ContentsQUICK ANSWER – THE BEST HIKING SHORTSCOMPARISON TABLE – THE BEST HIKING SHORTS HIKING SHORTS REVIEWSCOLUMBIA SILVER RIDGEWRANGLER AUTHENTIC UTILITYMOUNTAIN KHAKIS TETON TWILLBIMINI BAY OUTFITTERS OUTBACKCOLUMBIA BARRACUDA KILLEREXTERUS MOISTURE WICKING QUICK DRYCOLUMBIA WOMEN’S SATURDAY TRAILCOLUMBIA WOMEN’S SANDY RIVERCOLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR BOY’S SILVER RIDGE IIICOLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR BOY’S HALF MOONHOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HIKING SHORTSMATERIALWEIGHTPOCKETSSUN PROTECTIONFIT Are you hitting the trails in summer? If so, you’ll need some lighter and thinner clothing to make sure you don’t overheat. Wearing shorts instead of hiking pants can definitely help you stay cool. But, do you know what are the best hiking shorts for you? One of our big goals here at The Adventure Junkies is to help you out when it comes to gearing up for hiking adventures. In this article, we’ll walk you through the features you should look for when buying new shorts for hiking and show you our selection of the best models of the year. For more of our top hiking gear recommendations, check out these popular articles: Tents | Hammocks | Bivy Sacks | Tarps Sleeping Bags | Sleeping Pads | Stoves Backpacks | GPS | Headlamps | Poles| Watches Boots | Shoes | Sandals | Pants | Shorts Base Layers | Fleeces | Down Jackets | Rain Jackets QUICK ANSWER – THE BEST HIKING SHORTS 1. COLUMBIA SILVER RIDGE VIEW AT REI 2. WRANGLER AUTHENTIC UTILITY VIEW AT AMAZON 3. MOUNTAIN KHAKIS TETON TWILL VIEW AT BACKCOUNTRY 4. BIMINI BAY OUTBACK VIEW AT AMAZON 5. COLUMBIA BARRACUDA KILLER VIEW AT AMAZON 6. EXTERNUS MOISTURE WICKING VIEW AT AMAZON 7. COLUMBIA SATURDAY TRAIL VIEW AT AMAZON 8. COLUMBIA SANDY RIVER VIEW AT AMAZON 9. COLUMBIA SILVER RIDGE III VIEW AT AMAZON 10. COLUMBIA HALF MOON VIEW AT AMAZON COMPARISON TABLE – THE BEST HIKING SHORTS PICTURESHORTSMATERIALNUMBER OF POCKETSPRICERATING PICTURESHORTSMATERIALNUMBER OF POCKETSPRICERATING Columbia Silver Ridge100% nylon6$$4.4 Wrangler Authentic Utility100% cotton6$4.4 Mountain Khakis Teton Twill100% cotton5$$$4.4 Bimini Bay Outfitters Outback100% cotton8$4.3 Columbia Barracuda Killer62% cotton/38% nylon5$$4.5 Exterus Moisture Wicking Quick Dry100% nylon with teflon6$$$4.8 Columbia Women's Saturday Trail96% nylon/4% elastane4$$4.6 Columbia Women's Sandy River100% nylon4$$4.6 Columbia Sportswear Boy's Silver Ridge III100% nylon3$4.9 Columbia Sportswear Boy's Half Moon100% cotton6$$4.9 MULTI-DAYHIKING PACKING LISTDon't forget important gear at home!Print out this free hiking packing list to prepare for your next adventure.Plus, you'll get exclusive content in our newsletter to help you make the most of your time on the trail!UNLOCK THIS LIST* You will get weekly emails with practical hiking advice that complement the information contained in the packing list. 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HIKING SHORTS REVIEWS COLUMBIA SILVER RIDGE Check out the latest price on:Amazon | REI MATERIAL: 100% nylon POCKETS: Two side pockets, two back pockets, one thigh pocket, one zippered thigh pocket FEATURES: Ripstop nylon fabric, Omni-Wick anti-sweat treatment, Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection, integrated webbing belt and elastic, zippered security pocket PROS: Plenty of pocket space, comfortable, easy waist adjustment CONS: Pocket seams might eventually need stitching WRANGLER AUTHENTIC UTILITY Check out the latest price on: Amazon MATERIAL: 100% cotton POCKETS: Two side pockets, two back pockets, two thigh pockets FEATURES: Back elastic waistband, cargo pockets, key or knife holder PROS: Very affordable, plenty of pocket space CONS: Baggy MOUNTAIN KHAKIS TETON TWILL Check out the latest price on: Amazon | Backcountry MATERIAL: 100% cotton POCKETS: Two side pockets, two back pockets, one hidden seam pocket FEATURES: YKK zipper, 10-inch inseam, triple-stitched seams, bar-tac reinforcements, grosgrain-lined waistband PROS: Perfect for multi-use which makes up for the higher price, durable, though and solid CONS: Not water resistant, heavy BIMINI BAY OUTFITTERS OUTBACK Check out the latest price on: Amazon MATERIAL: 100% cotton POCKETS: Two side pockets, two back pockets, two gusseted thigh pockets, one rear tool pocket FEATURES: 7-inch inseam, back elastic waistband with belt loops, tool pocket, cargo and back pockets with Velcro closures PROS: Lots of pocket space, Velcro pocket closures CONS: Tight fit COLUMBIA BARRACUDA KILLER Check out the latest price on: Amazon MATERIAL: 62% cotton/38% nylon POCKETS: Two side pockets, two back pockets, one zippered thigh pocket FEATURES: UPF 15 sun protection, button-closed waistband with belt loops, zippered security pocket, quick-dry fabric, 10-inch inseam, mesh in front pockets PROS: Dries quickly, lightweight, nice design CONS: None that we could find EXTERUS MOISTURE WICKING QUICK DRY Check out the latest price on: Amazon MATERIAL: 100% nylon with teflon POCKETS: Two side pockets, two zippered back pockets, two zippered thigh pockets FEATURES: UPF 30 sun protection, comes with webbed belt, quick-dry fabric PROS: Lightweight, zippered pockets, great for all kinds of outdoor activities, comfortable, durable CONS: A bit more expensive than other hiking shorts COLUMBIA WOMEN’S SATURDAY TRAIL Check out the latest price on: Amazon MATERIAL: 96% nylon/4% elastane POCKETS: Two side pockets, two back pockets FEATURES: Two-way stretch fabric, Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection, Omni-Shield water resistant finish, 5-inch inseam, mesh pocket bags PROS: Stretching fabric, lightweight, comfortable CONS: Very short cut COLUMBIA WOMEN’S SANDY RIVER Check out the latest price on: Amazon MATERIAL: 100% nylon POCKETS: Two side pockets, one thigh pocket, one zippered thigh pocket FEATURES: Exterior adjustable waistband, zip-closed security pocket, Omni-Shade UPF 30 sun protection, 6-inch inseam, belt PROS: Dries quickly, multifunctional pockets, durable CONS: Things might fall out of the large side pockets COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR BOY’S SILVER RIDGE III Check out the latest price on: Amazon MATERIAL: 100% nylon POCKETS: Two side pockets, one thigh pocket FEATURES: Interior adjustable waistband, Omni-Shade UPF 30 sun protection, Omni-Wick moisture management, quick-dry fabric, 9-inch inseam PROS: Affordable, dries quickly, comfortable CONS: None that we could find COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR BOY’S HALF MOON Check out the latest price on: Amazon MATERIAL: 100% cotton POCKETS: Two side pockets, two back pockets, two thigh pockets FEATURES: UPF 15 sun protection, elastic at waist, pockets with hook and loop closure, quick-draining mesh bellows, 6-inch inseam PROS: Quick-drying fabric, stylish, durable CONS: None that we could find LEARN HOW TO CHOOSE HIKING GEAR FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTUREJOIN THE FREE HIKING GEAR COURSEJOIN THE FREE HIKING GEAR COURSE HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HIKING SHORTS MATERIAL The most commonly used material in hiking shorts is nylon. This material is breathable, dries quickly and is durable. Other materials such as cotton can increase your shorts’ toughness. The trade off is cotton is less breathable and water resistant. Also, cotton dries much more slowly than nylon, which could be an important factor when deciding on the best hiking shorts for you. This is well-worth considering if you’re planning on going swimming in your hiking shorts. WEIGHT When choosing outdoor gear, including hiking boots and tents, weight is a super-important aspect. You’ll want to get the lightest shorts without giving up on pocket space and quality materials. POCKETS Pockets are an extremely useful feature of all hiking clothing, from pants to jackets. It’s great to have the things you’ll need most within easy reach. Try and choose hiking shorts with sufficient storage space. This will decrease the need to search your backpack every time you need basic things like a GPS, wallet or camera. SUN PROTECTION You’re most likely to wear your hiking shorts when it’s warm and sunny, so it’s worth considering buying a pair that offers sun protection. This is indicated by the UPF number, short for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. Like SPF, which stands for Sun Protection Factor that is found in sunscreen, the higher the UPF number, the better it will protect your skin. This rating indicates how well the fabric offers protection against UV rays. Specifically, it shows how much radiation penetrates through the fabric. For example, UPF 50 means that 1/50th or 2% of radiation reaches your skin. While clothing protects your skin against the sun to some degree, people who are fair-skinned may want something more. Extra sun protection is achieved by using particular dyes and fiber types. Nylon and polyester, for instance, help repel sun rays while certain dyes are engineered to protect against UV rays. This is a useful feature if you’re hiking in equatorial, high-altitude or snowy areas where the sun rays are more intense. FIT The best hiking shorts are those that fit well but aren’t too tight or too loose. You’ll definitely want mobility when hiking uphill and scrambling over rocks. On the other hand, a pair of shorts that is too baggy, with excess material flapping around, can become a nuisance on longer hikes. Also, loose-fitting shorts might contribute to chafing, which is something you want to avoid at all costs. Shorts that are too tight and restrictive can have the same effect.
