Patagonia Baggies Longs Shorts Review

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.

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.

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.

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).

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.