Expert-Tested Hiking Shorts That Actually Survive the Trail

Seventy percent of mid-trail misery starts at the waistband. That's my number after too many miles spent yanking shorts that won't stay put, fishing gear out of pockets too shallow to hold it, and sweating through fabric that traps heat like a trash bag. Per CNN Underscored, their team put years of trail time and expert interviews into a 2026 hiking shorts guide — and the takeaways matter for anyone who actually moves in the mountains, not just poses in them.

What the field testing surfaced

CNN Underscored partnered with hikers like Cris Hazzard — "The Hiking Guy," 25-plus years on the trail — and outdoors editor Kai Burkhardt to grind through options. The consistent winners shared a few traits: stretch fabric that survives granite scrapes and bushwhacking, quick-dry nylon, and pocket layouts that handle real loads without dumping your phone into a scree field.

Kühl's Renegade landed at the top. Eight pockets, UPF 50+, stretch fabric — both the tester and Hazzard logged serious mileage without tears. REI Co-op's Trailmade Shorts took the budget slot: lightweight, sun-protective nylon, quick-drying, still holding up after a year.

Where trail runners diverge from hikers

Most hiking shorts are built for casual day miles. Sustained output is different. Pockets either work or they punish you — a heavy phone dragging on one hip throws off your kinetic chain, forces compensatory gait shifts, and your knees absorb the cost on the descent. Patagonia's Baggies, a thru-hiker favorite, got flagged for deep pockets that got awkward when loaded with a smartphone or heavier cargo. Royal Robbins' All In Shorts counterpunched that with a dedicated zippered thigh pocket for keys or balm — small enough not to wreck your center of gravity. Patagonia's Quandary bring five pockets and an internal drawstring but skip the UPF 50+, a real problem on exposed ridge runs where you're grinding sun for hours.

Pairing with footwear that can actually run

RunRepeat's separate 2026 testing on hybrid hiking-running shoes reinforces the same dual-purpose discipline. Their top pick, the Saucony Xodus Ultra 4, logged a 0.72 friction score in wet conditions — about 20% above average — through Vibram Megagrip and 3.5 mm lugs. Heavy at 11.0 oz (312g), but planted. For shock absorption, the Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL scored 146 SA in the heel with 73.6% energy return, lighter at 9.7 oz (275g), though their testers flagged heat buildup as a summer problem.

Gear doesn't carry you. But bad gear bleeds you out one mile at a time. Match the shorts to your output, test them loaded, and stop trusting spec sheets over your own legs on a real climb.