Best Hiking Shorts for Men

We prefer to hike in shorts for most of our adventures since they make it easier to stay cool and allow for a full range of movement.

The CleverHiker team has worn dozens of different shorts on hikes all over the world, so it’s safe to say we’ve become experts on the subject over the years. Read on to find your new favorite pair of hiking shorts.

QUICK RECOMMENDATIONS

Check out this quick list of our favorite hiking shorts if you’re in a hurry, or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews.

  • Best hiking shorts overall: Patagonia Quandary
  • Best athletic shorts for hiking: Nike Dri-FIT Challenger
  • Best value hiking shorts: Prana Stretch Zion II
  • Best balance of durability, utility & style: Outdoor Research Ferrosi
  • Best town-to-trail shorts: Prana Brion II
  • Best budget hiking shorts: Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo
  • Stylish & versatile athletic shorts: Vuori Kore
  • Athletic shorts with secure hand pockets: Patagonia Nine Trails
  • Quick drying cross between board shorts & hiking shorts: REI Sahara Amphib
  • Affordable hiking shorts with a flat waistband: The North Face Wander

Dave & Annie give great detail on some of the best hiking shorts & other considerations here.

LAST UPDATED

October 28, 2024

Written by
Photo thumbnail Blog Author

Clever Hiker

Media Mentions from Clever Hiker

CleverHiker.com is a website dedicated to providing knowledge, skills, and gear recommendations for lightweight backpacking adventures. We make tutorial videos, gear reviews, and in-depth trip guides to make backpacking easier for everyone.

We're Dave and Annie, the gear nerds behind Cleverhiker.com. Dave is a thru-hiker, Eagle Scout, and nature nut who's trekked every continent on the planet. Annie is a "retired" teacher who swapped out the classroom for wilderness adventures. We built CleverHiker.com to help share our backpacking knowledge, inspire people to get outdoors, and help conserve our wild spaces.

Explore More Content

Media Mentions

When I’m going to be walking in tall grass and weeds, I wear my snake boots which I’ve sprayed with Sawyer’s permethrin. Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/article308242365.html#storylink=cpy

Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon
Executive Producers and Hosts, "The People's Pharmacy

Media Mentions

Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent: Top-pick bug repellent

Wirecutter Staff
Staff

Media Mentions

Water purification technology has reached new heights with the Sawyer Squeeze System, delivering 0.1-micron absolute filtration that removes 99.9% of harmful bacteria, protozoa, and cysts.

Camping Survival
Website