Shorts and Skirts

Recent Short/Skirt Reviews

Purple Rain Adventure Dress

The Adventure Dress's weight-to-coverage and comfort are the best of all skirt or dress options for walking, hiking, backpacking, driving, around the house, and everyday wear. Not much I can add to Twig’s superb detailed review. Mandy Bland’s dress design is suited for hiking, backpacking, travel, and so many other uses. Weight is 188g (6.6 oz) for XL and 200g (7 oz) For XXL. Hangs well from shoulder-to-hem Comfortable movement Wear with or without t-shirt Overall excellent for hiking &… Full review

Columbia Iron Mountain Trail Shorts

A cheap, comfortable, basic short that looks good in town and performs acceptably, but not great, on trail. These shorts are breathable, light, and comfortable but not durable or water resistant. Fit and Comfort: Fit well without issues. This is one of these products that you just don't notice. It is roomy, has a good waist size, and the measurements seem right (If it helps, I bought the 30x10, regular fit). nice, loose fit Shorts are generally easier to get right than pants, but good job to Columbia… Full review

Mountain Hardwear J Tree Short

A super comfortable hiking short for hot and dry conditions. Excellent fit and breathability, when you’re just trying to stay cool. A good-looking pair of shorts which transition from trail to town with ease. I wear them most every day during the summer. We’ve all had it hammered into us: “Cotton kills on the backcountry.” When it gets wet, it lacks few insulating properties, and can lead to hypothermia. But I would like to propose the idea, that in certain hot and dry conditions, where… Full review

Macabi Skirt

The knee length skirt seems to be nice, but I never got to actually wear it because the sizing chart is way off. I usually wear between a medium and large pant, and the large skirt was much too tight in the waist. Customer service is not great (I repeatedly asked about getting return shipping covered due to the inaccurate size chart, and the person I was corresponding with never responded), so I decided to take my business elsewhere and went with a Houdini skirt instead.  Full review

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Shorts

Outdoor Research's updated Ferrosi fabric delivers big on comfort, stretch, and durability, but sizing and features should be considered with the Ferrosi Short. Having previously reviewed an older version of the Outdoor Research 10-inch Ferrosi Shorts, that had a strong but not particularly long life, I was excited to try their latest fabric update in the newest 7-inch model they’re offering (see my original Ferrosi Shorts review below). After a season of very frequent California trail use,… Full review

Patagonia Stand Up Shorts 7"

Sturdy 7-ounce organic cotton shorts build a nice bridge between casual wear and hiking/outdoorsy pursuits. They have a double fabric seat and generously-sized pockets front and back, metal zipper, belt loops. Highly abrasion-resistant, they last for years. On the downside, the fabric is heavy for people who want a lighter-weight pair of shorts, and they take a long time to dry. INTRODUCTION Patagonia’s Stand Up Shorts have been around for a long time. I bought my first pair in the mid-1980s and… Full review

Macabi Skirt

Great skirt to walk in. Lighter weight—I wear leggings/tights in winter. Wonderful material! Never had a skirt like this before. I love skirts no matter the activity, and these skirts are just awesome! Best I've ever had!! LOL I feel "fancy" just collecting chicken eggs wearing one. I'm older and I don't like traveling to yoga class w/just yoga pants, this skirt goes right over them. So much more comfortable than jeans and shorts. LOVE. Full review

Patagonia Baggies Shorts 5"

This prouduct is amazing, very durable, and super cute. I wear these for everything, swim trunks, running, biking, everyday wear, and on long canoe trips.  Full review

NorSari the original nordic sari

This sari (think wrap-around skirt or kilt) is not advertised as hiking gear per se, but as a "wearable blanket" designed to be a grab-and-go versatile way to stay warm and cover up. If you go outside, anytime it is cold or windy, this may be for you!     I had first seen the NorSari in some pop-up social media ad. At first, I thought "well, that's just like the wraparound skirts we wore as kids, no big deal." Then I read further. One, because I love the idea of supporting an entrepreneurial product,… Full review