10 Best Hiking Shorts in 2024

Best Trail Running Shorts

• Pros: Comfortable and adjustable high-rise waistband, cooling features, numerous color options
• Cons: Lacks UPF rating

Dana Leigh Smith, vp and content lead of Condé Nast Health, often prefers pants over shorts for the sake of tick protection (those nasty little guys don’t fiddle!), but when she does decide to wear them she likes Lululemon’s Hotty Hots. They’re technically designed for running, made with a super-stretchy recycled material and an internal drawcord, so you possibly can actually feel confident if you’re picking up the pace. But Smith points out that they’ve quite a number of features that make them trail-friendly too. For one, they’re ventilated, sweat-wicking, and quick-drying: “It barely appears like you’ve gotten anything on, which is right for a hike on a hot day.” They even have reflective detailing and a built-in liner that Smith says helps ensure coverage, even if you’re climbing up and over large boulders.

• Available sizes: 0 to twenty | Lengths: 2.50 and 4 inches | Materials: recycled polyester, elastane, nylon, polyester, Lycra | UPF rating: N/A | Available colours: 14 options