REASONS TO BUY
Ultra moisture-wicking
Lightweight
Durable
Relaxed fit
Snap pocket
REASONS TO AVOID
Not a true running short
Expensive
Baggier fit
Bouncing pockets
Patagonia Trailfarer - Women's Review
These shorts are built for all-day outdoor comfort, offering a light, easy feel that works across hiking, running, and travel without ever feeling restrictive
Sitting comfortably high on the waist with a rollable waistband, the Trailfarer shorts are designed for runs when a jump in the river after is mandatory.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
By Ally Arcuri ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ July 1, 2026
RELATED: The Best Running Shorts for Women
Our Verdict
The Patagonia Trailfarer is a highly versatile, lightweight outdoor short built for movement across a wide range of activities, from hiking and trail running to travel and water-based adventures. Its relaxed fit and airy, unlined construction prioritize comfort over long hours outside, making it feel easy and unobtrusive during extended wear. Designed to handle heat, sweat, and changing conditions, it stays breathable and dries quickly, maintaining comfort even through wet or high-exertion environments. With simple storage and a low-profile waistband, it emphasizes ease and practicality over race-focused performance, making it an ideal all-day companion for anyone who wants a short that can comfortably handle almost anything outdoors.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Patagonia Trailfarer - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Multi-Sport Versatility |  Best Overall Running Short | Best Workhorse Running Short | Best Biker Style Running Short |  Best Bang for Your Buck |
| Price | $89 List Check Backcountry (on sale!) | $70 List Check REI (on sale!) | $65 List Check REI (on sale!) | $78 List Check REI (on sale!) | $34 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | These shorts are built for all-day outdoor comfort, offering a light, easy feel that works across hiking, running, and travel without ever feeling restrictive | This hybrid design combines the freedom of a running short with the added security of a biker short liner for ultimate support, storage, and coverage | From their breathable, quick-drying construction that handles sweat and heat exceptionally to their thought storage solutions, this pair of shorts is an easy recommendation for runners of all kinds | These running shorts are designed as a versatile, lightweight option that performs well across speed workouts, long runs, and everyday training without overcomplicating anything | This beginner-friendly staple that makes the transition from basic athletic wear to real running gear affordable |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia Trailfarer | REI Swiftland 2-in-1 | REI Swiftland | Janji Pace | Nike Tempo |
| Overall Comfort (50%) | |||||
| Pockets (30%) | |||||
| Breathability & Moisture Control (20%) | |||||
| Specifications | Patagonia Trailfarer | REI Swiftland 2-in-1 | REI Swiftland | Janji Pace | Nike Tempo |
| Best for | Adventuring | Versatile running | Running | Distance running | Beginner |
| Liner Type | None | Biker short | Brief | Biker short | Brief |
| Pockets | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Fits a Phone | Yes | Yes - two! | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dry Time - Clothesline | 18 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 32 |
| Dry Time - Blow Dryer | 10 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 |
| Body Material | 90% polyester, 10% spandex | 73% recycled nylon/27% spandex | 73% recycled nylon/27% spandex Liner: 86% polyester/14% spandex |
68% nylon, 32% spandex Liner: 100% polyester |
Polyester |
| Waistband Drawstring Placement | interior | interior | interior | interior | interior |
| Alternate Styles | No | traditional version: 5", 3" inseam length, high or mid rise available | 5", 3" inseam length, high or mid rise available, 2-in-1 | 7", 5" inseam lengths available | 2.5", 3" inseam length available, plus sizes available |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The cut and breathability of the Trailfarer shorts deliver all-day comfort designed for mountain frolics. Credit: Ally Arcuri
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.
The waistband sits comfortably high without pinching, allowing it to essentially disappear once your activity begins. Credit: Ally Arcuri
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.
If a daily adventure short that can moonlight as a running short is what you're after, the Trailfarer may be an ideal match. Credit: Ally Arcuri
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.
The single rear pocket is comfortable for a lightweight item and can act as a stuff sack to help keep packing needs minimal. Credit: Ally Arcuri
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.
The rear pocket of the Trailfarer is long enough, at 6 inches, to carry a phone, but the baggier fit means that it bounces a bit more than preferred. Credit: Ally Arcuri
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.
For mixed adventure outings, the Trailfarer is short, with durability, moisture control, and overall comfort. Credit: Ally Arcuri
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.
The Trailfarer shorts are ideal for long days in the mountains when running, jumping, splashing, and rock scrambling are all on the agenda. Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Running Shorts Should You Consider?
While it doesn't get much better than the Patagonia Trailfarer in terms of an all-purpose adventure short, they are far from the only wonderful option on the market. If you are looking for the reigning queen of comfort, the smooth, yoga-inspired fit of the Oiselle Roga is a short worth considering. If you want a short built for outdoor adventures but like the idea of a more dedicated running short, the REI Swiftland, which includes a classic brief-style liner, might be a strong option. The REI Swiftland 2-in-1 offers a built-in biker-short liner with bilateral pockets. The construction of this short helps cement its status as one we recommend to adventure seekers in need of a running short that can carry it all with ease.
—Ally Arcuri
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