 This Product
Patagonia Quandary Short | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Overall Hiking Shorts |  Our Pick for Most Versatile and Comfy | Best Trail to Town Trunks | A Short N' Sweet Option for Thru Hikers |  Best Bang for Your Buck |
| Price | $62.30 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $59.46 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $79 List Check Price at Backcountry | $25.99 at Evo Compare at 3 sellers | $60 List $59.95 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | These practical shorts wear well, are comfortable, and kept us moving on a variety of adventures | Quick-drying, breathable, and lightweight shorts that have a lot of stretch for high mobility | A titch on the heavier side, but otherwise a nice option for the trail or the town | A great choice for ultralight hikers or thru-hikers looking for a lightweight option that has a built-in swimsuit liner | These thin yet water-resistant shorts are a great option for the practical, budget-minded hiker |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia Quandary... | Outdoor Research Fe... | Kuhl Renegade Short | Patagonia Baggies L... | REI Co-op Sahara Ca... |
| Comfort and Mobility (35%) | |||||
| Fabric Performance (25%) | |||||
| Versatility and Style (25%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Patagonia Quandary... | Outdoor Research Fe... | Kuhl Renegade Short | Patagonia Baggies L... | REI Co-op Sahara Ca... |
| Material | 96% NetPlus recycled nylon, 4% spandex plain weave | 46% recycled nylon, 40% nylon, 14% spandex | DURALUX (95% nylon, 5% spandex) | 100% recycled nylon | 96% recycled nylon, 4% spandex |
| Water Resistance | DWR coating with no added PFAS | DWR coating | C6 coating | DWR finish | DWR finish |
| Waist Size Options (Size Tested) | 28" - 41" | 28" - 42" | 30" - 42" | XS - XXL | 30" - 44" |
| Measured Inseam Length (Size) | 10" (40") | 10" (38") | 12" (40") | 6" (XL) | 9" (40") |
| Inseam Length Options | 8", 10", 12" | 7", 10" | 8", 10", 12" | 5", 7" | 9" |
| Sun Protection | Not specified | UPF 50+ | UPF 50 | Not specified | UPF 50+ |
| Convertible, or option available | Pants available | No | Pants, convertible available | No | Pants, convertible available |
| Pockets | 5 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| Waist Strap/Fasten | Button and zip fly, drawstring | Button and zip fly, drawstring | Button and zip fly | Elastic, drawstring | Button and zip fly, half-elastic waist |
| Other Features | Classic fit, curved waistband, gusseted crotch | Drawstring, lined waistband, harness-compatible waistband | Gusseted crotch, micro chamois-lined waistband, belt loops | Pockets with dry-and-dry mesh corners, quick-drying black mesh liner | Relaxed fit, elastic at back waist, gusseted crotch |
The right shorts balance practical features with comfortable styling and versatility, and we found this model does it better than any other we tested. Our testing showed that they are up to the task of long days, big climbs, hot climes, and wet weather.
The Quandary is among the most comfortable pairs we tested. We often find that comfort competes with style. But this model does one of the best jobs of balancing the two. The 94%/6% nylon/elastane fabric blend is stretchy enough that the wearer has free mobility in all typical hiking situations and any other activities you might decide to don them for.
The Quandary shorts have a regular/straight fit, but we liked the cut because it keeps them light and prevents extra fabric from getting snagged on rogue branches or rocky outcrops. However, with that comes just a bit of a sacrifice in comfort. Hikers with larger thighs or hips may find them to be a tad tight through the upper thighs and crotch, especially when pushing up hills or stretching across a boulder field. Yet, these shorts kept one of our bigger-bodied testers perfectly comfortable during more than a week's worth of trekking in the Italian Alps, so they ought to work comfortably for most wearers.
We liked that the Quandary shorts come with regular belt loops and an interior shoelace-style drawstring tie. This is a great feature for when you accidentally leave your belt at home or prefer the convenience of going beltless.
The front two hand pockets seemed to be placed a little too high on the waist, so the ergonomics weren't perfect. They are also a bit too shallow, making us a little leery about placing anything important in them. The Quandary comes with five pockets: two front handwarmer, two rear (right zip, left open), and one thigh (right zip). The thigh pocket has a (mostly) horizontal opening, angled slightly to make it easier to use with one hand.
Quick drying times, an airy feel, and vented front pockets earned the Quandary great scores for this metric. Their recycled nylon fabric has a soft, cotton-like feel that is comfortable for days, especially in hotter weather.
A subtle but nice component of these shorts is that the front fastener has a super slim profile and is attached to the shorts with a small piece of webbing. This matters when you have the hip belt of a backpack over the waist of these shorts — there's no rubbing! As for the fabric, we found that it doesn't have much resistance to moisture, absorbing water rather quickly during river crossings, rainstorms, or the occasional spill. On the flip side, during our drying tests, the Quandary had one of the fastest drying times of the whole bunch (17 min).
We liked that the Quandary felt light and airy all day. The front pockets are mesh-lined (though the rear pockets are not), as is the thigh pocket, but only at the very bottom. However, these potential ventilation points are less critical on a pair of shorts than on pants. What is essential, though, is that they are also lightweight and that the fabric is a good balance of durability and breathability. The REI Sahara Cargo also scores well in this metric, but they are a longer, looser-fitting model.
Our most-used feature on the Quandary was the rear zip pocket. The zipper is smooth, easy to find, and simple to open and close without looking. During our multi-day trek through the Italian Alps, we found it to be a great place for storing extra Euros for buying treats at the mountain huts, and it was our favorite place for storing maps or route cards.
We appreciate the versatility of the Quandary shorts, as they are equally at home on day hikes, longer backpacking trips, or even city streets. The pockets offer enough storage for a couple of protein bars, a phone, and car keys but are light enough that we didn't feel weighed down when we took them out on extended trips.
We could also easily envision them as an option for canoeing and fishing trips. They earn their score here, though, because at the end of the day, you could roll right into town without necessarily looking like you just came off the trail.
Double stitching and strong, scuff-proof, recycled nylon fabric allow the Quandary to withstand branches, rocks, and more with relative ease, earning it solid marks for this metric. We also love the manufacturer's extensive library of DIY repair tutorials, which cover everything from buttons to zippers.
We used a simple paper clip to test these shorts' resiliency and found them surprisingly tough for how soft they feel. We ran the end of the clip across multiple sections of our shorts (with increasing force) and were pleased to see virtually no scuffs or scratches. Nearly all of the seams on the Quandary are double-stitched and are composed of 12 stitches per inch (typical of higher quality clothing). As thin as it is, we were consistently impressed with its toughness and never hesitated to pull up a seat on a large boulder, downed tree, or even right on the ground. The only negative we have to report is that the cuffs are not double-stitched.
These shorts are awesome for almost any activity. They are great for day hikes but are also light and comfortable enough to be a good option for longer warm-weather backpacking trips. So, if you are in the market for a comfortable, versatile pair of hikers, these will fit the bill. However, they have a regular/straight fit, so if you need more space, you may want to look at some of our other options. The Quandary are nice spring and summer travel shorts as well. If you are planning a vacation and trying to keep your suitcase light, they easily double as a swimsuit, biking shorts, or casual wear for sightseeing.
The REI Co-op Sahara Cargo Short is a great option if you want the same type of cotton-feel fabric but need more spacious-fitting shorts. Likewise, if you're hoping for stretch fabrics, the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Short is simply the best of the bunch, followed closely by the Prana Stretch Zion II Short, although if we had to choose, we'd pick the Ferrosi. If you'd rather hike in short shorts, chances are high you'll like the fit and feel of the REI Co-op Trailmade.
