Best hiking shorts 2025: Flowing air and freedom of movement

These shorts tick all the boxes. They are comfortable and stretchy, with first-rate features and good freedom of movement. As you’d expect with eco pioneers Patagonia, the sustainability credentials are top-notch.

The fabric features bluesign-approved, recycled nylon made from old fishing nets with 4% elastane for a bit of stretch. There is a DWR treatment as well, which is PFC-free.

The above-the-knee length is pretty standard, with the men’s available in a 10-inch inseam length and the women’s in 5-inch and 7-inch options. The slightly-stretchy waistband has belt loops but there’s a drawcord as well if you need to tighten – although it only makes a small difference. You also get two hand pockets, a right thigh zippered pocket, and two rear pockets (one zippered).

The fabric is lightweight, quick-drying, and allows for flexibility on the move. Patagonia’s curved waistband has been designed to “follow the natural shape of the hips and provide a contoured fit to help keep shorts in place during movement”, and it works well. The fit is true to size, striking a nice balance – neither too loose nor too tight – and these shorts look good too.

Check out the women's version here

Unlike some outright cheap hiking shorts, Keela’s Bidean Shorts offer a high end feel, performance, and quality construction.

The Bidean Shorts have a good pocket arrangement with two standard hand pockets, plus a pair of zipped pockets above the knee. There is a zipped back pocket as well.

We liked the fit, being a regular cut with an 11-inch inseam and a lightweight softshell-type stretch fabric. It looks and feels good and still allows for freedom of movement even when scrambling.

Some of the other shorts here are a tad more breathable, but the Bidean shorts are still versatile. Although, it would be good to see Keela use recycled material.

Check out the women's version here

These sit right in the sweet spot between hiking shorts and running shorts. The fabric – mostly polyamide with a bit of elastane – is lightweight, flowy and very stretchy.

They fall to mid-thigh with a decent slit in the hem, so airflow is never an issue on warm climbs. Unlike a lot of stripped-back running kit, though, the MH500s actually come with a proper feature set: two zipped hand pockets and one larger central back pocket, all lined with mesh.

They even feel a bit like swimming trunks, and given that they’re quick-drying, you genuinely could take a dip in them and be ready to hike again in no time.

The fit is true to size, and the elasticated waistband has some give, though not as much as something like the Danner Utility Shorts. You do get an integrated belt, which clips together with a lightweight plastic buckle.

It feels a little flimsy, but the upside is that the shorts stay pleasingly light overall. The pockets are big enough for a large smartphone and trail snacks, and the standard, slightly boxy cut is comfortable if not the most technical.

For £15, you can’t really grumble. They’re simple, fast-drying, and great for sunny hikes – just maybe don’t go bum-sliding down scrambles in them.

Check out the women's version here.

Like the Keela Bidean Shorts, these Tarfala Shorts from Swedish brand Tierra are no-nonsense, quality hiking shorts.

They’re made from a slightly stretchy, lightweight, partially recycled, softshell material with a PFC-free DWR. All four pockets (two hand pockets and two zipped front security pockets) are quite generous and are mesh lined for better ventilation in hot weather.

These shorts also feature a serious fastening system. They have a fly, hook, dome closure, and belt. Whatever you’re doing, these shorts aren’t slipping off your hips.

For casual hikes and more demanding mountain treks alike, these are a great option.

Check out the women's version here

The Danner Utility Shorts are exactly what you’d expect from a deeply American brand: Rugged, practical, and just a little bit overbuilt. Made from a blend of 100% Nylon Cordura, they feel premium in hand – soft yet impressively strong – with decent stretch.

The roomy cut and pleated gusset provide good airflow and freedom of movement, though we noticed a bit of pinching when scrambling or taking high steps. The elastic waistband and integrated webbing belt aren't as flimsy as some other shorts we've tested, giving you a secure fit even when your pockets are fully loaded.

And pockets are the theme here. You get deep hand pockets, a secure zip pocket, and an oversized “bucket pocket” on the back – two actually. Danner say this is for storing a water bottle, which we were highly skeptical of. But, having tried it, we found the bottle pocket genuinely useful, though less so on steep inclines, where it becomes totally useless.

Still, they're lightweight at 234g (8.25oz) in a men’s 32, and clearly suit the conditions they were designed for – long summer hikes on flattish terrain. If you're aiming to carry a good few essentials, but not quite enough to warrant a whole hiking daypack, these shorts are a great pick.

Check out the women's version here

When trying to find the best lightweight hiking shorts, we weren’t merely after the absolute lightest pair. We wanted to find something that could still handle the rough and tumble of hiking.

In the Inov8 Venturelite shorts, we have a winner. At 192g these are a similar weight to the Smartwool running shorts (below) but are more focused hiking shorts that are still well made and durable.

The inseam length is 11 inches, which provides plenty of coverage, and like the Keela Bidean Shorts, these have a very good regular fit and a fabric that has a nice amount of stretch. We’ve used the Venturelite shorts for hiking and bouldering and have been really impressed with their comfort and freedom of movement.

The pocket arrangement isn’t as comprehensive as some of our other recommendations, with just two zipped hand pockets and a phone sleeve. But our biggest gripe is that, at the time of writing at least, there is no women’s version.

Fjallraven’s Vidda Pro Lite Shorts are a bit deceptive. They appear to be heavy cotton cargo shorts but are in fact a lot lighter than they look.

They’re made from Fjallraven’s G-1000 Air Stretch material, which is a blend of polyester (65%) and cotton (35%). The idea is to get the classic trekking shorts look without the bulk and Fjallraven has certainly succeeded there.

We liked that, although the Vidda Pro Lite Shorts have a lightweight focus, Fjallraven hasn’t let durability suffer. The zip and domes are all metal, and there is a double layer of fabric over the backside.

The pocket arrangement is excellent, with big, open hand pockets, plus four buttoned leg pockets of various sizes for all sorts of kit.

As is customary of Fjallraven, the price is high. In fairness, however, these felt like the most durable shorts on test. They’re also PFC-free and use mostly recycled polyester and organic cotton. You can even give them a treatment of Greeland Wax for added wind and water resistance.

Check out the closest women's version here

Fastpacking is becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. If you’re keen on this swift, ultralight, minimalist approach, these shorts may appeal. They certainly did to us.

What we liked about these Smartwool shorts is their simplicity and comfort. There is just one small rear zipped pocket – so you can't inadvertently load pockets full of stuff, which inhibits movement and comfort. And the inner brief is a merino/Tencel Lyocell blend, which is moisture-wicking, temperature regulating, and naturally anti-odour.

The outer fabric is recycled polyester with a generous 14% blend of elastane for loads of stretch. The waistband is a simple elastic design with a drawcord. With a 5-inch inseam on the men's version and 4-inch inseam on the women's, these shorts probably won’t be to everyone’s taste but for moving fast and light, we think they’re excellent.

Check out the women's version here

If you prefer hiking shorts with a slimmer fit, the Dynamic Lite Shorts give you exactly that, with all the stretch and durability you’d expect of a pair of shorts costing as much as this.

The Dynamite Lite Shorts are made from an intense-sounding Raptor Flex fabric, which is 88% nylon and 12% elastane, for generous four-way stretch. It’s quite a durable fabric (we liked the reassuringly heavy duty belt and clasp as well) – evident in these shorts weighing 240g, which is 60g more than Montane’s popular Terra Lite Shorts.

There are three pockets: two zipped hand pockets plus a surprisingly large rear zipped security pocket.

The nylon isn’t recycled unfortunately, but the water repellent treatment is at least PFC-free. Annoyingly, there is no women’s version of the Dynamic Lite. The closest would be the Montane Women's Terra Stretch Lite Shorts, which use the same Raptor Flex fabric.

Check out the closest women's version here

First and foremost, these shorts are available in other (darker) colours. While a good heat reflector, this light grey wasn't personally to our taste and was even a little see through.

But what we liked about these Jack Wolfskin shorts is their comfort and breathability. They are just 120g and really do feel weightless to wear and are very breathable, which is ideal for those hot summer days. The other benefit of being so lightweight and packable is that they become a welcome addition to a hiker's restricted backpacking wardrobe. They barely take up any pack space and are very quick drying.

The nylon construction has a lot of stretch, so while they have a slimmer fit, they aren't restrictive. There is a women's version, but it's a skort rather than shorts. There are two mesh-lined, zipped hand pockets and the wasitband is elasticated with a drawcord.

Check out the women's version here

As a pair of dependable all-round hiking shorts the Terrex Xperior Mid Shorts are a safe bet. They’re made from recycled polyester with 6% elastane for a little bit of stretch.

Comfort is very good, thanks to a lightweight construction and regular cut. These shorts have an integrated belt and a snap press closure – both the belt buckle and snap closure are plastic, presumably for weight saving. They aren’t flimsy, but certainly not as heavy duty as the metal hardware used on all its rivals here. And the belt did loosen a bit more in use than the others on test.

In terms of pockets there are only two zipped hand pockets but they’re huge, extending almost the full length of the leg.

These may not be ideal for tough mountain days, but they’re great for most hikes, and – mercifully – come in a women’s version.

Check out the women's version here