Recommended shorts for ultramarathon?

I think David laney rocks the split shorts for races, hes a cool guy, p famous ultra dude, and is like the face of Nike trail running ^.^

Disco Gary would rather you not wear shorts.

Split shorts are fine. Depends on the ultra you will race and whatever you need to carry woth you. An "ultra" short has a lot of pockets/mesh area to put mandatory gear or nutrition stuff.

So really it is up to what works for you and your race.

I've always worn either splits or half tights, and plenty of people around me have done the same. The most important things I look for in shorts are comfort and pockets if I have to carry extra gels or something.

Trucker hat jokes 3...2...1...

The reason some ultrarunners don't wear split shorts is because they typically won't have as many pockets. A secondary reason is that you are more likely to have varying weather conditions in longer races, so more protection could be better for various reasons.

A tertiary reason is that split shorts are seen as a way to "look fast" and if the theory that ultrarunners are just slower runners holds true, then they don't care if they look fast.

But seriously, pockets are the primary reason.

These are the best I've found

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/Nike_Mens_Trail_Short/descpage-NIMTS1.html

I've been wearing shorty shorts for 40 years but I don't wear them for ultras. I just wear a simple long basketball short with big pockets I can put my food in

Huge fan of these by Patagonia. Zipper pockets are nice for some food, ass pocket holds phone.

http://www.patagonia.com/product/mens-nine-trails-running-shorts-8-inch/57601.html