Patagonia Baggies Shorts

Summary

Patagonia's Baggies are my go-to, do it all shorts. They are lightweight, breathable, packable, abrasion-resistant, water-resistant, quick drying nylon shorts. The DWR treated Baggies sport a 5" inseam, two quick drain pockets with mesh in the bottom, and a stretchy elastic waistband with tie. I hike, kayak, wakeboard, play tennis, jog, work out and do just about everything in these shorts! If I had only one pair of shorts, these would be the ones. Patagonia has been making these for years and are made for babies on up to men's and women's.

My Patagonia Baggies have been through it all. I love these shorts! I would literally wear them every day if I could. I bought them primarily for hiking because I had heard so many great things about them. They are perfect for hiking because they have pockets (but they are not big baggy cargo pockets), they resist abrasion and water, they are breathable and comfortable, and they do not chafe. Nowadays, ladies' shorts tend to be rather short (3" inseam), but the 5" inseam in these is the perfect length for me.  They are great for any water sport. 

Fit and Comfort:

I think Patagonia has nailed the perfect fit with their Baggies. I wear a medium and the length falls just past my finger tips. They have more than enough room to move and perform active sports, but they still maintain a flattering fit. The bottom leg openings are cut very wide and sometimes do flare out at the bottom. I have large quads/hamstrings and these accomodate them with extra room. The elastic waistband and drawcord make the fit adjustable. The waistband also stays in place when you have a pack on. The supple nylon is very soft and feels very nice. 

 You can see the flare in these two shots of me wearing my Baggies on Sentinel Dome in YNP.

Water Resistance:

Baggies are water-resistant, but not waterproof. They do very well in a drizzle, but in a hard rain they will soak. This is no problem though because they dry in a flash. I used them while hiking The Mist Trail in Yosemite. I was completely drenched by Vernal Fall, but the Baggies dried so quickly that it was no problem at all.

Baggies hot tubbing in Mammoth Lakes, CA

Breathability:

Baggies are very breathable. In fact, I wish that Patagonia made Baggies pants that I could hike in. The supple nylon fabric reminds me of softshell material. I think another key to their breathability is the width of the bottoms.

Abrasion Resistance:

Baggies are very abrasion-resistant. I hike through rough terrain constantly with these and have no problem with them tearing on branches. I have also slid down a rock waterslide with them and they didn't tear up at all. The nylon is actually pretty thick and is very durable. My dogs also jump on me all the time and they haven't even torn them.

Rocking my Baggies in Gorges State Park, NC

Baggies in the Ansel Adams Wilderness (Mammoth Lakes,CA)

Function:

I have really addressed all of the functions already, but I do wish that Patagonia would include a zippered security pocket somewhere. That is the only thing that I would change about them. 

Baggies do not have any rear pockets.

Conclusion:

I have had these shorts for three years now and have worn them all over the place through a range of activities. They have held up exceptionally well and still look as good as they did when I bought them. If I am going anywhere spring, summer, or fall, you can bet that my baggies are going with me. If you don't have a pair, you are missing out! 

**To all you guys out there, Baggies are also the perfect swim trunks.**

These are the ultimate shorts. They will go everywhere, do anything with you. As long as it's warm, and you don't mind looking like you're wearing baggies, the baggies will do the trick. They are fantastically quick drying, and cool for those hot days.

I wear them kayaking when I am in and out of the water, and they are awesome.