Best Hiking Shorts (2026): 10 Picks for Men and Women

The Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo Short is the default men’s hiking short for a reason. The relaxed 10-inch cut works for most body types, the nylon ripstop sheds bramble without snagging, and the Omni-Shade UPF 50 rating means you don’t need to think about sunscreen on your legs during long alpine days.

On trail, the cargo pockets sit flat enough that they don’t snag on a daypack hipbelt, and Omni-Wick pulls sweat away during sustained climbs. Sizing runs slightly large, so order true-to-size or one down. The fabric is durable but not the lightest on this list, you trade a few ounces for the ripstop construction.

Buy these if you want one short that handles 90% of hiking days from spring through fall, with serious sun protection and cargo storage. Skip them if you want maximum stretch (the Outdoor Research Ferrosi moves better), need a longer 11-inch inseam (the HH Jotun covers more leg), or primarily wade through water (the Backcast III is purpose-built for that).

The CRZ YOGA Lightweight Mid Rise gets fit and price right at the same time, which is rare in the women’s hiking short market. The polyester-spandex blend has real four-way stretch (not the watered-down kind that loses shape after a season), and the 4-inch inseam lands in the modern athletic-cut sweet spot.

The wide elastic waistband doesn’t roll or bind under a hipbelt, the zippered side pockets actually hold a phone without bouncing, and the fabric is light enough to forget you’re wearing it on summer climbs. The trade-off: lightweight fabric isn’t built for serious bushwhacking. Brambles and rough rock will eventually wear through.

Buy these if you do regular trail hiking and want secure pockets plus real stretch at $32. Skip them if you prefer Bermuda length for sun coverage (the Eddie Bauer Rainier goes to 7″), need cargo storage (the CRZ YOGA High Waisted Cargo adds zip cargo pockets), or want premium technical fabric (the Fjallraven High Coast Lite is the upgrade tier).

The Lee Extreme Motion is the lifestyle cargo that crosses over to casual hiking. The cotton-poly blend feels softer and more broken-in than synthetic technical fabric, and the Lee Motion stretch waistband is comfortable in a way most hiking shorts aren’t.

Where the Columbia Silver Ridge wins on technical fabric, the Lee wins on comfort and price. But the cotton-blend pays for it on dry time, if you sweat heavily or cross streams, this short will feel damp for hours. The cargo pockets are deep, the relaxed fit accommodates a range of body types, and it works well for trail-to-town crossover wear.

Buy these for casual hiking, day trips, and lifestyle wear at a budget price. Skip them if you do technical or wet-weather hiking (the Columbia Silver Ridge uses synthetic ripstop), want maximum mobility (the Outdoor Research Ferrosi stretches further), or need quick-dry performance (the Backcast III dries in minutes).

The CRZ YOGA Linerless Relaxed Casual is the budget women’s pick for hikers who want a simple, comfortable short without the technical features (or price). The 3-inch inseam is short, athletic-cut territory, and the relaxed fit sits without compression.

The lightweight fabric breathes well in heat and dries fast enough for casual hiking, but it’s not the technical synthetic that more expensive options use. Pocket count is minimal: two hand pockets, no zip closures. That means phone security on technical terrain isn’t great, you’ll want to keep valuables in a daypack or zippered chest pocket.

Buy these for casual hiking, walking, and warm-weather wear without spending much. Skip them if you need secure zippered pockets (the CRZ YOGA Lightweight has them), want longer Bermuda coverage (the Eddie Bauer Rainier goes to 7″), or want premium build (the Fjallraven High Coast Lite holds up better).

The Columbia Backcast III Water Short is the short to grab when water is part of the route. It’s engineered for stream crossings, coastal hiking, and sweat-heavy summer days, with 100% nylon Omni-Shade fabric that dries within minutes of getting soaked.

The fabric is light enough to feel like swim trunks but built for trail use, the UPF 50 rating holds up over years of washing, and the elastic waistband with drawcord adjusts on the move. Pocket count is modest: four total, no cargo storage. The 10-inch inseam is modern relaxed length, similar to the Columbia Silver Ridge but with quick-dry as the headline feature instead of cargo storage.

Buy these if you hike near water, sweat heavily in warm weather, or want one short that doubles as swim trunks. Skip them if you want cargo storage (the Columbia Silver Ridge has 6 pockets), need maximum stretch (the Outdoor Research Ferrosi moves further), or want premium build quality (the HH Jotun is the upgrade tier).

The Eddie Bauer Rainier 5-Pocket Bermuda is the longer-length women’s pick. The 7-inch inseam puts these closer to mid-thigh, meaningful sun coverage, modesty during reach moves on scrambles, and protection from trail brush without going full-length.

The nylon-spandex blend has enough stretch for hiking comfort without feeling like activewear, and the 5-pocket layout (including a secure pocket for phone or keys) covers the essentials. The UPF 50 fabric holds up over years of sun exposure. The fabric weight is closer to traditional hiking shorts than ultralight athletic styles, which means better durability but slightly less breathability than the CRZ YOGA Lightweight.

Buy these if you want longer-length shorts for sun coverage, sustained trail days, or simply prefer Bermuda over athletic cut. Skip them if you prefer shorter athletic length (the CRZ YOGA Lightweight 4″ is shorter), want cargo storage (the CRZ YOGA Cargo has zip pockets), or want maximum lightweight feel (the Fjallraven High Coast Lite is more minimalist).

The Outdoor Research Ferrosi is the stretch hiking short other shorts get measured against. The 86/14 nylon-spandex softshell fabric moves in every direction, the gusseted crotch eliminates the bind you feel on high steps in stiffer shorts, and the trim 7-inch cut keeps fabric from pooling around your thighs on climbs.

OR sells the Ferrosi mostly through REI and their own site, so Amazon’s review count is thin compared to the rest of this list, but the product itself has thousands of reviews on REI averaging 4.7+ across model years. The DWR finish handles light rain without stiffening the fabric, UPF 50 protects against sustained sun, and the construction is built to take years of trail abrasion.

Buy these if you do technical hiking, scrambling, or climbing-adjacent days where stretch and freedom of movement matter more than cargo storage. Skip them if you want the cheapest validated short (the Lee Extreme Motion is $35), need fastest dry time (the Backcast III beats it), or need cargo capacity for snacks and essentials (the HH Jotun has 7 pockets).

The CRZ YOGA High Waisted Cargo solves the problem most lightweight women’s shorts have: nowhere to put your stuff. Four secure zip pockets, two side cargo and two back, in a 3-inch athletic cut means phone, keys, snacks, and trail map all stay put on uneven terrain.

The high-waisted cut sits above the hip bone, which works particularly well under a daypack hipbelt and provides modesty during reach moves on scrambles. The stretch poly-spandex moves with the body, the water-resistant treatment sheds light rain, and the zip closures are the standout feature, on rough trail, standard pockets dump contents.

Buy these if you need serious pocket capacity in a high-waisted athletic cut. Skip them if you want longer length for sun coverage (the Eddie Bauer Rainier 7″ Bermuda covers more), prefer mid-rise (the CRZ YOGA Lightweight sits lower), or want premium fabric (the Fjallraven High Coast Lite is the upgrade).

The Helly-Hansen Jotun is the premium men’s cargo for hikers who actually use the storage. The 7-pocket layout, two hand, two back, two cargo, plus a hidden zip thigh pocket for valuables, solves what budget cargo shorts don’t: somewhere to keep your phone, wallet, and keys without trusting an open pocket.

The 11-inch inseam covers more leg than typical hiking shorts, which means better sun protection and less brush exposure on overgrown trails. HH’s Quick-Dry technical fabric handles moisture despite the cotton content, and the build quality reflects HH’s marine-grade construction. The trade-off: UPF 30 is lower than Columbia’s UPF 50 alternatives, so on full-sun alpine days the Silver Ridge protects better.

Buy these if you’re a serious hiker who uses cargo storage, prefers longer length, and values premium technical build. Skip them if you want minimum weight (the Outdoor Research Ferrosi is lighter), prefer shorter inseam (the Columbia Silver Ridge 10″ is more typical), or want UPF 50 sun protection (Columbia’s Omni-Shade is rated higher).

The Fjallraven High Coast Lite is the premium minimalist. Scandinavian design, recycled polyester-elastane stretch, and a refined cut that reads more refined-outdoor than activewear-tactical. At $95 it’s the most expensive on this list, and the price reflects Fjallraven’s apparel quality positioning.

The 5-inch inseam falls in the modern athletic range. The cut is intentionally minimalist, four pockets, no cargo bulk, lightweight fabric that moves without the activewear feel. Recycled polyester construction supports Fjallraven’s sustainability positioning. The trade-off: the minimalist pocket design isn’t for hikers who carry essentials in their shorts, and the price is hard to justify if you’re not specifically buying into Fjallraven’s build quality.

Buy these if you value premium minimalist design, sustainable materials, and Scandinavian build quality. Skip them if you want maximum pocket capacity (the CRZ YOGA Cargo has 4 zip pockets at one-third the price), need budget pricing (the CRZ YOGA Lightweight is similar at one-third the price), or want longer Bermuda length (the Eddie Bauer Rainier 7″ covers more leg).