Bottom Line
The Patagonia Multi Trails are a top contender if you want a pair of the best athletic shorts for hiking. We love them for their flattering fit and hand pocket zippers, which we always appreciate on a pair of athletic wear. They have the advantage of being less billowy but still plenty breathable and airy on hot summer days.
The lightweight material of the Multi Trails is pretty thin, so they’re not as durable as other options making them better for fast hikes on trail rather than bushwhacking or butt-scooting on granite. However, we think the tradeoff in durability is worth it for the soft, comfy fabric and outstanding fit.
Quick Specs
Men’s Patagonia Multi Trails
Athletic Hiking Shorts with Secure Hand Pockets
CleverHiker Rating: 73.5/100
Price: $79
Weight: 6.4 oz.
Inseam: 8 in.
Pros
- Stretchy
- Dries quickly
- Breathable
- Zippered hand pockets
- Lightweight
- Built-in liner
Cons
- Not as durable as some
- Very thin
Comfort
These shorts are great in terms of comfort and feel. They come with a built-in liner and are the right choice for longer thru-hikes (though they don’t carry over quite as well into town). They are breathable, and the stretchy fabric moves with you. The material is soft and loose, but the shorts have a slimmer fit so they may not work as well for larger frames.
They come in an 8” inseam and the 10% woven spandex with four-way stretch allows for more range of motion and comfort. Testing this pair in Colorado, we found they allowed for ease of movement and a comfortable fit while hiking. However, while climbing and scrambling over rocks, the shorts, secured by a drawstring, would pull down and move a bit more than we would have liked. This also is the case if running in these, they don’t have support for dynamic movements. The internal liner was comfortable and did not bunch up while hiking.
Durability
The Multi-Trails’s biggest drawback is their thin material and lessened durability. We found in testing this recycled material product that it doesn’t hold up as well over time. These will work for a season or two, but washing them several times and bushwhacking through some tough terrain will wear on these shorts.
In testing these in some overgrown off-trail hiking and scrambling, branches pulled at the loose material and loosened some of the threads. However, for low-impact day hikes on clear trails, these will hold up just fine.
Features
The Multi Trails have a nice, stretchy waistband with a drawstring so you can cinch up the shorts as needed. The built-in boxer brief liner is the biggest feature that these shorts have. If you are a fan of built-in liners, then these athletic shorts are a good option.
These also have three pockets built into them. There are two zippered front pockets along with a snap pocket in the back that can double as easy storage for the shorts. The zippers on the pockets are a nice feature that keeps keys and a wallet secure while also making the shorts more streamlined. Aside from that these shorts are fairly limited in terms of features.
Dry Time
One of the big benefits of these shorts is that they dry in a matter of minutes, not hours. The body is made from quick-drying fabric and is intended to shed light moisture. The Multi Trails are treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish that’s made without perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs/PFAS)
For day hikes and longer backpacking trips, these shorts will work great in terms of staying dry and drying quickly.
Weight & Packability
Clocking in at a lightweight 6.4 ounces, these are some of the lightest hiking shorts on the market. The material is 90% recycled polyester and 10% spandex. They ball up into about the size of a burrito making them compact and easy to stuff away in a backpack too.
We found them to be light enough that we didn’t notice them while hiking or packing them into a pack. Even with three pockets and a liner, these are still some of the lighter shorts on our list.
Should You Buy the patagonia Multi Trails?
These hiking shorts are designed for high-intensity day hikes and longer backpacking trips. They are not the most durable shorts out there and lack the pockets of other models.
However, they are a great value if you are a hiker looking for a lightweight pair with a built-in liner.
What Other Hiking Shorts Should You Consider?
If you’re considering the Patagonia Multi Trail Men’s Hiking Shorts, you might also want to look at some others in our guide to the best men’s hiking shorts:
Nike Dri-Fit Challenger Review: Like the Patagonia Multi Trial, the Nike Dri-Fit Shorts have a built-in liner and three pockets with a back button pocket for packing up the lightweight shorts. These are very similar in that they are comfortable, lightweight, and breathable hiking shorts that dry quickly.
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Review: The OR Ferrosi offers similarly lightweight and stretchy comfort. The material is a bit more durable, and they do not have a liner, but in terms of features and overall looks, they provide a comparable hiking short option.
