Hiking shorts are built around a stretch woven fabric that dries fast and moves with you, which is what separates them from gym shorts or cut-off trousers. Hiking shorts also live or die on pocket placement, because a hipbelt covers the pockets most shorts put things in. Our roundup of hiking pants covers the full-length version of the same decision.
The category splits by how much protection you want. A short inseam gives freedom and a long one gives sun and scrub cover, and neither is universally right.
Most complaints trace to two things. Cotton content, and a waistband that fights a loaded pack.
Quick Verdict
Buy a stretch woven nylon short with a mid inseam and at least one thigh pocket. Nylon dries fast and takes abrasion, the mid length covers most conditions, and a thigh pocket is the only pocket still reachable with a hipbelt done up. Add a liner if you are prone to chafing rather than buying shorts with one built in.
Key Takeaways
- Stretch woven nylon is the default; cotton stays wet and chafes.
- A hipbelt covers hand pockets, so thigh pockets matter more than they look.
- Inseam is a protection choice, not a fashion one.
- A flat or elasticated waistband sits better under a loaded pack than a stiff one.
- Built-in liners are convenient and hard to replace when they wear out.
How We Picked
This is a research-based roundup rather than a hands-on wear test. Selections rest on published specifications, stated fabric composition, manufacturer sizing guidance and consistent user-reported feedback rather than on our own measurement.
The criteria that mattered were fabric that dries quickly and holds up to scrub, pocket placement that survives a hipbelt, a waistband that does not dig, and honest sizing rather than vanity sizing.
Fabric content was treated as a filter. Anything with meaningful cotton content was excluded, because wet cotton against skin on a long walk is the most reliable way to chafe.
Fit varies enormously between brands, so check each maker’s own size chart rather than assuming your usual size carries across.
Stretch Woven Nylon Hiking Shorts
Why It Stands Out
This is the default and the right first purchase. A nylon woven with a little elastane sheds water, dries quickly, resists scrub and moves enough to let you step up onto a rock without the hem pulling.
Woven fabric also takes abrasion far better than knit. Sitting on granite is what destroys softer shorts.
Worth Knowing
Check where the pockets sit. Many otherwise good shorts put everything at the hip, and a hipbelt makes those unreachable and uncomfortable when loaded.
Some woven fabrics are noisy and stiff when new and soften considerably after washing, so judge after a wash rather than in the shop.
This suits nearly all three-season hiking. Skip it only if you want something you can also swim in.
Long Inseam Shorts for Sun and Scrub
Why It Stands Out
A longer inseam reaching toward the knee covers the part of the thigh most exposed on an open trail. In desert and high-altitude sun that coverage does real work, and our roundup of hiking hats for sun protection covers the other end.
Longer legs also fend off thorny scrub on overgrown trails, which is where short inseams get you scratched.
Worth Knowing
Longer means warmer and slightly more restrictive on high steps. On steep scrambly ground some people find the hem catching on the knee.
They also take longer to dry after a crossing, simply because there is more fabric.
This suits exposed trails and overgrown routes. Skip it for hot humid conditions where airflow matters most.
Short Inseam Shorts for Hot Weather
Why It Stands Out
A short inseam maximizes airflow and freedom of movement. On steep ground in heat, that is the version people actually reach for.
They also pack down to almost nothing, which matters when shorts are the spare rather than the main garment.
Worth Knowing
Sun exposure is the trade, and on an exposed trail that is a real one rather than a comfort preference.
Chafing between the thighs becomes more likely as the inseam shortens, which is why liners are common at this length.
This suits hot weather and steep ground. Skip it for open desert routes and anything overgrown.
Lined Hiking Shorts
Why It Stands Out
A built-in liner removes a layer from the system. One garment instead of two means less to pack, less to wash and no waistband stacking under a hipbelt.
The liner also handles chafing directly, which is the main reason short inseams bother people.
Worth Knowing
Liners wear out before shells do, and you cannot replace one without replacing the whole garment. That is the honest cost.
Liner fit is personal and cannot be adjusted. If it is too tight or too loose for you, the shorts are simply wrong regardless of how good the outer fabric is.
This suits hot weather and anyone who chafes. Skip it if you already have base layers you like, since our comparison of merino against synthetic base layers covers the separates route.
Convertible Pants with Zip-Off Legs
Why It Stands Out
Convertibles cover both cases in one garment. On a walk that starts cold and ends hot, or on a trip where you cannot carry both, that flexibility is genuinely useful.
They also solve the packing problem for travel, since one pair covers a wider range of conditions.
Worth Knowing
The zip sits at the knee and some people find it rubs, particularly under a knee brace or on long descents.
Detached legs still have to go somewhere, and they are bulkier in a pocket than people expect.
This suits variable weather and travel. Skip it if you already own both, where dedicated garments are more comfortable than either half of a convertible, which our roundup of waterproof hiking pants covers for the wet end.
Cargo Style Shorts with Thigh Pockets
Why It Stands Out
Thigh pockets are the honest answer to the hipbelt problem. With a pack on, hand pockets are unusable and a thigh pocket is the only place a phone or a map stays reachable.
Deeper pockets also stop things migrating out when you sit down, which is how phones get left on rocks.
Worth Knowing
Loaded thigh pockets swing. A heavy phone in a floppy pocket slaps your leg with every step, so look for a pocket that sits flat and closes.
Cargo styling adds fabric and weight, which is a small penalty on a long day.
This suits anyone carrying a pack. Skip it for day walks without a pack, where hand pockets work fine.
Hiking Shorts at a Glance
| Type | Best for | Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Stretch woven nylon | General three-season use | Pocket placement varies |
| Long inseam | Sun and scrub cover | Warmer, dries slower |
| Short inseam | Heat and steep ground | Exposure and chafing |
| Lined | Chafing, fewer layers | Liner wears out first |
| Convertible | Variable weather, travel | Knee zip can rub |
| Cargo style | Wearing a pack | Loaded pockets swing |
How to Choose Hiking Shorts
Check the fabric content first
Nylon or polyester with a little elastane is what you want. Any meaningful cotton content holds sweat, dries slowly and chafes, which undoes everything else the garment does well.
Try them on with a loaded hipbelt
The waistband has to live under a pack. A thick belt loop or a stiff button placket that is invisible in a shop becomes a pressure point after a few hours under load.
Pick the inseam for your terrain
Open sun and scrub favor length, heat and steep ground favor freedom. This is a protection decision rather than a style one, and it is worth making deliberately.
Count the usable pockets
Usable means reachable with a hipbelt fastened. On most shorts that number is lower than the number printed on the label, which is why thigh pockets are worth seeking out.
Shorts or Convertible Pants
When shorts win
Anywhere you know the conditions. A dedicated pair fits better, weighs less and has no zip at the knee, and for a summer day in predictable weather that is simply the more comfortable garment. They also cost less, so owning shorts and separate pants often beats one convertible pair on both comfort and price.
When convertibles win
Genuine uncertainty, or a strict pack limit. Trips crossing altitude bands, shoulder-season walks that start below freezing and finish warm, and travel where luggage space decides everything all favor one garment that covers both. The knee zip is the price, and it bothers some people much more than others, which our guide to layering for hiking puts in context alongside the rest of the system.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Wearing everyday shorts on a real walk
Gym and casual shorts are usually knit and often part cotton. They hold sweat, sag when wet and abrade quickly on rock, which is exactly what a woven hiking short is built to avoid.
Ignoring where the waistband sits
A hipbelt presses whatever is underneath it into your hips for hours. A bulky waistband, a stiff seam or a stacked liner waistband all become sore spots on a long day.
Buying for the shop rather than the trail
Shorts that fit standing still can bind on a high step. Squat and lift a knee before deciding, because that is the movement that reveals a hem or crotch cut that is too tight.
Forgetting sun on the legs
Legs get more direct sun than most people plan for, and a short inseam on an exposed trail means sunscreen becomes essential rather than optional. Our roundup of hiking sandals for summer trails covers the same exposure question at the other end.
Recommended Reading
See our roundup of base layers for winter hiking, our roundup of hiking socks, our roundup of hiking shoes for women, and our roundup of mountain bike shorts if you ride as well as walk.
Hiking Shorts FAQ
What fabric should hiking shorts be made from?
A stretch woven nylon or polyester with a small amount of elastane. That combination dries quickly, resists abrasion from rock and scrub, and moves enough for high steps. Avoid anything with meaningful cotton content, which stays wet and chafes.
What inseam length is best for hiking?
A mid length covers most conditions. Go longer for open sun and thorny scrub, shorter for heat and steep scrambly ground. It is a protection decision, so pick it for the terrain you actually walk rather than for looks.
Are lined hiking shorts worth it?
They are if you chafe, since the liner handles that directly and removes a layer from the system. The downside is that the liner wears out before the shell and cannot be replaced on its own.
Why do my pockets become useless when I wear a pack?
Because a hipbelt sits exactly over the hand pockets on most shorts. That is why thigh pockets matter far more than the total pocket count, and why some otherwise excellent shorts are frustrating under a pack.
Can I wear running shorts for hiking?
For a short, easy walk in good weather, yes. On rougher ground the knit fabric abrades faster, offers less protection against scrub, and the pockets rarely hold anything securely.
Do hiking shorts need sun protection built in?
A rated fabric helps on exposed trails, though coverage matters more than the rating. A longer inseam in ordinary nylon protects more skin than a short pair with an impressive number on the label.
How should hiking shorts fit at the waist?
Snug enough to stay put without a belt if possible, since a belt buckle under a hipbelt is a common pressure point. A flat or partly elasticated waistband generally sits better under a loaded pack than a rigid one.
Are zip-off convertible legs worth the knee seam?
For trips where you genuinely cannot predict the temperature, yes. The zip sits at the knee and some people never notice it while others find it rubs on long descents, so it is worth wearing a pair for a full day before committing to them for a trip.
How many pairs do I need for a multi-day trip?
Two is the usual answer, one worn and one drying, since a stretch woven pair rinsed at camp is normally dry by morning. Carrying three is rarely worth the weight unless you have no way to wash anything along the route.
