Bottom Line
We love the prAna Brion II shorts for their town-to-trail style. When it comes to a pair that transitions easily from day hikes and rock climbing to a brewery with friends, this is the one you want.
With a simple pocket setup and a flattering fit, the Brions are a durable, minimalist pair. They lack water resistance and have a limited feature set so they aren’t ideal for long backpacking trips. However, we highly recommend them for day hikes and front-country camping. The Brions have a good amount of stretch to balance out their slim fit, and they’re ready for any adventure if you are looking for a more stylish pair of hiking shorts.
Quick Specs
Men’s prAna Brion II
Best Town-to-Trail Hiking Shorts
CleverHiker Rating: 70/100
Price: $75
Weight: 8.6 oz.
Inseam: 9 in. / 11 in.
Pros
- Stylish
- Stretchy
- Durable material
- Versatile for town to trail
- Sturdy construction
Cons
- Expensive
- Not as good for long backpacking trips (not as many pockets, fit is a bit tighter)
- No built-in belt
- Longer fit isn't for everyone
Comfort
These shorts are quite comfortable both on the trail and off. They are made with prAna’s ReZion material, which is 95% recycled nylon and 5% elastane. That’s to say these shorts have plenty of stretch and move with you on the trail.
They breathe easily and wick away sweat. They don’t limit movement at all and are quite stretchy. The knee length inseam on these at 9” or 11” is the only aspect some hikers may not like. While we found them plenty comfortable, they do cover the knees a bit so can rub on high steps and climbs up steep inclines.
Durability
The PrAna Brion II is quite durable. We tested them hiking off-trail through rough waist-high brush and didn’t get any snags on our adventures. At the same time, the strong fabric and longer design protected our legs and thighs from getting scratched up.
The recycled nylon fabric is abrasion-resistant and stands up when brushing up against rocks, branches, or trees. This is one of the more durable hiking shorts that we have tested. While PrAna recommends hand washing these, we have always managed to machine wash them and air dry them and find that there is no pilling or signs of wear.
Features
The Brion II doesn’t have a ton of features. There is no built-in belt here and there are only five pockets. The shorts are relatively straightforward and what you see is what you get with them. They are Bluesign-approved and use recycled and repurposed materials.
One feature is the longer style of these shorts, which may be positive or negative depending on the type of hiker you are. Testing these in Colorado, we enjoyed having more coverage when hiking in the mountains as opposed to less, so the length is a good feature here.
Dry Time
These shorts may not dry as quickly as some others (and they aren’t designed to be water-resistant) but they still a vast improvement over cotton. Dousing them with a hose, they absorbed water immediately. In addition, due to their length and thickness, there is more material to dry than the thin athletic shorts that you might take on long hikes. However, for day hiking and dry environments, the Brion IIs are great. However, if you are in a shaded slot canyon going in and out of pools of water, these may not be the best selection for you.
Weight & Packability
The Brion II shorts are not ultralight, but at 8.6 ounces they are still light enough to take on longer hikes and backpacking trips. In testing these throughout Colorado, there was never a point where the weight of these hiking shorts was a problem. In fact, the material was ideal for hiking and transferred well to off-trail activities as well.
The thicker material does not pack down as small as other shorts on the list. However, we were able to roll them into a large burrito-size ball and tuck them easily into a pack.
Should You Buy the prAna Brion II?
These hiking shorts are designed for anyone who is looking for good all-around hiking shorts. They are neither the lightest nor the heaviest, and they are a bit longer than most other hiking shorts, but for day hikes to trips around town, the Brion IIs will perform great.
They are also a good all-around value. They are durable for the price, will work great for years and are quite versatile in a variety of hiking or lounging-around scenarios.
What Other Hiking Shorts Should You Consider?
If you’re still searching for the perfect pair of hiking shorts, you might also want to look at:
PrAna Stretch Zion II Shorts Review: Like the Brion II, the Zion II Shorts are made from similar durable, yet breathable materials. The Zions have more pockets and a built-in belt, but aside from that these two PrAna hiking shorts are both solid options.
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Review: The OR Ferrosi is a similarly lightweight and stretchy hiking short option. The material is a little thinner and not as long as the Brion shorts, however, they both work great for the trail and in town.
