REI Trailmade Shorts Review
The REI Trailmade Shorts (shop now) are an effective and comfortable pair of hiking shorts with good pockets at an affordable price. The men’s and women’s versions offer slightly different configurations, the women’s version being superior in most regards.
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- Weight: 6-7 oz
- Price: $44-$49
- Pockets: 2 slash cut hand, 2 rear, 1-2 cargo pockets
- Material: 96% nylon, 4% spandex
- Inseam: 8″ M’s, 5″ W’s
- Waist: Elastic band with drawstring
- Average User Review Score: 4.4 stars
- Pros: Lots of functional pockets. Great value. Comfy simple waistband.
- Cons: Fabric is 2-way stretch, not the most movement friendly.
REI Trailmade Shorts Features
Hikers rave about the pockets on the REI Trailmade Shorts. Both versions have full size hand pockets, and average sized rear pockets. The women’s cargo pockets are exceptional in that there are two of them, they are good looking, and both are large enough to store a phone. The men’s version has one zippered cargo pocket on the right thigh.
The material is a 96% nylon 4% spandex blend that is breathable, quick, drying, and pleasant to the touch. It has light duty stretch, but they’re not running shorts and aren’t particularly stretchy. Luckily though, they have a relatively baggy fit, which helps to keep you cool and reduce the need for stretch.
The elastic waist band with drawcord cinch is an interesting touch, but we’ll admit we like it. It’s sportier and easier to use than a zipper fly with button and belt, albeit slightly less secure. These types of waist bands tend to work better on bodies with larger hips, butts, etc, to help prevent sagging. The inclusion of belt loops on the men’s is interesting. Hypothetically speaking, they don’t need a belt. If they thought you might need belt, why not just design the waist band to be more secure? And why not give women the same features? But we digresss.
Differences between Men’s and Women’s
The fabric, waist band, front hand pockets, and rear hand pockets are the same for both versions. The only differences are that the women’s has two envelope-style cargo pockets, and the men’s has a single zippered cargo pocket. The men’s version has belt loops and the women’s does not. The men’s version is $5 more expensive. All said and done, the women’s version is better because of its superior cargo pockets and slightly lower price.
Verdict
The REI Trailmade Shorts aren’t cutting edge, but they are affordable, comfortable, and functional. The women’s version has exceptional pockets. All in all, a great value pair of hiking shorts.
Compare this model to all of the best hiking shorts of the year.
