The Patagonia Quandary Shorts are an awesome value with a great balance of low weight and durability. These classic shorts are some of our favorites for day hiking since they have a nice town-to-trail look. And the breathable, stretchy fabric is also great for long-term comfort and mobility on backpacking trips. The Quandaries have a plethora of pockets, but they all sit flat and make these shorts feel very sleek for the amount of storage. For those wanting a versatile pair of shorts that can take you from urban to alpine, the Quandaries are hard to beat.

Hiking can be quite the workout, so we often opt to wear athletic shorts on the trail. The Nike Dri-FIT Challengers have been our go-to for many years since they’re affordable, lightweight, breathable, and quick drying. The simple design makes them easy to move in, and we’ve found the ultralight material they’re made from to be very durable. For more casual day hikes, we’d probably choose something like the Patagonia Quandaries above. But for challenging hikes and longer distances, the Challengers are what we wear.

prAna clothing is known for having a great balance of style and longevity, and the Stretch Zion II shorts certainly live up to that reputation. The fabric is stretchy, easy to move in, and thick yet breathable for durability and comfort. The Zions are a bit on the heavy side, so we like the trimmed down design of the prAna Brions (below) for most casual outings. But those going for utility will like that the Zions offer a ton of secure storage without feeling or looking frumpy like some other cargo shorts. These crowd-favorites are an awesome value since they’re comfortable, they have a built-in belt for dialing in the fit on long hikes, and they can be worn for pretty much any occasion.

We love the Ferrosi Pants from Outdoor Research, so we had high hopes for the Ferrosi Shorts – and they didn’t disappoint! They have deep, useful pockets, a nice built-in belt, and plenty of stretch for a full range of movement. We find the look and fit to be comfortable on trail as well as stylish enough for around town use, so these versatile shorts are ready for any adventure. Whether you’re going for a quick jaunt in a city park or setting off for a thru hike, the breathable and durable Ferrosis are a great choice.

Who says hiking clothes can’t be fashionable? The style-forward Cotopaxi Brincos are designed with colorful, retro flair, and they’re down for any adventure – be it hiking, going for a swim, or heading out for lunch. The Brincos are made with nylon material that dries quickly for fun in the water and holds up to hard use for fun on the trail.

We’ve tested several pairs of shorts that fall into this swim shorts hybrid category, the REI Trailmade Amphibs and the Patagonia Baggies to name a couple. The Brincos are our favorite because the material is a bit softer and is less prone to causing chafing than others. That said, these aren’t as soft as athletic shorts, like the Nikes above, so we wouldn’t recommend them for multi-day treks in hot weather.

It can sometimes feel like the options for men’s hiking shorts are an endless sea of browns, beiges, and army green. But the vibrant Brincos offer a fresh change of pace and are sure to be a clothing item that you reach for often.

We own several pairs of the prAna Brion shorts and have been rocking them for years because we love their town-to-trail style. With a simplified pocket setup and a more flattering fit, the Brions are a trimmed down version of the iconic prAna Stretch Zions above. We highly recommend these for day hikes and frontcountry camping, but something with more pockets and a looser fit, like the Stretch Zions or Patagonia Quandaries, may be better for backpacking. That said, the Brions have a good amount of stretch to balance out their slim fit,and they’re ready for any adventure if you prefer more minimalist bottoms.

Cargo shorts have a tendency to look bulky, but the affordable Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo are a trimmed down take on utilitarian bottoms. These stylish shorts have a secure pocket on each thigh that we find really useful for storing important small items, like a key or an ID. But the lightweight fabric isn’t very durable compared to some others, and the pockets will typically be the first thing to show signs of wear. That said, we think the weight tradeoff is worth the small durability penalty since the Silver Ridges don’t feel as frumpy as some other cargo shorts we’ve worn.

The Vuori Kore shorts are versatile bottoms that we use for anything from swimming, to day hikes, to casual outings around town. They’re pretty good lookin’ for athletic shorts and comfier than dedicated hiking shorts (like the prAna Stretch Zions), so they’re a good in-between when the occasion calls for a balance of performance and style. We prefer the Nike Challengers above for longer hikes because they have a brief liner; the boxer briefs of the Kore shorts can have a tendency to ride up. That said, the Kores are some of our favorites for shorter hikes and urban walks.

The Patagonia Multi Trails are a close second to our go-to athletic shorts, the Nike Dri-FIT Challengers above. We ranked the Nikes higher for their friendlier price point, more functional brief liner, and wider range of size offerings, but where the Multi Trails win out is in their more flattering fit and the inclusion of zippers on the hand pockets. The Multi Trails are less billowy, but still plenty breathable and airy for toasty days on trail. The lightweight material of the Multi Trails is a little thin, so they may not be the best choice for trails that include a lot of butt-scooting down rock. But we think the tradeoff in durability is worth it for the soft, comfy fabric and non-cumbersome fit.

The REI Trailmade Amphib shorts are versatile bottoms that sit somewhere between board shorts, hiking shorts, and casual everyday shorts. These amphibious shorts are perfect for those who never miss a chance to dip into a lake on trail, as they’ll be dry shortly after you resume hiking. The Amphibs are very similar to the popular Patagonia Baggies (in Honorable Mentions below), but these are a bit more affordable, they come with a built-in belt, and the fabric feels a little softer than the Baggies. The Amphibs are nice looking, but since they’re not stretchy we typically only use them for short, easy hikes.

The affordable Wander Shorts from The North Face are minimalist bottoms that fall somewhere between an athletic short and a casual short. We found the flat waistband of the Wanders to be one of the most comfy under a hipbelt, and the simple pocket setup (just two hand pockets) keep the legs bulk-free as well. We just wish the Wanders were made with a softer fabric, because the stiff polyester has a tendency to bunch up a bit. That said, we still find these shorts to be exceptionally comfortable, and we even lounge around in them at home.