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Patagonia Baggies Shorts 5"

rated 5 of 5 stars
photo: Patagonia Baggies Shorts 5" active short

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.

Pros

  • Durable (abrasion-resistant)
  • Lightweight (4.8 oz)
  • Quick draining pockets
  • DWR treated (water-resistant)
  • Nice length (5")
  • Available in a variety of colors and patterns
  • Come with a lifetime warranty
  • Flattering fit

Cons

  • No zippered pocket
  • Pricey (but worth it)

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. 


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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. 


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


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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.


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Rocking my Baggies in Gorges State Park, NC

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

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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.**

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $49

These are great swim shorts. They look great and they can also be worn as regular shorts.

Pros

  • Look great
  • Can be used as regular shorts
  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Netting on inside

I love my baggies. I have 4 pairs and wear them daily. They are great casual shorts and come in so many different colors. I also use them when I swim because of the convenience of them. The only issue I have with them is they do have a netting in them, but I just cut that out so I could wear underwear and be more comfortable.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $40

These are the perfect pants for a day on the trails.

Pros

  • Dry fast
  • Good to wear on the trails

Cons

  • Expensive, but worth it

I bought a pair of these to wear on one of my backpacking trips. They were a bit pricey, but so worth the price, because it was about the only shorts I wore. They are so comfortable and you don't have to worry about getting them wet because they dry pretty quick. I love these shorts!!

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $50

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.

This prouduct is amazing, very durable, and super cute.

Pros

  • These can be worn anywhere (except maybe Antarctica) and can be worn for virtually anything.

Cons

  • I wish there was a zippered pocket in the back, but there are very little cons with this item

I wear these for everything, swim trunks, running, biking, everyday wear, and on long canoe trips. 

Background

I also have a pair of Columbia women’s PFG shorts, very similar, but they have a zippered pocket in the back, perfect to hold a key/credit card.

Source: bought it used
Price Paid: $32

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Specs

Men's
Price MSRP: $55.00
Current Retail: $16.76-$424.96
Historic Range: $10.00-$424.96
Weight 204 g / 7.2 oz
Inseam 5 in
Materials 4-ply, 4.9-oz NetPlus 100% post-consumer recycled nylon faille made from recycled fishing nets to help reduce ocean plastic pollution, with a PFC-free DWR finish / Fair Trade Certified sewn
Women's
Price MSRP: $59.00
Current Retail: $17.70-$198.00
Historic Range: $1.00-$198.00
Reviewers Paid: $32.00-$50.00
Weight 142 g / 5 oz
Inseam 5 in
Materials 4-ply, 4.9-oz NetPlus 100% post-consumer recycled nylon faille made from recycled fishing nets to help reduce ocean plastic pollution, with a PFC-free DWR finish
Boys'
Price MSRP: $45.00
Current Retail: $21.42-$49.00
Historic Range: $13.26-$49.00
Weight 133 g / 4.7 oz
Inseam 5 in
Materials 4-ply, 4.9-oz NetPlus 100% postconsumer recycled nylon faille made from recycled fishing nets to help reduce ocean plastic pollution, with a PFC-free DWR finish
Product Details from Patagonia »

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