Hugut Lightweight Cargo - Women's Review

Weighing in at 6.7 ounces with a 9.5-inch inseam, these shorts are both airy and stretchy, if not also among the most lightweight options we tested. The greatest qualities of the design come from the material itself, which is a blend of 90% polyester and 10% spandex with a DWR treatment, which became particularly notable during our soak test. The waistband is wrapped in elastic with an external drawstring, and all five pockets have zippers. The style, as mentioned above, is among the more traditional in the hiking short category, although it also leans into the casual athleticwear space with a somewhat basketball or gym shorts design. At the time of testing, it came in two colors, including black, the version we tested.

Performance Comparison

The most notable attributes of the Hugut Lightweight Cargo shorts have to do with its fabric performance and overall construction quality. However, our assessment remains somewhat nuanced within those metrics since we look at multiple features and performance results. The greatest drawbacks we saw came down to basic comfort and style. Read on for those details.

Comfort and Mobility

The first thing we tested for is all-day wear. We pull on the shorts and sit in them doing our computer work, chores around the house, and anything else that may casually take place throughout an average day. High-waisted elastic waistbands are usually not very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, as they tend to pinch and even chafe at the waste eventually. This waistband is no exception. We suspect the problem may lie with how difficult it is to design a high-waisted product that is going to suit everybody since there is no consistency between thigh, hip, and waist ratios. Sizing for such designs is inherently tricky, but our testers feel this model runs small. Our lead tester generally wears a Small or Medium, depending on the brand. With this pair, she felt the cut was rather slim, even in a Medium (she tried on both for comparison's sake). This was mostly due to the tightness of the waistband and the way it fits versus the cut through the thighs and hips. We are glad to see Columbia offers up to size 3X, a range many other manufacturers do not offer. This ensures you can play with the combinations to find a fit throughout that suits your needs best.

As for mobility, our testers found the fabric to be stretchy and didn't impede our ability to high-step or perform squats. But to be nit-picky, the fabric encasing our legs feels like it needs to stretch in response to our movements, whereas the competitors with the highest mobility scores allow us to move uninhibited and without requiring our attention to notice. Our phone fits well in four out of five pockets, and testers had no issues accessing their contents in use. With a phone in either of the front hand pockets, there is a slight reduction in mobility, but the stretch is adequate to accommodate the placement. We measured the leg opening circumference to be around 23 inches, making the Hugut Lightweight Cargo shorts a tad slim through the legs. Overall, the combination of critiques and observations yielded a rather average score for this pair against others in the lineup.

Fabric Performance

The absolute highlight of the Hugut has to do with their performance in our soaking and dry time testing. Due to their added water resistance, the fabric took its time to soak in water, taking about 3 minutes to feel soaked through. In contrast, once they were hung out to air dry, they took only 26 minutes to feel dry to the touch. This high-performing combination result placed them at the top of the list in this metric, only a few minutes slower than the quickest in the entire lineup. Since most of the other shorts we tested dried much more slowly, even when they may have taken far longer to soak through, a dry time under 30 minutes was impressive.

The other characteristics we look at for this metric include extra or special venting or high-tech design features. Given the relative lightness of the fabric and the looser basketball short style, some venting and breathability are inherent to the design. The fabric also provides UPF 50+ sun protection, meaning less than 2% of UV radiation will make it to the skin underneath. But beyond these mentions, there isn't anything special worth noting for a high-performance fit. There are no extra vent holes or mesh in the pockets or similar strategies at the waist as one might see in a running or endurance sport short. But the cut and integrated features remain on par with what we saw in many pairs of hiking shorts, leaving these with a higher-than-average score in this metric.

Versatility and Style

The Hugout also delivered a strong performance in the versatility metric. They offer some crossover for those who may cross over from hiking to other sports, and they are long enough to provide excellent coverage in colder temperatures or to make a good choice during the shift between seasons. Due to the many zippers, we didn't find these a great choice for rolling around on the floor on a foam roller or while performing stretches, but their stretchy nature works well for casual cycling and gym activities. Or, if you need something quick to throw on for a quick grocery shopping trip or dog walk, they are easy to grab and pull on to get out the door.

We will be the first to admit that any assessment of style is subjective, and our take on good looks may differ greatly from yours. That said, our testers found these shorts to be among the least stylish we reviewed. They are designed for practical use, not made to be flashy, chic, or trendy in any way. They also come with large pull tabs for the many zippers, a somewhat unusual, bulky, and unflattering choice as they stick out and away from the shorts awkwardly. Having zippers everywhere is also very utility-oriented. There is nothing subtle or sleek in the presentation. But if athletic and casual are your vibe, these fit right in.

Construction Quality

These shorts shine in this metric for one main reason: how they performed in our paperclip snag test. They sit toward the top of the list for this test since their fabric is smooth, and while the paperclip left some minor markings, it did not snag or catch in any way. In contrast, the results of our stitch evaluation (measuring the number of stitch loops per inch of seam) left us a little disappointed. We examined various areas of the shorts, like pockets, hemlines, and other seams, and then counted the stitches in a single inch of that line. It turns out shorts come in a wide range of stitch densities, and the Hugout Lightweight Cargo has 9-13 stitches per inch. Other competitive pairs had a spread of stitch ranges that were less spread out, differing by only 1-3 stitches per inch. So, we are bummed to see that these had the biggest range of all, demonstrating the lack of reinforcement in several areas across the body. These are good enough but not great and may not be equipped for intensive use and repeated washings.

Nonetheless, having stitching densities near 13 at all is a reassurance. We also noticed reinforced stitching at the pockets, which is a plus in a high-use area. Also, the zippers and pull tabs used in construction aren't the best on the market, perhaps a trade-off for their truly “affordable” price tag. Even if these design components aren't high-end, they are still functional. The zippers did catch on the fabric here and there for us, but it wasn't a huge detriment to accessibility.

Should You Buy the Hugut Lightweight Cargo?

Although these shorts are more basic than they are top-notch, the price makes them worth all they offer. Manufactured in China with no warranty promise from the brand, this may make shoppers hesitant to try them out. That decision is up to you. But if you are not hung up on brand names and their costlier promises of style and functionality, this lesser-known, budget-friendly option may serve you well. We like them for their relaxed nature and excessive practicality, which makes them ideal for day hiking and casual errands.

What Other Hiking Shorts Should You Consider?