The Best Hiking Shorts
I Have Found.

Good quality hiking shorts should breathe, dry fast and wick moisture.

You may have noticed that the three ideas above all have something in common... moisture control. It's a good idea to avoid moist material against your skin because it encourages chaffing, skin irritation and also skin breakdown. Think of someone walking 10 miles in soaking wet boots without socks and you'll get the idea. Although hiking shorts aren't quite as critical a piece of hiking equipment as hiking shoes or boots, they're definitely still important and you will notice it quickly if they start to chafe, bind or become uncomfortable.

First let's take a look at fit...

Hiking shorts should fit loose enough to allow your legs to move easily even when high-stepping over rocks and fallen logs, but not so loose that you feel like you're wearing a trash bag.

Loose clothing has a tendency to get in the way when you least want it to and it's more likely to catch on branches and thorns. Some loose hiking shorts, depending on what they're made from, can also swish as you walk which may or may not annoy you, but it does make it more challenging to sneak a peak at wildlife without startling it.

Waistband fit is also important, especially if you plan on carrying a backpack. Waistbands that are loose and fold over or bunch-up will only serve to irritate you. Also, if you're backpacking you may want to consider hiking shorts with a belt, as they won't be able to move around as easily. Hiking shorts that "travel" or that are loose enough at the hips/waist that they need to be pulled up every few minutes are not only annoying, they're also more likely to chafe and might allow those following behind you to see a side of you they may not have seen before. ;-)

Removable belts can be nice as you can stow them in your pack if you don't feel like you need them at the moment. Something else to keep in mind if you have a habit of filling your pockets with stuff is that while thin belts may look a little better, make sure that they aren't so skinny that they're going to dig into your skin.

Style: Longer hiking shorts with cargo-style pockets are nice if you like extra storage space, but the disadvantage is they can get heavy quickly if you fill the pockets to capacity, which can ride and chafe your hips if your shorts are too heavy. The advantage of longer shorts though is that they do offer more protection from the sun and elements than do shorter styles.

Shorter style shorts offer the advantage of easier movement, and everything being equal, they're also cooler and lighter. If you don't carry much in your pockets, shorter shorts may fit your needs well. There are also some features that can come in handy...

Nice features like clips that anchor your car keys and zippered or VelcroŽ closures will stop stuff from falling out of your pocket at the worst possible moment. You may never cross a shaky rope bridge 50 feet above a fast flowing river or scramble over boulders and watch helplessly as your keys fall from your pocket into the water or a tight crevice, but if you do, I know you'll wish your hiking shorts had a zipper pocket. As I tell you this, I'm thinking about the time I locked my keys in my car while camping. Of course I was able to retrieve my keys, but being a student it was expensive at the time, and it cut the trip short...

Deep pockets with key clips or a zippered pocket will help you to avoid retracing your route to find lost items that somehow managed to eject themselves from your pockets. Believe me, if you've ever had to backtrack in the dark after a long and tiring hike, you'll appreciate this seemingly small feature.

Another tip:

Storage space: When you get your new hiking shorts and put your gear into the pockets, put some thought into what you place where. Putting small stuff in smaller pockets instead of larger ones will help to keep things from moving around as you walk. It's really noticeable with coins and keys.

Recommended hiking shorts:

If you're looking for hiking shorts take a look at the ones below. The links will take you to either Altrec or Backcountry (a 3 year Bizrate award winner), two stores both known for their customer service. Either store goes out of their way to make you happy.

The North Face: Men's Paramount Cargo Hiking Shorts has double stitching, bar tacking, quick drying, back and side pockets with VelcroŽ closures, belt, and gusseted crotch for extra movement. This reads like a list of what you should look for in a nice pair of hiking shorts. Add in the 30+ UPF sun protection factor and you've pretty much got it covered.

There are a couple of honorable mention hiking shorts you might want to take a look at...

Prana's Stretch Zion Men's Short and Ex Officio's Men's Amphi Short also deserve a quick mention and are definitely worth checking out to see if they meet your particular needs.

I hope these hiking shorts help to make your next outing more enjoyable. Happy hiking.