The best hiking shorts if you're looking for versatility, functionality and comfort through a range of conditions? Here are the pairs that impressed us the most in our tests
Finding the right pair of hiking shorts can easily make or break a multi-day hike or even just a day on the trail. I’ve had my fair share of good pairs and bad pairs – that’s through my time as a professional gear tester and just as a long-distance walking hobbyist. This guide highlights the models that have stood out through all of my tests; my pick of the best options for hot-weather hikes, backpacking trips, and fastpacking routes.
I’m Will Renwick, the editor of this site, and I’ve been testing outdoor gear on a professional basis for nearly 15 years now. In that time, I’ve hiked long distance trails around Europe, including the Alta Via 2 and the Camino de Santiago, and I set a fastest known time for a link-up of all of Wales’s 188 mountains. I’ve been a judge on major outdoor gear juries too, including ISPO, OTS in Britain and the Scandinavian Outdoor Award.
What Makes a Good Pair of Hiking Shorts
The shorts I chose for this list needed to offer the following few things. First, they needed to be light and packable enough that I’d be happy to carry them in a backpack over multiple days. They also needed to have a waist that was secure but comfortable at the same time, and that could be adjusted easily to adapt with my body’s natural changes throughout the course of a hike. I’ve learnt this aspect the hard way: when I walked from the west coast of Scotland to the east in 2015, I had to hold my shorts up with baler twine as my waistline shrank so much. I’ve therefore made sure to wear stretchy or belted shorts on multi-day hikes ever since.
The fabric was also very important in my decision making. With shorts, generally I want a material that’s going to be breathable, cool and moisture wicking, but I also want it to be durable. Generally, shorts made from synthetic materials, like polyester or nylon will tick these boxes. Most stretchy cotton/elastane shorts are just too flimsy in my opinion. They’re also not great in rain as the cotton will absorb and hold moisture easily. Cotton can work, however, when it’s blended with polyester and the shorts I’ve selected in this list are therefore a mix of synthetic and blended options.
I’ve also considered the pocket options. For me, it’s essential for my shorts to have pockets, at the very least to keep my hands warm but also to keep my phone within easy reach. At least one of these pockets should be zipped or buttoned too – somewhere I know I can safely store a car key or wallet without the risk of it slipping out.
How I Tested Them
The shorts I’ve chosen are options I have worn on trails throughout the UK and beyond. My testing has seen me spend a month backpacking in the same pair of Helly Hansen shorts for a month through Greece. I’ve been to the Croatian islands where I hiked and swam in the same pair of Passenger shorts for 4-days, and I’ve also been out hiking on the Pembrokeshire coast path in springtime conditions. Generally, I wore all of the options on test throughout a year of hiking in the mountains of Wales while checking routes for a guidebook I’ve been working on. They therefore were exposed to all kinds of conditions from hot and humid to wet and windy.
The Top Choices
Craghoppers NosiLife Kadin Cargo Shorts – Best In Test Overall
Passenger Traveller All Purpose Short – Best Hiking Shorts You Can Swim In.
Price: £45.50 Weight: 215g Best for: Travel and multi-day hiking, safari Pros: Lots of pockets, anti-insect and anti-odour, integrated belt Cons: More of an outdoorsy look than a hybrid trail to city one.
These are the hiking shorts that have come out as the best hiking shorts overall in my tests. I wore them island hopping off the Croatian Riviera this spring and I’ve also used them on a hiking trip along the Pembrokeshire coast more recently, and I can’t fault them as an option for travel and for hiking – especially multi-day stuff.
They come with Craghoppers’ NosiLife tech which is not only anti-insect but it’s anti-odour too. From my experience having used NosiLife for a number of years now, it genuinely does prevent odours from building up, meaning you can wear kit for multiple days without needing to wash it, and to me, that’s super handy for backpacking trips where you don’t really have access or time to do laundry.
Will wearing the Craghoppers NosiLife Kadin Cargo Shorts in Croatia. Photo: Dave MacFarlane.
The fabric, which is 100% recycled Nylon, feels light and durable and it offers UPF 30-50+ sun protection too. I found it was able to repel light rain well during spells of bad weather on the Pembrokeshire coast, while it also seems to have a good level of durability. I thought I might have stained them with a big dollop of olive oil on one occasion but it washed out easily, which is reassuring.
As well as having lots of useful pockets – including a hidden one that I’ve found the perfect size for a passport – these shorts also have a comfortable stretchy waistband with an integrated belt. That, for me, was the deal maker for these shorts. Light, packable, functional and very good value too, I’d recommend them if you’re looking for a pair of all-rounders.
2. Passenger Traveller All Purpose Short
Our choice if you want a pair of hiking shorts you can swim in.
Where to Buy
Passenger Traveller All Purpose Short
Our editor’s verdict: “The kind of shorts you can wear for all kinds of stuff. I wear mine all the time.”
Price: £60 Weight: 260g Best for: Travel, swimming Pros: Suitable for swimming, comfortable waist, good eco credentials Cons: Not as fast drying as fully synthetic options, no zipped flies.
These are excellent do-it-all summer hiking shorts that work particularly well for backpacking and travel. I recently took them on a four-day trip to Croatia where I hiked a section of the Camino Korčula, and what stood out most was their versatility: I could hike in them, swim in them, and then carry on hiking comfortably soon afterwards.
They’re light and packable enough for multi-day trips, while the cotton/nylon blend gives them a softer, more casual feel than many technical hiking shorts. That fabric also seems impressively hard-wearing. I’ve worn my pair regularly for the last month – mostly casually – and there are still no obvious signs of abrasion or wear.
Will after a swim in the Passenger Traveller All Purpose Short.
Drying time was good rather than exceptionally fast. In temperatures of around 22C with a light breeze, they took about an hour to dry fully after swimming.
Comfort is another strong point. The stretchy waistband moves nicely with you on the trail, while the drawcord allows you to cinch them tighter when needed. I also appreciated the zipped pockets while cycling, as they kept my phone securely in place.
They don’t include a mesh liner like dedicated swim shorts, but that arguably makes them more versatile overall, especially if you’re wearing them for long hiking days as well as occasional swims.
For hikers and travellers looking for one pair of shorts that can comfortably handle walking, swimming and everyday wear, these are a genuinely useful all-round option.
3. Helly Hansen Quick Dry Cargo Shorts
The best lightweight hiking shorts tested – ideal for backpacking.
Where to Buy
Helly Hansen Quick-Dry Cargo
Our tester’s verdict: “Lightweight, practical and very breathable and airy. Quick-drying too – as the name suggests!”
Price: £70 Weight: 230g Best for: Travel, multi-day hiking Pros: Light and comfortable, useful pockets, quick drying Cons: More of an outdoorsy look than a hybrid trail to city one, need to use your own belt.
At just 230g and small enough to bundle up into the smallest crevasse in your backpack, I’ve found this pair from Helly Hansen to be really handy for trips where my packweight is key.
I worn them for a month of backpacking through a hot May in Greece, where I climbed Mount Olympus in them, and I’ve worn them regularly since.
Will wearing the Helly Hansen Quick-Dry Cargo Shorts in the Welsh mountains.
It’s the performance of the fabric that I like the most; it’s a fully synthetic weave that feels light and airy and that wicks away moisture really well. I’ve liked how quickly they dry after rainfall too. On one occasion, I walked into a cafe soaking wet after getting caught in the rain and I was pretty much dry when I walked out.
The range of pockets are very useful to have, the articulation is excellent and I personally like the fact that the fly is zipped. Perhaps the only drawback is that the waist isn’t elasticated and you need to use a belt with it. Apart from that though, they’re very useful hiking shorts.
