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There is a piece of gear that most hikers put on without thinking about it, and it is the same piece of gear that determines whether a hot day on the trail becomes a day of discomfort or a day of movement. It is the best hiking shorts, and they are the foundation of every warm-weather hike.
I remember a July hike on the Sheltowee Trace in Kentucky, where the temperature climbed past ninety before noon and the trail crossed creeks every mile. The hiker ahead of me was wearing long pants made of a heavy cotton blend. By the third creek crossing, his pants were wet and heavy and they stayed wet for the next two hours. By the fifth mile, he was not hiking. He was negotiating with his clothing. I was wearing a pair of synthetic shorts that dried in the time it took to walk from one creek to the next, and I was not thinking about my shorts. I was thinking about the trail.
The principle that guides this article comes from the Dao De Jing, and it is a line about the beginning of the journey. The Laozi writes that a giant tree grows from a tiny sprout, and a tower of nine stories rises from a heap of earth. The meaning is not about ambition. It is about the foundation. The shorts are the foundation of every warm-weather hike. They are the first thing you put on, and they are the thing that determines whether the rest of the layers work. A pair of shorts that binds, that chafes, that stays wet, is a foundation that fails. A pair of shorts that moves with the leg, that dries fast, that disappears into the act of walking, is a foundation that holds the rest of the day in place.
合抱之木，生于毫末；九层之台，起于累土。 A giant tree grows from a tiny sprout. A tower of nine stories rises from a heap of earth. — Dao De Jing, Chapter 64
The Six Hiking Shorts at a Glance
| Shorts | Material | Features | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shallowlulu Men’s Cargo | 88% Nylon, 12% Spandex | Water Repellent, UPF 50+, 7 pockets | 4.5 / 5 (2,788) |
| EZRUN Men’s Quick Dry Cargo | 90% Nylon, 10% Elastane | Water Repellent, UPF 50+, 6 pockets | 4.2 / 5 (1,927) |
| G Gradual Men’s Cargo | 88% Nylon, 12% Spandex | Water Repellent, UPF 50+, 6 pockets | 4.3 / 5 (2,418) |
| CQR Men’s Quick Dry Stretch Cargo | 91% Polyester, 9% Elastane | Water Resistant, 6 pockets, 3.2 oz | 4.5 / 5 (69) |
| Pudolla Men’s Cargo | 95% Polyester, 5% Spandex | UPF 50+, Water Repellent, 5 zip pockets | 4.4 / 5 (5,610) |
| Moosehill Men’s Cargo | 100% Polyester | 9 pockets, 4-way stretch, 12.48 oz | 4.4 / 5 (235) |
All specifications listed as they appear on Amazon. Weight varies by size.
The Six Best Hiking Shorts
1. Shallowlulu Men’s Cargo — The Most Popular Shorts on the Trail
The Shallowlulu cargo shorts are for the hiker who wants a pair of shorts that has been tested by thousands of other hikers and proven itself in the field. They are made of eighty-eight percent nylon and twelve percent spandex, and they carry a rating of four point five out of five stars from nearly three thousand reviews.
The Shallowlulu shorts are treated with a water-repellent finish that sheds light rain and splashes, and they carry a UPF rating of fifty plus for sun protection. The fabric is a four-way stretch weave that moves with the leg, and the shorts have seven pockets: two large mesh front slash pockets, two zippered security thigh cargo pockets, two mesh back zippered pockets, and a small tactical accessory pocket. The waist is an elastic band with a removable nylon belt, and the shorts come with a multifunctional D-ring for hooking on gear. The closure is a YKK zipper.
The Daoist principle the Shallowlulu carries is the one about the thing that has been proven by the weight of the collective. Nearly three thousand hikers have bought these shorts and rated them at four point five stars, and the number of reviews is the kind of evidence that the Laozi would recognize. The shorts that thousands of hikers have walked in are the shorts that have been walked in the way the Laozi describes. The giant tree grows from the tiny sprout, and the Shallowlulu is the sprout that has been growing through the feet of thousands of hikers.
2. EZRUN Men’s Quick Dry Cargo — The Lightest Trail Shorts for the Fast Hiker
The EZRUN Men’s Quick Dry Hiking Cargo Shorts are for the hiker who wants a pair of lightweight trail shorts for hiking that can handle the heat and the brush without weighing the legs down. They are made of ninety percent nylon and ten percent elastane, and they carry a water-repellent finish and a UPF rating of fifty plus.
The EZRUN shorts have six pockets: two front pockets, two zippered side pockets, one rear pocket with a zipper, and one straight pocket for small items. The waist has elastic panels on both sides for flexibility, and the closure is a metal button with a zipper fly. The shorts also have tactical buckle rings for hanging items. The fabric is breathable and quick-drying, and the fit is a regular cut that works for most body types.
The Daoist principle the EZRUN carries is the one about the thing that is light enough to be carried and forgotten. The lightweight nylon and elastane blend is the fabric that does not add weight to the leg, and the shorts that do not add weight are the shorts that the hiker forgets about. The UPF fifty plus protection is the protection that the hiker does not notice until the sun is high, and the protection that is there when it is needed is the protection that has done its work. The sprout is small, and the EZRUN is the sprout that is shaped to grow into a day on the trail.
3. G Gradual Men’s Cargo — The Shorts with the Best Fit
The G Gradual Men’s Hiking Cargo Shorts are for the hiker who wants a pair of shorts that fits like it was made for their body, with an elastic waistband that adapts to the movement of the trail. They are made of eighty-eight percent nylon and twelve percent spandex, and they carry a water-repellent finish and a UPF rating of fifty plus.
The G Gradual shorts have six pockets: two front pockets, two thigh zipper pockets, one back zipper pocket, and one straight pocket for a tactical pen or flashlight. The waist has stretch panels on both sides for flexibility, and the shorts come with a nylon belt that can be adjusted to the waist circumference. A multifunctional D-ring is built into a small pocket for hooking on gear. The fabric is lightweight and quick-drying, and the fit is a regular cut that leaves room for movement.
The Daoist principle the G Gradual carries is the one about the thing that adapts to the shape of the user. The stretch waistband is the feature that makes the shorts fit without the hiker doing anything to make them fit, and the shorts that fit without being adjusted are the shorts that have become part of the hiker’s body. The D-ring is the feature that is there when the hiker needs to hook on gear, and the feature that is there when it is needed is the feature that has done its work. The sprout grows, and the G Gradual is the sprout that grows with the hiker.
4. CQR Men’s Quick Dry Stretch Cargo — The Lightest Shorts on This List
The CQR Men’s Quick Dry Stretch Cargo Shorts are for the hiker who wants the lightest possible pair of quick-dry outdoor shorts that still has the pockets and the durability that a trail requires. They weigh three point two ounces, which is the lightest weight on this list, and they are made of ninety-one percent polyester and nine percent elastane.
The CQR shorts have six pockets, including cargo pockets with secure storage for essentials. The fabric is a quick-dry blended weave that wicks moisture and dries fast, and the material has a durable water-resistant finish that repels light rain and splashes. The waist has a stretchable material that provides a full range of motion, and the closure is a zipper. The fit is a regular cut, and the shorts are designed for hiking, camping, travel, and everyday casual wear.
The Daoist principle the CQR carries is the one about the thing that is light enough to be forgotten. The lightest shorts on this list are the shorts that the hiker is most likely to bring, and the shorts that the hiker is most likely to bring are the shorts that will be on the trail when the day is long and the temperature is high. The CQR does not argue for itself. It is three point two ounces of fabric, and the point of being three point two ounces is that the hiker does not have to think about the weight. The sprout is small, and the CQR is the sprout that the hiker will carry into the mountains without noticing that they are carrying it.
5. Pudolla Men’s Cargo — The Best-Selling Shorts on Amazon
The Pudolla cargo shorts are for the hiker who wants a pair of shorts that is ranked number one in Men’s Hiking on Amazon, and who wants to know why five thousand six hundred other hikers have already bought them. They are made of ninety-five percent polyester and five percent spandex, and they carry a UPF rating of fifty plus and a durable water-repellent finish.
The Pudolla shorts have five zipper pockets: two slash pockets, two flat pockets, and a back pocket. All the pockets are deep and zippered, which means the contents stay in the pockets even when the hiker is sitting, bending, or scrambling. The waist has an elastic back panel that expands for a personalized fit, and the closure is a button with a zip fly. The fabric is moisture-wicking and quick-drying, and the shorts are available in nine-inch, seven-inch, and eleven-inch inseam lengths.
The Daoist principle the Pudolla carries is the one about the thing that is number one because it has been chosen by the most people. The number one ranking in Men’s Hiking is the kind of evidence that the Laozi would recognize as the weight of the collective. The shorts that five thousand six hundred hikers have chosen are the shorts that have been tested by the trail in a way that no single review can match. The sprout grows into the tree, and the Pudolla is the sprout that has grown into the most popular short on the market through the simple act of being what hikers need.
6. Moosehill Men’s Cargo — The Most Feature-Rich Shorts on the Trail
The Moosehill Men’s Hiking Cargo Shorts are for the hiker who wants a pair of shorts that has been designed with every feature a hiker could need, and who is willing to carry the weight of those features. They weigh twelve point four eight ounces, which is the heaviest weight on this list, and they are made of a hundred percent polyester with a four-way stretch fabric.
The Moosehill shorts have nine pockets, which is the most of any short on this list. The pockets include two front pockets, two multi-functional thigh pockets with flaps, side zippers, and dedicated phone sleeves, plus a secure back zippered pocket that doubles as a self-storage pouch. The waist has a full elastic back band that stretches up to three inches, plus side adjusters that provide up to four inches of adjustment. The shorts have reflective strips on the thigh pockets for visibility in low light, and the fabric has a water-resistant finish. The inseam is eleven point two inches.
The Daoist principle the Moosehill carries is the one about the thing that is useful because it has everything the hiker needs. The nine pockets are the feature that the hiker notices when they need to carry gear, and the reflective strips are the feature that the hiker notices when the light is low. The Moosehill is the short that has been built for the hiker who wants to be prepared for every situation, and the short that is prepared for every situation is the short that has done its work. The tree grows from the sprout, and the Moosehill is the tree that has grown into the most complete hiking short on this list.
The Standard, Applied
The standard this article has been built around is a single question: when you are on the trail on a hot day, are you aware of your shorts, or are you aware of the trail?
If you are aware of the trail, the shorts have done their job. If you are aware of the shorts, the shorts have not. The question is the same question that guides the choice of every piece of equipment a hiker carries. The mindful roaming gear system asks of every piece of equipment that it serve the hiker without becoming a second job. The shorts that bind, that chafe, that stay wet, are shorts that have become a job. The shorts that move with the leg, that dry fast, that disappear, are shorts that have done their work.
The same principle applies to the best lightweight hiking shoes that carry the legs through the day, and the best hiking rain pants that cover the legs when the weather changes. The shorts are the foundation, and the foundation is the part that the hiker does not notice. The giant tree grows from the tiny sprout, and the shorts that are the sprout are the shorts that the hiker forgets about. The hiker who is not thinking about their shorts is the hiker who is on the trail. That is the standard, and that is the short.
Frequently Asked Questions
What length should shorts be? A nine-inch inseam is the most common because it covers the upper thigh without riding up. The Pudolla shorts are available in seven-inch, nine-inch, and eleven-inch inseams. A seven-inch inseam is better for hot weather and water crossings. An eleven-inch inseam is better for hikers who want more coverage.
Do I need UPF 50+ in my shorts? If you are hiking in exposed terrain, UPF fifty plus protection is worth having. The Shallowlulu, EZRUN, G Gradual, and Pudolla shorts all carry a UPF fifty plus rating. The CQR and Moosehill shorts do not list a specific UPF rating, so they are better suited for shaded trails or cooler conditions.
How many pockets do I need? Six pockets is the sweet spot for most hikers: two front pockets, two cargo pockets, and two back pockets. The Moosehill has the most at nine. The Pudolla has five zippered pockets. The Shallowlulu has seven. The most important feature is that the pockets are deep enough and that at least some of them have zippers to secure valuables.
What is the difference between water repellent and waterproof in shorts? Water-repellent shorts have a DWR finish that causes water to bead off the fabric. This is enough for light rain and splashes. Waterproof shorts would be a rain shell. For most conditions, water repellent is the right feature because it allows the fabric to breathe while shedding light moisture.
Are cargo shorts still in style for hiking? Cargo pockets are a functional feature on the trail, not a fashion statement. Unlike convertible hiking pants, cargo shorts keep the pocket space accessible without the extra fabric. The extra pockets give the hiker access to gear without opening a pack. All six shorts in this article are cargo shorts, and they are on this list because the pockets serve a purpose on the trail.
Can I wear these shorts for swimming? Most shorts of this type are not designed for swimming, and they do not have the built-in liners that swim shorts have. The fabric is quick-drying, so they can handle a creek crossing or a sudden rain shower. For dedicated swimming, a pair of swim trunks is a better choice.
Summary
The best pair is not the most expensive, the lightest, or the most feature-packed. They are the shorts that disappear into the act of hiking. They are the shorts that you pull on without thinking, that you wear through the day without adjusting, and that you take off at the end of the day without remembering that you were wearing them.
The Shallowlulu is the most popular, with nearly three thousand five-star reviews. The EZRUN is the lightest trail short for fast-and-light day hikes. The G Gradual offers the best fit with a stretch waistband and adjustable belt. The CQR is the lightest by weight at three point two ounces. The Pudolla is the best-selling, ranked number one in Men’s Hiking. The Moosehill is the most feature-rich, with nine pockets and reflective details.
A giant tree grows from a tiny sprout. The best shorts are the sprout, and the sprout determines whether the day on the trail becomes a tree or a weed. The shorts that do their work without being noticed are the shorts that have earned their place in the pack, and the hiker who does not notice their hiking shorts is the hiker who is free to notice the trail.
