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Patagonia Baggies Longs Shorts Review

These simple shorts are roomy, tough, airy, and come with a built-in liner, which makes them the perfect minimalistic option for thru-hikers or ounce-counters
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Patagonia Baggies Longs Shorts Review
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Price:  $69 List
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Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Jason Wanlass and Ben Applebaum-Bauch  ⋅  Apr 12, 2025
69
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 11
  • Comfort and Mobility - 35% 6.0
  • Fabric Performance - 25% 7.0
  • Versatility and Style - 25% 7.5
  • Construction Quality - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Patagonia Baggies Longs are a super casual pair of hiking shorts. They look very simple, but they are up to spending days on the trail, making them a great option for thru-hiking. We love the thin, breathable, supportive interior liner that keeps things cool on a warm day. The super stretchy waistband makes them adaptable to various body shapes and sizes. Though there are only three pockets, we appreciate how deep the two front ones are. Although the exterior fabric is rather stiff and a touch chaffy, the tightly woven nylon is water and wind-resistant. Because these shorts dry out quickly, they are a great option not only for hiking but for water sports as well.
REASONS TO BUY
Tough
Deep pockets
Swimsuit liner
Simple to wear
Dry easily
Relaxed fit
REASONS TO AVOID
Stiff material
Very basic
A little pricey
Fabric does not stretch
Very basic
Cuffs not double stitched

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
A Short N' Sweet Option for Thru Hikers
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Hiking Shorts
Top Pick Award
Our Pick for Most Versatile and Comfy
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
 
Price $33.99 at Evo
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$60 List
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$27 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A great choice for ultralight hikers or thru-hikers looking for a lightweight option that has a built-in swimsuit linerThese practical shorts wear well, are comfortable, and kept us moving on a variety of adventuresQuick-drying, breathable, and lightweight shorts that have a lot of stretch for high mobilityThese thin yet water-resistant shorts are a great option for the practical, budget-minded hikerThese shorts are better-made than their price tag would suggest, making them a great trail option for bargain hunters
Rating Categories Patagonia Baggies L... Patagonia Quandary... Outdoor Research Fe... REI Co-op Sahara Ca... Wrangler Authentics...
Comfort and Mobility (35%)
6.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
Fabric Performance (25%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
5.0
Versatility and Style (25%)
7.5
9.0
7.0
6.0
5.5
Construction Quality (15%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Specifications Patagonia Baggies L... Patagonia Quandary... Outdoor Research Fe... REI Co-op Sahara Ca... Wrangler Authentics...
Material 100% recycled nylon 96% NetPlus recycled nylon, 4% spandex plain weave 46% recycled nylon, 40% nylon, 14% spandex 96% recycled nylon, 4% spandex 94% nylon, 6% spandex
Water Resistance DWR finish DWR coating with no added PFAS DWR coating DWR finish Not specified
Waist Size Options (Size Tested) XS - XXL 28" - 41" 28" - 42" 30" - 44" 30" - 48"
Measured Inseam Length (Size) 6" (XL) 10" (40") 10" (38") 9" (40") 10" (40")
Inseam Length Options 5", 7" 8", 10", 12" 7", 10" 9" 10"
Sun Protection Not specified Not specified UPF 50+ UPF 50+ UPF 30
Convertible, or option available No Pants available No Pants, convertible available No
Pockets 3 5 5 6 7
Waist Strap/Fasten Elastic, drawstring Button and zip fly, drawstring Button and zip fly, drawstring Button and zip fly, half-elastic waist Button and zip fly
Other Features Pockets with dry-and-dry mesh corners, quick-drying black mesh liner Classic fit, curved waistband, gusseted crotch Drawstring, lined waistband, harness-compatible waistband Relaxed fit, elastic at back waist, gusseted crotch Several color options, two zippered leg pockets

Our Analysis and Test Results

These shorts, made of 100% recycled material, look fun and perform well. They come in a ton of different colors and patterns and are breathable with a fabric that dries quickly.

patagonia baggies longs shorts - rock hopping in fresh snow. these shorts have virtually no stretch...
Rock hopping in fresh snow. These shorts have virtually no stretch, but as their name suggests, they are baggy enough for most large movements.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Comfort and Mobility


The Baggies Longs Shorts have a mix of strong comfort features and stiff fabric. They have a built-in polyester briefs-style liner as well. Though initially skeptical, we were pleased with how supportive they were when it came down to hitting the trail. The waist is fully elastic and offers an easy-to-use drawstring, which enables you to fine-tune the fit. These shorts still come in different sizes, but the elastic means they will stay up even if your waist shrinks throughout a multi-week trip and can stretch back up when you return to the front country.


The legs are also nice and wide, so they don't limit mobility too much on scrambles. But there is absolutely zero give. So the downside to the nylon fabric is that these shorts are quite stiff and tend to bunch and constrict around the groin, rear, and upper thighs when sitting or squatting. The material can also feel a little abrasive, especially if there is a backpack hip belt over the top of it. They also aren't the most comfortable when soaked.

These shorts are tough, but they have no give. They have as much stretch as a canvas bag -- none. Luckily they have enough room to accommodate sitting down or the addition of leggings.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Fabric Performance


Tough nylon fabric that dries quickly and wears well were the key components that influenced our scores for this metric. These shorts are tough and lightweight, but they are a tad abrasive, leading us to hold back a little in offering our best scores.


The feature set is basic but practical. There are three pockets: two front hand-warmers and one right rear. The front ones are the deepest of any model that we have tested. Though they don't have any closure, even a large smartphone sinks deep into them, so we were never especially worried about items falling out.

Two super deep front pockets and a small snap-close rear one. These shorts are pretty minimal but they maximize the space they have.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

The right front pocket has an elastic loop for keys. You need another key ring or small carabiner to actually attach the keys to the shorts, which makes it a little less convenient than a clip. The rear pocket has a flap and snap closure that we found easy to open and close with one hand. The Patagonia Baggies Longs excelled in our drying tests, landing one of the fastest dry times of the whole bunch (16 min).

Giving the bottom half of our Baggies Longs Shorts a three minute...
Giving the bottom half of our Baggies Longs Shorts a three minute dunking to see how quickly they absorb water.
Using a hair dryer's air-only setting to time how long it takes for...
Using a hair dryer's air-only setting to time how long it takes for these shorts to dry.
Dunking and drying to determine the overall fabric drying time.

This model is a mixed bag when it comes to ventilation and breathability. There are no active ventilation features built in. Even the pockets are solid nylon — no mesh. All things considered, though, their breathability is excellent. The liner is super thin and airy. During testing, we also noticed that the larger leg holes facilitated the flow of air up through the shorts to keep things cool.

patagonia baggies longs shorts - the thin mesh liner is supportive and super breathable.
The thin mesh liner is supportive and super breathable.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Versatility and Style


The Baggies are made for land and sea. They are pretty much a bathing suit. They are good for hiking, running, and water sports, including swimming.



As for their style, these shorts are made for chill vibes. They are really simple and effortlessly cool. The look has its merits and disadvantages. We love them for everyday summer wear on the trail and off. However, we wouldn't necessarily choose them to go out to a nice sit-down dinner.

Headed for a swim. The built-in liner makes it easy to take a dip...
Headed for a swim. The built-in liner makes it easy to take a dip anytime you feel like it -- or smell like it.
Cruising through fresh snow en route to the peak.
Cruising through fresh snow en route to the peak.
Yes, they don't stretch, but as we've already said, they're baggy...
Yes, they don't stretch, but as we've already said, they're baggy enough to be reasonably comfy, or to add additional layers when needed.
These shorts are always at home and ready to work or play, from the shoreline to the mountains.

The thing we love about the Baggies Longs is the ability to take them anywhere the action is outdoors. They're tough enough and light enough to wear for weeks on the trail without the need for extra underwear. You can scramble in them, swim in them, sit on rocks or logs, wedge yourself down a slot canyon — all the backcountry things. They're even roomy enough to add layers when you wake up to a Spring snowfall. True, they are more comfy shorts, but we don't think they would hold up as well during a longer jaunt on the trail.

patagonia baggies longs shorts - solid nylon construction makes the baggies longs perfect for...
Solid nylon construction makes the Baggies Longs perfect for cruising the trail, hanging at the beach, or bumping into rocks.
Credit: Sarah Van Cleve

Construction Quality


These shorts are highly weather-resistant across the board. The nylon exterior has a DWR coating that beads water well. Even if they do start to wet through, the material dries very quickly. The liner is also super thin, so it doesn't stay wet for long.


The tightly woven exterior is wind resistant. The flip side to the breathability described above is that these shorts are short, and the leg openings are pretty large. I felt the effects of a stiff breeze on cooler days. In terms of stitching, we counted 12 stitches per inch on all of the major seams (double-stitched). However, in some pockets and other less strained areas where stitching strength is less critical, only 10 stitches per inch are used (12 is preferred). Additionally, the Baggies Longs withstood our scratch tests very well.

Counting and scratching.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Should You Buy the Patagonia Baggies Longs?


These shorts are for the hiker who likes a casual style and appreciates good airflow. Their elastic waist adjusts to fit just right, and the deep pockets are a big plus. If you aren't a fan of the built-in liner, there are many other good options out there, but this model is a great choice for those who like their shorts to have great versatility for land and water alike.

patagonia baggies longs shorts - we hiked in a wide variety of temps, climates, and elevations. we...
We hiked in a wide variety of temps, climates, and elevations. We found value in the Patagonia Baggies Longs Shorts for their durability, ease of wear, and versatility.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

What Other Hiking Shorts Should You Consider?


For another top-notch option that directly competes with the Baggies Longs, we strongly suggest the REI Co-op Trailmade. They are more comfy but don't have a liner and aren't as tough. For pure comfort during long stints on the trail, we suggest the Prana Brion II or the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Short; however, neither are as breathable. If you are looking for a very lightweight, less-expensive option, we think the Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo could fit the bill, but we don't know how long they will last during weeks or months in the backcountry, so you may want to invest in more than one pair.

patagonia baggies longs shorts - this basic pair of shorts is a classic go-to for hiking adventures.
This basic pair of shorts is a classic go-to for hiking adventures.
Credit: Sarah Van Cleve

Jason Wanlass and Ben Applebaum-Bauch