Table of Contents
When it comes to men’s shorts, we’re spoiled for choice right now: cargos and jorts are back; chino versions never left; linen numbers are keeping things breezy. But the best hiking shorts have something special to offer: freedom.
From the knee down, they offer ventilation. From the ankle up? Pure liberation. Great hiking shorts are built tough, of course—with featherweight nylon or ripstop blends, often with a touch of spandex for that crucial stretch factor. Reinforced stitching, gusseted crotches (shoutout to climbing brands like Gramicci), and integrated belts add functionality.
Hiking shorts are often also quick-drying for splashy situations—you never know when a watering hole will suddenly appear around the next bend in the trail—and loaded with pockets. Add in UPF sun protection, and you’ve got high-performance shorts built to go anywhere.
But hiking shorts are more than technical wonders—they’re comfortable enough to wear all day, with a crunchy style that brings a little Yellowstone (the Yogi Bear version, not the Kevin Costner one) to even a weekday fit. The best versions are as happy to hang out in the city with loafers and a loosely buttoned shirt as they are to notch a seven-mile out-and-back in Alltrails.
We’ve rounded up a dozen pairs of the best hiking shorts from legends of the game (hello, Patagonia and Gramicci) to newcomers like Alex Mill, Frizmworks, and 18 East. Grab a pair, then get out there—even if “out there” involves sipping pilsners by a lake.
Featured in this articleThe Climber-Approved Hiking Shorts
Gramicci Nylon Explorer Cargo Short 9″
Jump to reviewThe Stash-It-All Hiking Shorts
Frizmworks Nyco Straight-Leg Nylon and Cotton-Blend Cargo Shorts
Jump to review
In This Guide:
Best Hiking Shorts Overall: Gramicci Nylon Explorer 9” Cargo Short
Gramicci
Nylon Explorer Cargo Short 9″
Pros
- The 9” inseam works for everyone
- Gusseted crotch for easy movement
Cons
This pair of shorts is on the moodboard for just about any brand making hiking shorts in 2025. Gramicci was founded by one of the Stonemasters (a crew of climbers who mixed El Cap with LSD in the ’70s), and doesn’t stint on the technical stuff: an abrasion-resistant quick-dry fabric, a built-in webbing belt, quick-dry fabric. But it’s the gussetted crotch—a first of its kind in the sport, added when founder Mike Graham got annoyed with the restrictive single seam of climbing pants—that made these into icons. Even if you’re just logging steps and not trying to stretch for a toe-hold, you’ll appreciate the ease of movement.
The Best Classic Hiking Shorts: Patagonia Baggies 7” Shorts
Patagonia
Baggies Shorts 7″
Pros
- Tons of colors
- Also available in shorts-short-style 5” inseam
Cons
- Not everyone wants a liner
These aren’t just the best hiking shorts of all time—they’re in the running for best shorts ever, period. Though leg-day aficionados might want the short-shorts 5” version, the 7″ inseam flatters everyone. The elastic waistband is cozy without turning into a tourniquet, and the mesh liner keeps you fresh for the trail, tide, or taco truck. They somehow seem to get better the more you try to destroy them, too. Fair warning: once you go Baggies, it’s hard to go back.
The Best Hiking Shorts for Day-Hikes and Day-Drinking: Alex Mill Trail Short in Crinkle Nylon
Alex Mill
Trail Short In Crinkle Nylon
Pros
- That little pintuck seam down the leg adds a lot of style
Cons
- Fewer technical features than hiking shorts from more experienced outdoor brands
Alex Mill dominates the laid-back prep game, but wandered off-trail, ironically, to make these shorts. A dark olive nylon short is stylistically foolproof, but the pintuck seam down the front of each leg is chef’s kiss. And don’t worry, the functionality box remains checked: adjustable belt, side zipper and back pockets, plus a quick-drying crinkle nylon shell that’s ready for sweat, splash zones, or spontaneous summer rain. Oh—and they’re heavily discounted right now. Might as well grab the navy pair too.
The Best Hiking Shorts for Stashing Anything: Frizmworks Nyco Straight-Leg Nylon and Cotton-Blend Cargo Shorts
Frizmworks
Nyco Straight-Leg Nylon and Cotton-Blend Cargo Shorts
Pros
- Pockets, pockets, and more pockets
Cons
- Nylon-cotton blend means they’re not really built for taking a swim
Big, medium, small—Frizmworks put a backpack’s worth of storage options on these shorts. And yet, they’ll look the business if you opt out of hiking boots and pair them with a seersucker shirt and some summer-ready sneakers. That’s the kind of thinking that’s made the Korean brand into one of our sleeper faves this year.
The Best Hiking Shorts for Downtown NYC: ROA Black Duty Shorts
Pros
- Where technical hiking wear meetings tailoring
- A riff on cargo shorts that doesn’t feel like high school
Cons
- You could have 4 pairs of Baggies or 1 pair of these
ROA is known for its hiking boots, and the Italian brand brought its avant-outdoor design vibes to these hiking shorts. With two cargo-style pockets tucked up against the waistband, bungee drawcords at the hems (because why not), and a tailored fit, they look almost dressy—black tie, but for Bear Grylls.
The Best Hiking Shorts for Old-School Style: 18 East Warren Trek Shorts
18 East
Warren Trek Shorts
Pros
- Lining means you can jump in the mountain lake (or your buddy’s pool)
- Magnetic belt lock is a cut above the usual plastic—and just fun to play with
Cons
- A short inseam + a wide leg is a vintage fit that might not be for everyone
If there’s one brand artfully mashing up outdoor tech and menswear’s love affair with looser tailoring, it’s 18 East. The brand dropped a trail-running version of these shorts last season, but retuned them for 2025 to be more versatile. Mission accomplished. Now the Warren Trek shorts are lined—the better to handle a quick dip—and have zippered pockets at the hips and back to keep your valuables secure. A black metal Fidlock magnetic buckle manages the integrated belt, while the fit—a not-too-short 6” inseam with retro-style wide legs—makes these a hit even if you’re just trekking around town.
More Hiking Shorts We Love
Big Rock Candy Mountaineering
Doubleback Shorts
Big Rock Candy Mountaineering brings a Colorado dirtbag cool to everything they make, including these Doubleback shorts. The 100% duck canvas—the same stuff used by Carhartt for it’s real-deal double-knee pants and work coats—can handle scrapes, and look better for it. Oversized back patch pockets with arching cutouts will hold whatever you need. Accessorize with a chalk bag, a pair of Vans, or both.
REI Co-op
Trailmade Amphib Shorts
REI’s in-house Co-op line made hiking shorts that are no frills, all thrills: deep drop-in pockets, an adjustable belt, a back zipper pocket, and even a cord loop at the waistband that moonlights as a stash spot to hook your keys. They’re maybe not the pair we’d wear out on the town, but they’ll be perfect for dog walks and coffee runs—the more off-road, the better.
GU
Nylon Cargo Knee Length Shorts
Good luck finding a better pair of hiking shorts than these ones, from Uniqlo’s newish sister brand GU, for anywhere near the price. They come in four colors—perfect for stocking up—and the fit hits that sweet spot: roomy enough to breathe, but not so baggy you look like you’re smuggling a parachute. These shorts, paired with slides and a linen shirt, are also a match made in heat-beating heaven.
Nike ACG
“Orb Weaver” Shorts
Friendly reminder to always scope out Nike’s ACG line when you’re heading into the treeline—it’s stacked with trail-ready hits filtered through the brand’s streetwear brains. This extra-long pair, named after a spider, bring 12” inseams and a beautiful breeziness. In black, they feel like bargain versions of the ROA pair above, ready for an art gallery speedrun. In gray, they channel that national park ranger who knows about the mating habits of rarely-seen birds (we love her). In any color, they’re lightweight, dry fast, and UV protectant.
Snow Peak
Utility Field Stretch Dry Shorts
Whether you’re hiking, angling, or just in desperate need of some fire-ass shorts, Snow Peak’s Field Shorts have you covered—literally and stylishly. These bad boys come equipped with an integrated belt, angled waist pockets for easy access, dual zippered pockets on the back for securing essentials, and slim cargo pockets at the thighs that adhere to the Japanese brand’s technical minimalism M.O.
The North Face
Class V Pathfinder Pull-On 7” Shorts
One GQ writer crowned these as being his favorites over the legendary Patagonia Baggies, and you can see why. A bit of elastane adds comfort, and there’s even a clever little D-ring in the drop pocket to clip your keys—because backtracking across a quarter-mile of trail is no fun. But the unsung hero? The Pathfinder’s removable liner. Keep it in if a swim is on the itinerary; ditch it if you’re sticking to dry land (dirt, rock, or concrete). It’s possible the student is now the master.
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.
How We Make These Picks
We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
