The Janji Transit Tech Shorts are our favorite trail running/multi-purpose shorts to use for hiking, as well as the author’s current favorite athleisure shorts. Compared to traditional hiking shorts material, they are lighter weight, more stretchy, comfier, more movement-friendly, and more breathable while still having sufficiently sized and secure zipper pocket storage. Learn more in our full-length Janji Transit Tech Shorts Review.

• Weight: 4.8 oz (M) 3.9 (W)
• Price: $74
• Pockets: 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered side-thigh
• Material: 91% recycled polyester, 9% elastane
• Inseam: M’s 7″, W’s 4″
• Built-In Liner: No
• Waist: Elastic band with drawcord tie off
• Average User Review: 4.6 stars
• Pros: Excellent & secure pockets. Comfortable and movement friendly to run or hike in. Stretchy. Secure waistband. Good looking. Breathable. Soft but durable. Sustainable.
• Cons: Runs small, size up if in between. Would benefit from a slightly baggier fit and additional zippered side-thigh pocket.

Features

For starters, these shorts have unexpectedly great pockets for a running design – two trouser cut hand pockets and one side thigh pocket. All three pockets are sufficiently deep enough to hold a phone with room to spare. And all three are zipper-enclosed, ensuring that nothing will fall out so long as you remember to zip up.

We are particularly keen on the zippered side thigh pocket, placed immediately next to, and roughly paralleling, the right trouser cut hand pocket. It runs down and backwards, and is designing to hold a phone securely so as to prevent it from bouncing and swaying as you run. And it is much better at that job than a traditional cargo pocket. We just wish they had one on each side! Nonetheless, it’s wonderful to have an extra zippered pocket for stashing a small sunscreen tube and some lip balm. Notably, they don’t have rear pockets, but that’s okay because we hardly ever use those while hiking anyway.

Janji Transit Tech Shorts have a very simple and comfy elastic waistband. It’s average width, and supplemented by an elasticized internal drawcord, which has stretch of its own. This allows you to further tighten the pants without creating a static, immovable ring around your waist. It’s our preferred sporty waistband!

And while it might not look it, these shorts are sufficiently durable for everyday hikes. We tested the Transit Tech Pants (same fabric) on a hike that involved climbing up, over, under, and through about 50-100 downed trees and there was not a single tear after the fact. That said, we know these aren’t the most durable, however, durability is generally not a priority for hiking shorts (otherwise you would wear pants).

What could be better? Mostly, they run small. The author is normally a size large, and we wish these were more voluminous in the seat, thigh, and crotch. If you are at all in between sizes, definitely size up, not down. This makes them more comfortable to walk/run in, but a bit less comfy to sit in. But the stretchiness and notched leg opening do help with this somewhat. Also, we would have liked to have a second zippered side-thigh pocket on the left side in addition to the right side. I mean, why not?

Verdict

These are the comfiest and most choice running shorts in our hiking wardrobe. They look great, and the floral print has gotten tons of compliments. They’re versatile, equally at home hiking on the trail, walking around town, running, or lounging. We highly recommend these as an unconventional pair of hiking shorts!