Vuori Aim Review

What sets the Vuori Aim shorts apart is their understated class that gives them enough of a look to complete any casual ensemble for whatever your destination.

Comfort & Mobility

We hit the trail and cruised the town in our Vuori Aim shorts for more than a month to get a good grasp on how they wear and move. They performed above average, thanks to airy stretch fabrics and a tailored design.

On the trail, our Aim shorts performed better than we thought they would. Their polyester (67 percent), cotton (25 percent), and elastane (8 percent) fabric blend is soft and comfortable. It does a great job of folding and stretching with the natural movements of the body, even while sitting, squatting, or taking longer strides. However, some testers complained of a little tightness in the upper legs and crotch, especially when squatting. Closer to home, our testers wore their Vuori Aims daily for golf, lunch dates, walking, and running errands, and experienced the same comfortable movement.

We liked that the Vuori Aim shorts offered decent pocket space. This included two standard front pockets, a side zippered pouch, and two back pockets (one zippered, one buttoned). The zippered pockets in particular come in handy when you're back in town and need a place to stuff car keys or a wallet. The Aims also features a band of cloth that runs along the interior of the waistline. We liked how it allowed the shorts to hug our hips and keep the Vuoris in place, even when not wearing a belt.

We liked the Vuori's zippered side pocket. It was a great place for keys. However, we do think there should be a second one on the other side of the shorts.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Taking a look at the band of cloth that runs along the waistline. It's made from a more abrasive (yet still comfortable) polyester, which hugs the hips and keeps your shorts in place.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Fabric Performance

The Vuori Aim's fabric is slightly denser than some of the lighter-weight models in our lineup, likely due to its higher cotton content. However, even though their fabric makeup is two-thirds cotton, the Aim still did a great job when it came to wicking and drying.

Our Aim shorts immediately absorbed moisture during our at-home tests. We submerged the bottom section of the shorts in a sink of water and they were completely drenched in just under two seconds. However, they were also reasonably quick to dry. On the trail, they kept us cool and dry even during the heat of the day. Our conclusion is the Vuori Aims wick moisture away from the body reasonably well, but they have zero water resistance. Likewise, their higher cotton content makes them quickly absorb water, but they also tend to dry fairly well.

Holding our shorts up to the sun to show the thinness of their fabric. This makes for better breathability.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Dunking the bottom ends of our Vuoris in a sink of water to test their absorption rate.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Just two seconds later, they were completely drenched.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Versatility & Style

Making you look good in whatever setting you're in is what the Vuori shorts do best. Are they casual wear or outdoor gear? Our testers decided that it just doesn't matter — these shorts are a great option for wherever you're headed.

Their lightweight, stretchy fabric makes the Vuori shorts an excellent choice if you're loading your pack and hitting the hills. But, when the day is done, their tailored look, polished design, and distinct features (like belt loops and button fly) make them a no-brainer for leaving the trail for a burger and beer, hammering out nine holes of golf, or hitting any other casual setting. Hands down, our testers loved how easy it was to quickly clean up and continue having fun — all in the same pair of shorts.

Construction Quality

These shorts aren't the toughest of the bunch, but they're also no slouch either. Although they didn't receive our top scores for this metric, we were still impressed with their overall quality and durability.

We didn't like that the hemline was only single-stitched. This does give the shorts a more tailored look and a little more stretch, but the trade-off is a weaker hem that could come unstitched after longer use. Other stress points, like the pockets and crotch, are double-stitched. Additionally, the stitch count throughout is between 12 to 14 stitches per inch, which is on par with better quality clothing.

A close-up view of the single-stitched hems.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Counting the stitches per inch along the waist.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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We didn't have much trouble on the trail, but our at-home tests showed a slight weakness in the fabric of the Vuori Aim shorts. During the tests, we ran the end of a paperclip across the fabric to see how it might hold up against the odd tree branch or rocky outcropping. Although the fabric maintained its overall integrity, the process left scratches and bubbling in the fabric. So, if your hikes include a fair amount of scrambling up rocks or bushwhacking, you may end up with some snags if you're not careful.

For normal log or rock sitting, we found the Vuoris to be perfectly capable.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Conducting our paperclip test along the front side of our shorts.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

You can see how the contact left distressed sections in the fabric that look like bubbles. This may be the reaction of the elastane from more extreme contact and pressure.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Should You Buy the Vuori Aim?

If you're big on versatile, go-anywhere clothing that can adjust to your schedule, the Vuori Aim will bring a smile to your face. Their blended fabric has a polished look that ups their style for things like chilling at the brewery for pizza, but we found they also offered the grit needed to handle rocks, dirt, and dusty trails. Regardless of how you wear them, the Aim shorts will offer a distinct look that stands out above your traditional hiking trunks. Does any of this sound like you? If so, just buy them. You won't regret it.

What Other Hiking Shorts Should You Consider?

The Kuhl Renegade Short is another fashion-focused option. In fact, they have a lot more style than the Vuoris, but they breathe less and don't perform as well on the trail. The Outdoor Research Ferrosi Short is a similar match to the Vuori, but they don't have any cotton in their fabric. If you are looking for style points only, the Fjallraven Abisko Short has a very unique vibe. Great for around town, but a little too heavy for serious hiking.