6 Best Shorts For Long Distance Hiking That Last Season After Season

You’re three miles into a steep, humid climb, sweat dripping from your brow and soaking the back of your pack. The last thing you want to worry about is your shorts—bunching, chafing, or feeling like a wet towel. The right pair of hiking shorts can be the difference between blissful trail miles and a miserable suffer-fest, making them one of the most critical, yet often overlooked, pieces of your kit. This guide breaks down the best options that will keep you comfortable and moving freely, season after season.

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Key Features in Long-Distance Hiking Shorts

When you’re covering serious mileage, the details matter. The fabric is your first consideration. Look for synthetics like nylon or polyester blended with spandex or elastane. This combination offers the holy trinity of trail performance: it wicks moisture away from your skin, dries incredibly fast after a creek crossing or downpour, and provides stretch for unrestricted movement. Cotton, on the other hand, absorbs moisture, gets heavy, and can lead to dangerous chafing and hypothermia—leave it at home.

Beyond material, focus on the fit and construction. A gusseted crotch—an extra diamond-shaped panel of fabric—is a non-negotiable feature for long-distance hiking. It replaces a simple seam intersection, dramatically increasing your range of motion for high steps and scrambling. Similarly, four-way stretch fabric moves with you, not against you, preventing that restrictive feeling when you’re navigating technical terrain.

Finally, consider the small but mighty features. A comfortable, flat-lying waistband won’t chafe under your pack’s hip belt. Pocket configuration is also key; look for a zippered security pocket for a key or ID, and deep enough hand pockets that don’t spill their contents when you sit down. A Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish is a great bonus, helping shed light rain and morning dew to keep you drier, longer.

Patagonia Nine Trails for Unbeatable Breathability

Imagine a sweltering summer day on the East Coast, where the air is so thick you can practically swim through it. This is where the Patagonia Nine Trails shorts excel. They are exceptionally lightweight and breathable, blurring the line between a traditional hiking short and a running short. Their primary mission is to dump heat and dry in the blink of an eye.

Constructed from a featherlight recycled polyester and spandex blend, these shorts feel almost weightless. The DWR finish handles mist and light moisture, but their real strength is how quickly they recover from a full soaking. For hikers in hot, humid climates or those who tend to run warm, the Nine Trails provide unmatched ventilation. The tradeoff for this airy comfort is durability; they won’t stand up to serious bushwhacking or sharp granite as well as their heavier counterparts.

Outdoor Research Ferrosi for All-Around Stretch

You’re scrambling up a rocky section of trail, needing to make a high step to a ledge. The last thing you want is fabric holding you back. The Outdoor Research Ferrosi shorts are legendary for their incredible stretch and freedom of movement, making them a go-to choice for climbers, scramblers, and hikers who demand mobility.

The magic is in the Ferrosi fabric, a woven blend of ripstop nylon and spandex. It’s soft, highly breathable, and impressively durable for its light weight. These shorts move like a second skin, disappearing on the trail and allowing you to focus on your footwork. With a comfortable harness-compatible waistband and a functional pocket layout, the Ferrosi is the ultimate all-rounder, perfectly at home on a casual day hike, a multi-day trek in the mountains, or a technical climbing approach.

prAna Stretch Zion II: Legendary Abrasion Resistance

Picture yourself navigating a tight, overgrown trail or scraping against coarse granite slabs in the Sierra Nevada. For this kind of abuse, you need a short that prioritizes durability above all else. The prAna Stretch Zion II is a modern classic, renowned for its bombproof construction and ability to withstand season after season of hard use.

The foundation of this short is the original Stretch Zion fabric, a burly nylon blend that resists snags and abrasion like nothing else. It features a ventilated inseam gusset for mobility and an integrated, low-profile belt for a secure fit under a pack. While they are heavier and take longer to dry than more lightweight options, their ruggedness is unmatched. If you are notoriously hard on your gear or your adventures involve off-trail travel, the Stretch Zion II is an investment in long-term durability.

Arc’teryx Gamma Quick Dry for Technical Terrains

When your objective is a fast-and-light alpine traverse where weather is unpredictable and every ounce counts, you need gear that performs without compromise. The Arc’teryx Gamma Quick Dry is a piece of technical equipment disguised as a pair of shorts. It’s engineered for efficiency, speed, and comfort in demanding mountain environments.

Built with Arc’teryx’s TerraTex™ stretch nylon, these shorts are incredibly lightweight, air-permeable, and, as the name implies, they dry exceptionally fast. The fit is trim and articulated, designed to move with the body during athletic pursuits without any excess fabric to snag. Features are minimalist yet perfectly executed, including zippered thigh pockets that remain accessible while wearing a harness or hip belt. The premium performance comes with a premium price tag, but for serious mountain athletes, the Gamma is a precision tool for the job.

Fjällräven Abisko for Rugged, Waxable Durability

For long expeditions through varied landscapes, from the damp forests of Scandinavia to the sun-beaten trails of the American West, the Fjällräven Abisko shorts offer a unique blend of old-school toughness and modern design. These are built for the long haul, prioritizing durability and adaptability over saving a few grams.

The core of the Abisko is Fjällräven’s G-1000 fabric, a dense polyester/cotton blend known for its incredible resistance to wear and tear. What makes it truly unique is the ability to apply Greenland Wax, allowing you to customize the fabric’s water and wind resistance based on the conditions. Strategic stretch panels are integrated to ensure you don’t sacrifice mobility for this ruggedness. They are the heaviest and slowest-drying shorts on this list, but for hikers who value bombproof reliability and field serviceability, the Abisko is in a class of its own.

REI Co-op Sahara Path Shorts for Value and Pockets

Gearing up for your first thru-hike or just looking for a reliable pair of shorts that won’t break the bank? The REI Co-op Sahara Path Shorts deliver fantastic performance and thoughtful features at an accessible price point. They prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to get trail-worthy comfort and function.

The Sahara Path shorts are the workhorse of the trail. Made from a durable, stretchy nylon blend, they offer solid moisture-wicking and quick-drying capabilities. Where they truly shine is their practicality, often featuring a generous and well-designed pocket layout perfect for stashing snacks, a map, and a phone. While they may not be the absolute lightest or most technical option, they provide a fantastic balance of comfort, durability, and utility that serves weekend warriors and long-distance hikers equally well.

How to Choose Your Inseam Length for Trail Comfort

Choosing an inseam length is more than a style choice; it’s a functional decision that impacts coverage, freedom of movement, and chafing. The right length depends on your personal preference, the climate, and the type of terrain you’ll be hiking. There is no single "correct" answer, only what works best for your body and your hike.

Generally, inseams fall into three categories. Shorter inseams (5-7 inches) offer maximum ventilation and freedom of movement, making them ideal for hot weather or for hikers with a trail-running background. The tradeoff is less protection from the sun, bugs, and trailside brush. Mid-length inseams (8-10 inches) are the versatile sweet spot, providing a great balance of coverage and mobility that works for most hikers in most conditions. Longer inseams (11+ inches) give you the most protection from the elements and are excellent for off-trail travel or for those who prefer more coverage.

Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try on different lengths, ideally while wearing your hiking shoes and a backpack. Squat, lunge, and do a few high-knee steps to see how they feel. The most important factor is your personal comfort over many miles. Don’t worry about what others are wearing; choose the length that makes you feel most comfortable and confident on the trail.

The perfect pair of shorts is the one you forget you’re wearing. It moves with you, keeps you dry, and lets you focus on the rhythm of your stride and the beauty of your surroundings. Don’t get paralyzed by the options; pick a pair that aligns with your needs, get out there, and let the trail be your guide. The best gear is the gear that gets you outside.