
However, it’s likely the 2026 event will be much more subdued to ensure it can go ahead and come in under budget – a projected $291 million AUD.
The Commonwealth Games provide an opportunity for sports such as netball to be played on the world stage. (Image: Getty)
If Glasgow does indeed host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, organisers have claimed that between 10 and 13 sports are likely to be played.
Big sports such as athletics and swimming are both guaranteed to be featured, while hockey and cycling are also likely to make it thanks to existing infrastructure.
Regardless of the size and scale of the Games, Australian athletes will be thrilled to be able to compete on the world stage again before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
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Back in April 2024, Commonwealth Games Scotland chair Ian Reid shared his hope for a revived event.
“We know how important the Commonwealth Games is for athletes, sports and supporters, and we remain concerned about the impact the ongoing uncertainty around 2026 is having on everyone concerned,” he said in a statement.
“It is vital that a Games takes place in this cycle, and we are hopeful that a positive outcome can be delivered through the Commonwealth Games Federation’s discussions with other nations.
“Glasgow has a fantastic track record of delivering large sporting events within sensible budgets, with world class facilities and expertise already in place as a legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games a decade ago.”
The Comm Games were last held in Birmingham in 2022. (Image: Getty)
Victoria unexpectedly withdrew their hosting rights in July 2023, as a result of increased budget costs.
The state had original plans to host the Games across a variety of venues in regional Victoria, with a predicted cost of around $2.6 billion. However, this increased to more than $6 billion which no longer seemed viable or valuable.
In recent years, the Commonwealth Games have found it difficult to find a willing host, and as such, five of the past six events have been held in either Australia or Britain.
Most recently, the Games were held in Birmingham in 2022, and there were plans for the 2030 games to take place in Canada. However, both Hamilton and Alberta have cancelled their bids to host the sporting event.
Is it just us or does it seem like wearing nice activewear makes you more motivated to exercise? It doesn’t matter if you’re heading to the gym, pilates, yoga, or on a walk – it never hurts to feel good in what you wear.
With countless styles on the market right now, finding the activewear that’s right for you can be difficult. Especially shorts, as there are a variety of fabrics, textures, lengths and fits that can all serve different purposes.
So how do you know which style is best for you? We’ve narrowed down a list of our top picks for activewear shorts no matter your fitness goals, or if you just simply love wearing athleisure – because who doesn’t?
The best women’s activewear shorts to shop in 2024
If it’s a versatile pair that’s both comfortable for everyday wear and high-intensity for workouts you’re after, these biker shorts are the way to go.
Featuring an extra-wide double-layered waistband and a large phone pocket to keep your phone secure when you’re running and jumping, you’ll love exercising in these squat-proof mid-thigh tights.
Key features:
360-degree stretch
Moisture-wicking
Firm compression fit
High-rise waistband for core support
Also available in 3/4 length, 7/8 length and full length
With over 3,000 5-star reviews from happy customers, these super-versatile, velvety-soft shorts are perfect for layering underneath your clothes but can also be worn alone.
They’re tagless too so you don’t need to worry about a pesky itch, and have a knit-in cotton crotch and are machine-washable.
Plus, they stay put the entire time you’re working out, meaning no rolling down or riding up, giving you total freedom of movement.
Looking for the perfect maternity bike shorts? Don’t sweat it, because we’ve found just the right pair.
From Melbourne-born brand Bae come these shorts that are made in technical Nilit Softex LYCRA for superior stretch and comfort.
With a specially designed waistband that can be pulled up on the belly, or folded down under your bump, these shorts will fit you right through pregnancy and beyond.
Key features:
Long length
Waistband can be worn up or folded under the bump for maternity
Designed for training, these shorts are made from an abrasion-resistant fabric that can handle any heavy cardio movement, while still giving you freedom to move thanks to the relaxed fit.
The flowy style means you’ll have maximum comfort without any unwanted chafing.
And if you go hard while exercising, don’t sweat it because these shorts are made to draw moisture away from the skin and to the outside of the fabric where it won’t bother you and can evaporate easily.
Bike shorts are great for almost any form of exercise, as the tight material moves with you.
This pair from Meshki is a great staple for your wardrobe as they’re not only soft and comfortable thanks to the stretchy fabric, but are also super practical with the added benefit of pockets.
The wide waistband ensures the shorts stay in place and the high-rise fit offers squat-proof coverage so you can feel confident no matter what activity you’re partaking in.
The mid-length design is also great as it enables a seamless transition from the gym to the couch, allowing you to focus on your workout instead of worrying about your shorts riding up too far.
Kendall Jenner has even been spotted rocking Meshki’s athleisure range, so you know it has the celebrity tick of approval.
As the name suggests, these shorts are great if you’re a runner.
They’re a long-standing design that has become a crowd favourite thanks to the lightweight material, built-in under shorts, drawstring, and zip pocket.
The flowy fabric moves with you, and won’t rub while you’re kicking your workout goals.
STAX has become one of the biggest and best Australian brands when it comes to activewear, and it’s not hard to see why.
These shorts are comfortable and the perfect length, and you will constantly be reaching for them.
The seamless fabric is what sells us the most on these, as they’re super comfy and stretchy meaning they won’t rub, irritate, or dig into you while you exercise.
Obviously, it depends on your personal preference as to what style of shorts you choose to workout in, but in general, the best activewear shorts are stretchy, will wick moisture, and overall will be comfortable to wear during long periods of repetitive movement.
Ideal fabrics for activewear shorts include a blend of polyester, elastane, cotton, and spandex.
Should workout shorts be tight or loose?
Again, we all have different preferences when it comes to activewear, and often women will choose fabrics and styles that they feel suit their body shape and make them feel confident.
The most important thing to consider when choosing workout shorts is if they are comfortable, so it truly depends on if you find tight-fitting shorts or loose and flowy shorts more comfortable.
Different styles are also designed for different types of exercises, with tight shorts typically ideal for high-intensity workouts, whereas loose-fitting shorts are ideal for activities such as running and yoga.
If you had to choose, tight shorts are probably the preferred option as they offer compression which has many benefits for your muscles and joints while exercising.
In saying that, you should ensure that your activewear isn’t too tight as you need to be able to have a full range of movement with no limitations.
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