Patagonia Trailfarer - Women's Review

Overall Comfort

The Trailfarer feels smooth, lightweight, and easy to move in, especially for hiking and casual running. The fit is relaxed in a way that makes them comfortable for long hours outdoors, not just short bursts of activity.

What really stands out about these shorts is how comfortable they are across a wide range of outdoor adventures. They're equally at home on trail runs, track workouts, long hikes, backpacking trips, paddleboarding, rock scrambling, or basically any activity that involves spending an entire day outside and living in motion.

They don't dig, pinch, or feel restrictive, which makes them incredibly easy to explore in. That said, they don't quite reach the “disappears on your body” level you get with more dedicated running shorts. Since they're unlined, part of the comfort really comes down to the base layer you choose, which naturally depends on the activity.

The drawstring waistband is also slimmer and less structured than what you'd find in traditional running shorts. This keeps the overall feel light and contributes to how quickly they dry once wet. At just 2.54 ounces for a women's size small, that near-weightless design is a big part of what makes them so comfortable in motion.

Pockets

The pocket layout is simple and mostly practical. You can carry small essentials without feeling like the shorts are overloaded or shifting around. They work well for keys, cards, or light carry, but they're not designed for marathon storage systems with gels-on-gels-on-gels. The pocket closes with a single snap that is easy to latch and unlatch in motion.

The single pocket is located on the rear right side of the shorts and is technically large enough to hold an iPhone in a case. However, because of the slightly looser fit, the phone does bounce around a bit while running. It doesn't feel sloppy, but it's not an ideal setup for secure phone storage on higher-impact runs. That said, for lower-bounce activities like hiking, the pocket works well for stashing heavier items. The drawstring waistband does a good job of keeping the shorts stable, so even with added weight, everything stays comfortably in place as you move.

Breathability & Moisture Control

The Trailfarer stands out as one of the least swampy running shorts we tested this time around and the fastest-drying overall. The lightweight fabric and simple construction allow air to move freely, making them feel especially comfortable in heat or direct sunlight. Since they don't include a liner, the single-layer body fabric remains breathable and quickly wicks moisture away from the skin.

Once wet, they dry quickly and don't cling in an uncomfortable or heavy way, which makes them especially reliable for mixed terrain, water crossings, or long, sweaty efforts. They also really shine in backpacking scenarios, where you're moving between sweat, stream crossings, and rest stops. These shorts excel in the kind of constant start-stop moisture cycle where most others start to feel damp, heavy, and uncomfortable. The Trailfarer just keeps up without ever feeling soggy or sluggish. While performance is strong, they're ultimately designed for versatility across hiking, running, travel, and full-day outdoor use, rather than pure race-day efficiency or aerodynamic precision.

Should You Buy the Patagonia Trailfarer?

The Trailfarer is essentially the “I might run, I might hike, I might end up at a brewery after this” short, and it excels because of that identity. It's not trying to win the race-day performance crown. Instead, it quietly wins the do-everything-outdoors-without-thinking-too-hard category. If you are in the market for a single pair of shorts built for all of the adventures your summer might hold, we wholeheartedly recommend the Trailfarer by Patagonia. If a running short built for marathon training and sweaty treadmill sessions is what you're after, there are other options designed to check those boxes more readily.

What Other Running Shorts Should You Consider?