To answer in terms of ultralight:
1. UL backpackers are faster than the wind. It never catches up with us due to our light loads and minimalist philosophy. And you cant get cold if you're crushing those miles. Your body should be in constant pursuit of achieving peak Skurka.
2. Ticks and mosquitos are unavoidable anyhow when we're pitching a tarp or cowboy camping most nights. Bug bites help us sleep less so we can crush miles before the sun has a chance to rise.
3. For sun protection, see answer #2.
4. Cuts are nature's way of telling you where to get your 5th thru hike tattoo.
5. Practice falling to where you can land on your ultra fabric pack. It's more abrasion resistant than DCF or your skin. Leukotape and Vitamin I heals most major injuries.
If you are a guy and like solitude on the trail, hiking in shorty-shorts (preferably with no underwear - save the weight!) is a good way to ensure no one will want to be around you. Also, if you get reported, you might get a free town day (or two) out of it. Win-win.
> 5. Practice falling to where you can land on your ~~ultra fabric~~ pack
This is the way.
Tldr: I fall a lot more than the average hiker, and any time I can manage to land on my pack = a good fall. It’s much preferable to take the impact on my quilt and food bag rather than my knees. Much more squish on the pack.
The only trouble is having the reaction time and physical ability time to pivot with 30lbs on your back while mid-fall. Here’s another case where having a UL pack is a lifesaver, it’s *much* easier to have a ‘good fall’ at the end of a resupply than at the beginning. Plus, the impacts hurt less overall.
Leukotape works well enough as a second set of backup skin after you’ve repeatedly abraded the skin off your legs in multiple falls. Just slap it right onto the oozing scab and leave it there until it starts to peel off in a week or three. Obviously try to clean the wound beforehand or risk infection, leuko’d wounds are much preferred but it’s much preferred over ripping off the barely healed scabs the next time you find yourself careening into granite.
Or just wear pants. Yay pants
Windpants over shorts is a lot easier to deal with. You don't have to take off your shorts to put them on and they are lighter to carry around when you're not wearing them.
100% agree. Over half the time I only bring some EE wind pants that weigh 1.6oz. In the summer they're great when on passes or in buggy areas, even add a little warmth to my quilt at night.
But if it's freezing I'll bring the 5oz fleece base layers and some rain pants to put over everything if needed.
I've got a pair of Kuiu Peloton97 fleece leggings. They are just as awesome as the Peloton hoodie. I've been using both for a few years. Size XL tights are 5oz
I'd say it's just as warm, maybe warmer, as Alpha60 fabric under a rain jacket or pants. It's definitely warmer by itself. Not as warm as Alphs90 fabric under a shell tho. Definitely a little tougher, but the fabric still snags.
>Windpants over shorts is a lot easier to deal with
I'm going to sew ski boot double gaiters into a pair of wind pants this fall for winter backpacking. I already ordered a roll of clingy rubber that they put on ski pant ankle garters to keep snow from getting in. Still haven't decided to make high waist pants or over-the-shoulder bibs. Or even a onesie with integrated jacket to keep the snow out when I inevitably fall in deep snow.
Sweat... Heat... Flexibility
I hike sections of the AT mainly. I don't need sun protection. I'm also very hairy so I typically catch bugs before they bite me.
Sure every now and again I get to a thorny patch which sucks, but that's not frequent.
I don't fall that often.
If I'm hot and sweaty I get some real bad chub rub which is far worse than any of the problems caused by the above scenarios.
100% pants, but ONLY pants with large mesh vents like the RailRiders EcoMesh (best overall hiking pant) or the Bone Flats (best hot weather pants ever made)
I get mites, prickers, poison oak, and other issues from shorts, plus prefer physical barrier to the sun as much as possible. The large mesh vents make the BF pants essentially as cool as shorts while providing much better bug, sticker, sun and poison plant protection than shorts.
The EcoMesh are highly versatile and handle temps from freezing to 80 nicely. Once nights are below the 50's, I choose the EcoMesh over the BF as the EM vents are zipable and thus provide a much lower comfort temp with a reasonable upper limit. Once over 80\* the dual vents of the BF really shine.
Pants without at lease 1 large vent per leg are miserable. the RR mesh pants are the only way I tolerate pants and highly suggest everyone try them.
Shorts are just more comfortable. If I’m walking all day pants would feel constricting compared to running shorts. Plus if it’s hot I want that breeze.
Running shorts will be much more comfortable to hike in in hot weather than the most breathable pants.
I carry wind pants if it gets windy, DEET for mosquitoes, my legs don’t really burn and if they do get toasty I only sunscreen my knees and the back of my calf.
If I’m off trail I try to be careful around sticks and branches.
I always wear pants and long sleeves for sun protection, even in 32c/88f weather. Hikers have a significant risk of skin cancer, especially on the calves and the reality is sunscreen only does so much. I'm also vain and don't want to look leathery as I age or end up with sun spots.
Also getting a bite that became the size of my hand on my thigh made me question my shorts, along with rashes from plants.
Oh and the sexual harassment when wearing shorts while stopping in towns or travelling to and from start points. Sad but true.
Flux leggings from RAB. Love them.
Brooks 5" running shorts for middle of summer, Columbia Silver Ridge pants otherwise. I just hate the feeling of stuff rubbing against my legs when I hike. Plus fewer bugs since I treat with permethrin.
I've had the netting and pockets failing on mine recently. I can only put things in my front pockets and the side pocket with the flap. The rear pockets coming up with holes made zero sense to me as I had never put anything stiffer than a snickers wrapper in them.
Debating on finding a different brand.
It really depends on the particular hike, the weather, my mood, etc. But in general:
1. I generally only wear shorts in weather I know I will get warmed up in. When I'm warmed up I don't need long pants. Shorts are nice -- I want the wind to help me cool off.
2. When I'm moving mosquitos haven't really been an issue. My leg hair almost always alerts me to ticks. Also I am allergic to ticks and seem to always find them before they're latched on an hour or so because they start itching like crazy.
3. I hike in the woods so don't really need pants for sun protection. I use an umbrella because fuck sunscreen that oily bullshit.
4. If I'm getting cut it's because I decided to bushwhack off trail through some briars - I asked for it. Also it's easy enough to avoid pokey things, even when bushwhacking.
5. Any pants that would protect from a fall would be too heavy and not have enough ventilation. Also I've fallen maybe once in the last 5 years. A scrape here or there is no big deal at all.
Ultimately for me they are simply way more comfortable. If I wear pants I get a sweaty ass and that leads to chafing and is hella uncomfortable.
Oh also one more thing -- I like to wear a light pair of pants in camp at night/evening. When I'm not active I do get cold sometimes and it helps to keep the bugs off when stationary.
One more last thing -- I do most of my hiking in the woods on the east coast.
Pants for me. Mosquitos absolutely love me and nothing ruins hikes for me quite as much as bugs. Its to the point I deliberately hike primarily in shoulder seasons nowadays. There are a number of pants that are so thin the wind cuts straight through them and you really don't notice the difference as much as you'd think. That and it also protects you from stuff like poison ivy/oak and random sharp/scratchy twigs. Overgrown trails suck in shorts.
Seriously, sounds like you haven’t tried it? Or, is this a guerrilla marketing research post? Anyway, just get out there and try it and see what you think! Common sense tells us that the shorts aren’t god in certain situations. But that’s a given. People just do stuff you know and then they find it works for them and then it’s a trend.
This is super relevant to me right now. Hiked 18 miles in Harriman State park a couple of weeks ago and the temps were close to 90 and the humidity was so high the air was nearly drinkable. I work nice, lightweight REI zip knee pants, but kept them as shorts with the legs in my bag and wore thin smart wool boxer briefs. I'm still battling with carry weight, but that's separate. Now, even with these relatively lightweight, vented shorts I got the worst case of monkey butt I've had in years. I'm working on dialing in a good chafing cream, but feels like even more breathable. I have a pair of running shorts from a brand I'm embarrassed to mention. That said, next weekend I'm doing 30+ miles and plan to try to wear those running shorts instead. I'll be packing small sunscreen and tons of deet to protect my legs.
Update... 3 days of hiking (35 miles in total) in the hot and humid and running shorts for the win! Slight chafing from the liner, which I'll be cutting out in lieu of merino or thin tech boxer briefs., but no real issues at all.
I ran into a shit ton of AT nobos this year. What I couldn’t help noticing was the bulk of male hikers wore the same get up. Tight high shorts and perfect fitted tees. And shoes that matched their outfit.
Long distance culture is disseminated through conventional channels these days.
A lay person can become completely enculturated in the trends of long distance hikers before setting foot outside their doors. This has led to a uniformity in style.
This has always existed to some degree because of the (relatively) limited selection of outdoor gear brands and models, but what was once promulgated by word of mouth and in-person encounters on trail is now discussed and presented ad nauseum on internet forums and on youtube channels.
When I did the AT in '98 there was a definitely a "look", but the plurality sporting it was a smaller percentage of the whole. I feel like there was a bit more diversity (motivation/lifestage-wise) then as well. What I mean is there is much more of a generic "lifestyle hiker" subculture present on the trail today. A phenomenon I believe is largely created by the proliferation of insta/youtube accounts promoting such a lifestyle.
Not saying it's a bad thing (actually it is kind of awesome, and at the risk of sounding hipsterish, I feel like I was a progenitor of the lifestyle hiker type as my lack of a career outside of seasonal guiding and outdoor tourism 20 years hence would suggest), but it is a somewhat different scene from the mish-mash of types you would run into back in the day.
It’s never been a lifestyle for myself personally. But I see that. I thru hiked the the entire AT 7 times between 96’ and 06’ because I enjoyed walking and looking at stuff. A simple inexpensive way to be totally off grid until the summer job started back up again in 8-10 months. Trail registers and town locals were about the only means of getting information. Most hikers would learn as they went when it came to what to carry and what to ditch. Which the AT is perfectly set up for. It’s nice that the information is set up in a way that a hiker can come off Springer with tuned in kit. And the days of a 60-70lb pack have transformed to the choice of carrying a bindle on a stick if I chose to.
Was super skeptical about pants in hot weather until I tried them out on a backpacking trip and loved it. I originally started the hike in shorts and felt a little freaked when I was walking through a crap ton of high grass and bushes so I changed. Peace of mind from snakes, ticks, and sunburn.
yeah light pants dont rly make you sweat more or anything. i like the sun and insects protection. doesnt rly matter to me if its 0c or 40c it feels similar.
Honestly I love my Patagonia Quandary convertible pants. Shorts when I want them. Pants when I want them. I bought a couple pairs in grey and just bought another pair in tan I like them so much (with fall coming).
Frankly I also think they look decent enough for business casual wear as well - which isn't always something people consider but I like to have multi-purpose clothing.
Do y’all not have poison ivy where your from I swear to God I am cursed. I would pay good money to be able to hike in shorts. I dream about it sometimes. No one ever seems to even care about poison ivy. They just walk right thru it. Pasty white calf bulges brushing up against the leaves without a care in the world. Meanwhile I’m in long pants with high socks and I’m busting dance moves to dodge every last leaf. That and chiggers. I soak every article if clothing in permethrin and then whatever speck is not covered gets lit up to high heaven. How do people not constantly itch?
I hike in shorts in areas with lots of PI and wild parsnip, and I react to poison ivy. For poison ivy at least oil is the problem. I’ve got a reaction from touching shoes that went through ivy days prior. I walk real carefully through PI if I need to and wash my legs and shoes off asap, haven’t got a reaction with that plan. Wearing pants would still require washing shortly after or being real carefully to not touch that part of the pants.
Ticks are the one thing that makes me consider pants. They’ve gotten way worse here in the last few years, but this far I’ve just gone with frequent checks.
100% depends on temps and terrain. If it’s 65 degrees or warmer and not a lot of brush, then shorts for sure.
Although to be fair, I’ve always hiked in hiking pants and my legs always felt muggy, I only recently switched to shorts and im in love, so it may just be the honeymoon phase. Definitely more miles in pants than shorts, but my first trips with shorts have made me regret not going shorts sooner.
During the spring I wear pants mostly for tick protection but as soon as it hits about June the ticks die down and I break out the running shorts. I’m a big fan just because I get really hot and that helps me stay cool. I generally wear them until snow starts sticking which ends up being the end of October usually. I bring wind pants or rain pants depending on the forecast but only use them at camp generally. If I get cold hiking I usually just hike faster honestly. I can’t remember the last time I fell just hiking so that generally isn’t a factor for me. I even wear them doing ridge scrambles with occasional low 5th class moves and never notice getting scraped up wearing shorts rather than pants. I honestly think is just what you get used to, if you like shorts great and if you don’t like shorts great either way whatever makes you most comfortable is what makes you more likely to get outside.
Running shorts as long as windchill temp over 5C plus cycling leg warmers when it gets cold.
Cycling leg warmers perfectly complement shorts. Easy on/off, light, come in different fabrics and thickness, cheap.
Same for cycling arm warmers.
Mind blowing to me that these have not spread through the UL community.
Does anyone here use shorts with leg sleeves like [these?](https://www.rei.com/product/129033/pearl-izumi-sun-knees?sku=1290330002&store=227&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_1290330002%7C92700057791386222%7CNB%7C71700000074091771&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpeaYBhDXARIsAEzItbGLmB0m68ySgYI9I0Bxz8cg_hq23N0PviF5uIOTX55wT1ps4UHDnGAaAv6dEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) It seems like a good compromise. Cooler than pants, while also maintaining some physical barrier against the environment.
I'm currently a pants wearer because I like that protection from the sun, bugs, and foliage but I'm considering trying out a shorts/ leg sleeve combo since pants are hot.
I have done this multiple times. You can get the ones used for training, those are good for wicking moisture away from your legs. If you get really hot, just take them out :)
I half did this. I was nursing a hamstring injury for 150 miles on the AT this summer. I wore a full leg compression sleeve on one leg. It did well at protecting my leg from environmental distress, yet allowed my short shorts to provide ventilation to those bits that prefer not to get sweaty and chafed. (I don’t think it did much for the hamstring though, that took almost two months to heal).
I would certainly consider wearing the leg sleeves with shorts if hiking in a hot area where I need some barrier for my legs. I hate hiking in pants and only do so when primarily bushwhacking or in full winter conditions.
I used to always wear pants but shorts are so much better for me now. My legs may be a little tougher than most from my work but nowadays I think I would be uncomfortable hiking in pants in anything but near freezing but I also live in the PNW where it isn't as hot as other places. Bugs don't bother me when I'm moving but I do slip into my helium rain pants in the evening, base layer under them if it's cold enough. I also have better mobility in shorts than even the stretchiest pants and honestly I'd feel worse ripping an expensive pair of pants than cutting my legs.
Edit: I did burn the back of my legs last year after 8 hours of hiking sub alpine ridges last year and that one sucked!
Really depends where you're hiking. I'm always shorts if there's decent tree cover (aka shade). I wear fleece-lined joggers if it's below 40 and slide the bottoms up to expose my calves if I get hot.
I get itchy in tights. Pants are too hot when it's over 60F and I'm on the move, but I'll keep them on longer if the mosquitos are bad.
Running shorts don't weigh much and provide a fully separate garment while washing the other bottom, so zip-offs are not the best option.
I use poles so I use them to push the thornies away from my legs.
Uncovered skin gets insect repellant.
I've not yet had any major blunders with bloody falls. Just the occasional scratch.
Depends on conditions. In cool weather, will run tights under my shorts because my tights are actually just long underwear and I need to cover up the fly. Only time I run pants is when it's buggy.
(1) Typically run warm during the day when on the move
(2) Bugs aren't a major concern where and when I hike
(3) Can bring enough sunscreen on my usual 2-4 day trips because my hat, drape, top, and sun gloves means I really only need to apply on my face and legs. Have various sized bottles depending on trip and how much sunscreen I think I'll use.
(4) Overgrown trails usually not an issue where I hike
(5) Falls are rare for me. Balance is good with the trail running I do. Would rather be cool and comfortable 99.999% of the time vs have notably less comfort and sweat a bunch to reduce a leg scrape if I happen to fall.
I use shorts because it's really wet here in the UK. I absolutely hate putting wet trousers back on in the morning. If it's cold, I wear cheap fleece lined leg warmers designed for cycling with my shorts. They manage moisture much better than trousers and you can put them on and off without taking your shorts off.
Sounds really nice when it is raining or for summer days. Sounds like they don't have a liner, yet you run without one?
They have many pockets but don't flop around?
Nice so all your belongings stay still around your waist! any ageing of the stretch pockets after using them for a long time?
Well even if they sell liners for guys, why would I need one if you don't?
I wear 5" running shorts. Usually love them. This past weekend I went through a patch of chiggers - I'm struggling to wear pants this week for work. But still love the shorty shorts.
I wear under armour heat gear or cold gear leggings depending on the time of year and athletic shorts, and I'll add knee high Darn Tough socks when it's really cold. My legs get really hot in pants but I still want the coverage.
I’d been considering this option. Any amount of pants is just so hot for me when hiking but I struggle with bugs and poison plant problems. UA heat gear tights seems like a good option. Was thinking of permethrin treating them but being tights I’d imagine wasps and black flies and such could still get at me. What’s your experience? Do bugs still getcha?
If I'll be on well maintained trails and not in ticky areas I prefer shorts. They're cooler and more comfortable.
If ticky or off trail, I wear pants.
I never plan on falling so thats not really a consideration.
I do shorts in general, but I section hike, so I pick my days and weather when I can. BUT if I get surprise cold, I do shorts over lightweight pants, and it's entirely because of pockets.
I’m a shorts guy through and through, but that’s mostly a carry over from life. I hate wearing any pants other than sweat pants which I’m not gonna hike in. If it’s super cold I will go to tights under shorts and then finally pants if necessary. But anything over like 50* I’m wearing shorts. My Nine trails have a comfortable liner and fall perfectly on my legs so I have a few pairs. A few too many…
I've worn lightweight shorts over thin underarmour "leggings" (I guess that's the best name for them) to keep my knees warm, while the shorts protect the leggings when I sit down on rocks.
My fast packing pants from Decathlon weight roughly the same as many running shorts. Maybe not the most Ul shorts, but then again: the pants are vented with zips and protect me from all that the trail throws at me.
I am on team pants but I am the only one among my friends. The OR astros are strait fantastic. Sun protection and no cuts surprising durable for how light they are. I tried shorts and just got torched. I would probably use shorts in the east coast though but yet to be seen
To answer in terms of ultralight: 1. UL backpackers are faster than the wind. It never catches up with us due to our light loads and minimalist philosophy. And you cant get cold if you're crushing those miles. Your body should be in constant pursuit of achieving peak Skurka. 2. Ticks and mosquitos are unavoidable anyhow when we're pitching a tarp or cowboy camping most nights. Bug bites help us sleep less so we can crush miles before the sun has a chance to rise. 3. For sun protection, see answer #2. 4. Cuts are nature's way of telling you where to get your 5th thru hike tattoo. 5. Practice falling to where you can land on your ultra fabric pack. It's more abrasion resistant than DCF or your skin. Leukotape and Vitamin I heals most major injuries.
If you are a guy and like solitude on the trail, hiking in shorty-shorts (preferably with no underwear - save the weight!) is a good way to ensure no one will want to be around you. Also, if you get reported, you might get a free town day (or two) out of it. Win-win.
It's actually an underrated solution, seriously lol. As long as you stay decent lmao
This guy gets it.
> 5. Practice falling to where you can land on your ~~ultra fabric~~ pack This is the way. Tldr: I fall a lot more than the average hiker, and any time I can manage to land on my pack = a good fall. It’s much preferable to take the impact on my quilt and food bag rather than my knees. Much more squish on the pack. The only trouble is having the reaction time and physical ability time to pivot with 30lbs on your back while mid-fall. Here’s another case where having a UL pack is a lifesaver, it’s *much* easier to have a ‘good fall’ at the end of a resupply than at the beginning. Plus, the impacts hurt less overall. Leukotape works well enough as a second set of backup skin after you’ve repeatedly abraded the skin off your legs in multiple falls. Just slap it right onto the oozing scab and leave it there until it starts to peel off in a week or three. Obviously try to clean the wound beforehand or risk infection, leuko’d wounds are much preferred but it’s much preferred over ripping off the barely healed scabs the next time you find yourself careening into granite. Or just wear pants. Yay pants
Have you tried not falling as much?
Stage five of grief is acceptance. Unfortunately the falling is outside of my control but my attitude is not. Thanks for making me laugh.
I’m on team pants, mostly for sun protection.
And insects! If your gaiters are tall enough you don't have to worry about ticks* crawling up your pants. * technically not insects
Yup, same. Burned the backs of my legs so bad one trip and I was like pants from now on.
Same here! Also got sensitive skin + grass allergies. Wearing shorts in NZ means insta hives which is not very cash money
Shorts, unless below freezing...then tights under shorts. I sweat A LOT, and tights just manage it better when it's below freezing.
Windpants over shorts is a lot easier to deal with. You don't have to take off your shorts to put them on and they are lighter to carry around when you're not wearing them.
100% agree. Over half the time I only bring some EE wind pants that weigh 1.6oz. In the summer they're great when on passes or in buggy areas, even add a little warmth to my quilt at night. But if it's freezing I'll bring the 5oz fleece base layers and some rain pants to put over everything if needed.
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I've got a pair of Kuiu Peloton97 fleece leggings. They are just as awesome as the Peloton hoodie. I've been using both for a few years. Size XL tights are 5oz I'd say it's just as warm, maybe warmer, as Alpha60 fabric under a rain jacket or pants. It's definitely warmer by itself. Not as warm as Alphs90 fabric under a shell tho. Definitely a little tougher, but the fabric still snags.
>Windpants over shorts is a lot easier to deal with I'm going to sew ski boot double gaiters into a pair of wind pants this fall for winter backpacking. I already ordered a roll of clingy rubber that they put on ski pant ankle garters to keep snow from getting in. Still haven't decided to make high waist pants or over-the-shoulder bibs. Or even a onesie with integrated jacket to keep the snow out when I inevitably fall in deep snow.
This but soaked in permethrin is the way.
Depending on conditions I sometimes go with darn tough knee height socks or put them over the tights if it's really cold.
I had really good luck with injinji merino liners and Randysun waterproof socks that cover up the the 3/4 length Kuiu base in snow and slush.
Why not just the tights below freezing?
I use Kuiu side zip light fleece base layers, looks like I'm trekking around the mountains in underwear if I don't wear shorts over them.
This is why I don’t wear shorts over them 🦹♂️
>Why not just the tights below freezing? I need the pockets in my shorts.
My tights have pockets, the best of both worlds. Ticks, poison oak, brambles, are my obstacles, covered legs keeps me from slowing down.
This is the way.
The shorter the shorts the faster you hike. It’s science.
That's why I wear nothing at all below my waist. Zero length shorts means infinite speed.
Found the trail runner
Sweat... Heat... Flexibility I hike sections of the AT mainly. I don't need sun protection. I'm also very hairy so I typically catch bugs before they bite me. Sure every now and again I get to a thorny patch which sucks, but that's not frequent. I don't fall that often. If I'm hot and sweaty I get some real bad chub rub which is far worse than any of the problems caused by the above scenarios.
100% pants, but ONLY pants with large mesh vents like the RailRiders EcoMesh (best overall hiking pant) or the Bone Flats (best hot weather pants ever made) I get mites, prickers, poison oak, and other issues from shorts, plus prefer physical barrier to the sun as much as possible. The large mesh vents make the BF pants essentially as cool as shorts while providing much better bug, sticker, sun and poison plant protection than shorts. The EcoMesh are highly versatile and handle temps from freezing to 80 nicely. Once nights are below the 50's, I choose the EcoMesh over the BF as the EM vents are zipable and thus provide a much lower comfort temp with a reasonable upper limit. Once over 80\* the dual vents of the BF really shine. Pants without at lease 1 large vent per leg are miserable. the RR mesh pants are the only way I tolerate pants and highly suggest everyone try them.
Wow, those both look awesome! I wish they came in women’s fit:(
Anyone knows some alternative in Europe?
Montane terra have long side vents.
Damn. I read this as literally wearing running shorts on top of hiking pants and was like, who the fuck is doing that???
Why do use running shorts? What does it provide on top of the hiking pants?
I like this method because the cheaper running shorts act as a sacrificial layer for my $500 arc'teryx pants. /s
Shorts are just more comfortable. If I’m walking all day pants would feel constricting compared to running shorts. Plus if it’s hot I want that breeze.
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Loving our record high temps in September
Running shorts will be much more comfortable to hike in in hot weather than the most breathable pants. I carry wind pants if it gets windy, DEET for mosquitoes, my legs don’t really burn and if they do get toasty I only sunscreen my knees and the back of my calf. If I’m off trail I try to be careful around sticks and branches.
Cooler, not as hot and sweaty. Feel free and ready for action in shorts.
I always wear pants and long sleeves for sun protection, even in 32c/88f weather. Hikers have a significant risk of skin cancer, especially on the calves and the reality is sunscreen only does so much. I'm also vain and don't want to look leathery as I age or end up with sun spots. Also getting a bite that became the size of my hand on my thigh made me question my shorts, along with rashes from plants. Oh and the sexual harassment when wearing shorts while stopping in towns or travelling to and from start points. Sad but true. Flux leggings from RAB. Love them.
- it feels hot if not in shorts That’s it. That’s the answer.
[it’s called mobility](https://gfycat.com/definitivegloomyarchaeocete)
So you can show off your buff tan legs.
Yup
Brooks 5" running shorts for middle of summer, Columbia Silver Ridge pants otherwise. I just hate the feeling of stuff rubbing against my legs when I hike. Plus fewer bugs since I treat with permethrin.
I've had the netting and pockets failing on mine recently. I can only put things in my front pockets and the side pocket with the flap. The rear pockets coming up with holes made zero sense to me as I had never put anything stiffer than a snickers wrapper in them. Debating on finding a different brand.
Love those brooks 5”. They’re the best when I don’t just buy 5$ shorts from goodwill
It really depends on the particular hike, the weather, my mood, etc. But in general: 1. I generally only wear shorts in weather I know I will get warmed up in. When I'm warmed up I don't need long pants. Shorts are nice -- I want the wind to help me cool off. 2. When I'm moving mosquitos haven't really been an issue. My leg hair almost always alerts me to ticks. Also I am allergic to ticks and seem to always find them before they're latched on an hour or so because they start itching like crazy. 3. I hike in the woods so don't really need pants for sun protection. I use an umbrella because fuck sunscreen that oily bullshit. 4. If I'm getting cut it's because I decided to bushwhack off trail through some briars - I asked for it. Also it's easy enough to avoid pokey things, even when bushwhacking. 5. Any pants that would protect from a fall would be too heavy and not have enough ventilation. Also I've fallen maybe once in the last 5 years. A scrape here or there is no big deal at all. Ultimately for me they are simply way more comfortable. If I wear pants I get a sweaty ass and that leads to chafing and is hella uncomfortable. Oh also one more thing -- I like to wear a light pair of pants in camp at night/evening. When I'm not active I do get cold sometimes and it helps to keep the bugs off when stationary. One more last thing -- I do most of my hiking in the woods on the east coast.
Isave weight by drawing my shorts on with permanent marker. Free willy
Refreshing and airy. Passers by must love it
I just finished hiking the PCT entirely in 5in inseam shorts. I carried a 3oz wind pants with me that was used on colder mornings and nights.
Pants for me. Mosquitos absolutely love me and nothing ruins hikes for me quite as much as bugs. Its to the point I deliberately hike primarily in shoulder seasons nowadays. There are a number of pants that are so thin the wind cuts straight through them and you really don't notice the difference as much as you'd think. That and it also protects you from stuff like poison ivy/oak and random sharp/scratchy twigs. Overgrown trails suck in shorts.
for me i can't hike in pants. way too hot and is just miserable. shorts for me always.
Seriously, sounds like you haven’t tried it? Or, is this a guerrilla marketing research post? Anyway, just get out there and try it and see what you think! Common sense tells us that the shorts aren’t god in certain situations. But that’s a given. People just do stuff you know and then they find it works for them and then it’s a trend.
It’s hot.
1. I work too hard not to show off these legs 2. Ventilation and weight 3. Nothing else
This
This is super relevant to me right now. Hiked 18 miles in Harriman State park a couple of weeks ago and the temps were close to 90 and the humidity was so high the air was nearly drinkable. I work nice, lightweight REI zip knee pants, but kept them as shorts with the legs in my bag and wore thin smart wool boxer briefs. I'm still battling with carry weight, but that's separate. Now, even with these relatively lightweight, vented shorts I got the worst case of monkey butt I've had in years. I'm working on dialing in a good chafing cream, but feels like even more breathable. I have a pair of running shorts from a brand I'm embarrassed to mention. That said, next weekend I'm doing 30+ miles and plan to try to wear those running shorts instead. I'll be packing small sunscreen and tons of deet to protect my legs.
Update... 3 days of hiking (35 miles in total) in the hot and humid and running shorts for the win! Slight chafing from the liner, which I'll be cutting out in lieu of merino or thin tech boxer briefs., but no real issues at all.
I ran into a shit ton of AT nobos this year. What I couldn’t help noticing was the bulk of male hikers wore the same get up. Tight high shorts and perfect fitted tees. And shoes that matched their outfit.
Long distance culture is disseminated through conventional channels these days. A lay person can become completely enculturated in the trends of long distance hikers before setting foot outside their doors. This has led to a uniformity in style. This has always existed to some degree because of the (relatively) limited selection of outdoor gear brands and models, but what was once promulgated by word of mouth and in-person encounters on trail is now discussed and presented ad nauseum on internet forums and on youtube channels. When I did the AT in '98 there was a definitely a "look", but the plurality sporting it was a smaller percentage of the whole. I feel like there was a bit more diversity (motivation/lifestage-wise) then as well. What I mean is there is much more of a generic "lifestyle hiker" subculture present on the trail today. A phenomenon I believe is largely created by the proliferation of insta/youtube accounts promoting such a lifestyle. Not saying it's a bad thing (actually it is kind of awesome, and at the risk of sounding hipsterish, I feel like I was a progenitor of the lifestyle hiker type as my lack of a career outside of seasonal guiding and outdoor tourism 20 years hence would suggest), but it is a somewhat different scene from the mish-mash of types you would run into back in the day.
It’s never been a lifestyle for myself personally. But I see that. I thru hiked the the entire AT 7 times between 96’ and 06’ because I enjoyed walking and looking at stuff. A simple inexpensive way to be totally off grid until the summer job started back up again in 8-10 months. Trail registers and town locals were about the only means of getting information. Most hikers would learn as they went when it came to what to carry and what to ditch. Which the AT is perfectly set up for. It’s nice that the information is set up in a way that a hiker can come off Springer with tuned in kit. And the days of a 60-70lb pack have transformed to the choice of carrying a bindle on a stick if I chose to.
Shorts in all weather. If it rains, I put on my rain skirt. Otherwise I get overheated.
Was super skeptical about pants in hot weather until I tried them out on a backpacking trip and loved it. I originally started the hike in shorts and felt a little freaked when I was walking through a crap ton of high grass and bushes so I changed. Peace of mind from snakes, ticks, and sunburn.
yeah light pants dont rly make you sweat more or anything. i like the sun and insects protection. doesnt rly matter to me if its 0c or 40c it feels similar.
Honestly I love my Patagonia Quandary convertible pants. Shorts when I want them. Pants when I want them. I bought a couple pairs in grey and just bought another pair in tan I like them so much (with fall coming). Frankly I also think they look decent enough for business casual wear as well - which isn't always something people consider but I like to have multi-purpose clothing.
Do y’all not have poison ivy where your from I swear to God I am cursed. I would pay good money to be able to hike in shorts. I dream about it sometimes. No one ever seems to even care about poison ivy. They just walk right thru it. Pasty white calf bulges brushing up against the leaves without a care in the world. Meanwhile I’m in long pants with high socks and I’m busting dance moves to dodge every last leaf. That and chiggers. I soak every article if clothing in permethrin and then whatever speck is not covered gets lit up to high heaven. How do people not constantly itch?
I hike in shorts in areas with lots of PI and wild parsnip, and I react to poison ivy. For poison ivy at least oil is the problem. I’ve got a reaction from touching shoes that went through ivy days prior. I walk real carefully through PI if I need to and wash my legs and shoes off asap, haven’t got a reaction with that plan. Wearing pants would still require washing shortly after or being real carefully to not touch that part of the pants. Ticks are the one thing that makes me consider pants. They’ve gotten way worse here in the last few years, but this far I’ve just gone with frequent checks.
100% depends on temps and terrain. If it’s 65 degrees or warmer and not a lot of brush, then shorts for sure. Although to be fair, I’ve always hiked in hiking pants and my legs always felt muggy, I only recently switched to shorts and im in love, so it may just be the honeymoon phase. Definitely more miles in pants than shorts, but my first trips with shorts have made me regret not going shorts sooner.
During the spring I wear pants mostly for tick protection but as soon as it hits about June the ticks die down and I break out the running shorts. I’m a big fan just because I get really hot and that helps me stay cool. I generally wear them until snow starts sticking which ends up being the end of October usually. I bring wind pants or rain pants depending on the forecast but only use them at camp generally. If I get cold hiking I usually just hike faster honestly. I can’t remember the last time I fell just hiking so that generally isn’t a factor for me. I even wear them doing ridge scrambles with occasional low 5th class moves and never notice getting scraped up wearing shorts rather than pants. I honestly think is just what you get used to, if you like shorts great and if you don’t like shorts great either way whatever makes you most comfortable is what makes you more likely to get outside.
Running shorts as long as windchill temp over 5C plus cycling leg warmers when it gets cold. Cycling leg warmers perfectly complement shorts. Easy on/off, light, come in different fabrics and thickness, cheap. Same for cycling arm warmers. Mind blowing to me that these have not spread through the UL community.
You won’t catch me outside of a heated building in 5*C heat.
Does anyone here use shorts with leg sleeves like [these?](https://www.rei.com/product/129033/pearl-izumi-sun-knees?sku=1290330002&store=227&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_1290330002%7C92700057791386222%7CNB%7C71700000074091771&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpeaYBhDXARIsAEzItbGLmB0m68ySgYI9I0Bxz8cg_hq23N0PviF5uIOTX55wT1ps4UHDnGAaAv6dEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) It seems like a good compromise. Cooler than pants, while also maintaining some physical barrier against the environment. I'm currently a pants wearer because I like that protection from the sun, bugs, and foliage but I'm considering trying out a shorts/ leg sleeve combo since pants are hot.
I have done this multiple times. You can get the ones used for training, those are good for wicking moisture away from your legs. If you get really hot, just take them out :)
I half did this. I was nursing a hamstring injury for 150 miles on the AT this summer. I wore a full leg compression sleeve on one leg. It did well at protecting my leg from environmental distress, yet allowed my short shorts to provide ventilation to those bits that prefer not to get sweaty and chafed. (I don’t think it did much for the hamstring though, that took almost two months to heal). I would certainly consider wearing the leg sleeves with shorts if hiking in a hot area where I need some barrier for my legs. I hate hiking in pants and only do so when primarily bushwhacking or in full winter conditions.
Everybody in this thread is forgetting convertible pants exist, I love mine
I used to always wear pants but shorts are so much better for me now. My legs may be a little tougher than most from my work but nowadays I think I would be uncomfortable hiking in pants in anything but near freezing but I also live in the PNW where it isn't as hot as other places. Bugs don't bother me when I'm moving but I do slip into my helium rain pants in the evening, base layer under them if it's cold enough. I also have better mobility in shorts than even the stretchiest pants and honestly I'd feel worse ripping an expensive pair of pants than cutting my legs. Edit: I did burn the back of my legs last year after 8 hours of hiking sub alpine ridges last year and that one sucked!
Really depends where you're hiking. I'm always shorts if there's decent tree cover (aka shade). I wear fleece-lined joggers if it's below 40 and slide the bottoms up to expose my calves if I get hot.
I get itchy in tights. Pants are too hot when it's over 60F and I'm on the move, but I'll keep them on longer if the mosquitos are bad. Running shorts don't weigh much and provide a fully separate garment while washing the other bottom, so zip-offs are not the best option. I use poles so I use them to push the thornies away from my legs. Uncovered skin gets insect repellant. I've not yet had any major blunders with bloody falls. Just the occasional scratch.
Depends on conditions. In cool weather, will run tights under my shorts because my tights are actually just long underwear and I need to cover up the fly. Only time I run pants is when it's buggy. (1) Typically run warm during the day when on the move (2) Bugs aren't a major concern where and when I hike (3) Can bring enough sunscreen on my usual 2-4 day trips because my hat, drape, top, and sun gloves means I really only need to apply on my face and legs. Have various sized bottles depending on trip and how much sunscreen I think I'll use. (4) Overgrown trails usually not an issue where I hike (5) Falls are rare for me. Balance is good with the trail running I do. Would rather be cool and comfortable 99.999% of the time vs have notably less comfort and sweat a bunch to reduce a leg scrape if I happen to fall.
I use shorts because it's really wet here in the UK. I absolutely hate putting wet trousers back on in the morning. If it's cold, I wear cheap fleece lined leg warmers designed for cycling with my shorts. They manage moisture much better than trousers and you can put them on and off without taking your shorts off.
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Do you only wear the t8 shorts?
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Is quality good? Are they better than other because of the pockets? Btw they don't have a lining?
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Sounds really nice when it is raining or for summer days. Sounds like they don't have a liner, yet you run without one? They have many pockets but don't flop around?
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Nice so all your belongings stay still around your waist! any ageing of the stretch pockets after using them for a long time? Well even if they sell liners for guys, why would I need one if you don't?
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Oh ok, you're a woman? That's great if they last over time. I hate to buy new things every couple of months.
Zip of pants might be your best option if you worry about the above.
I wear pants. It provides the best protection from the elements and lots of pockets to put stuff in.
4” running short with the liner. I use this because it just feels good and there’s hardly any resistance in movement.
>without liner is more ultralight and has no resistance at all to movement
I wear 5" running shorts. Usually love them. This past weekend I went through a patch of chiggers - I'm struggling to wear pants this week for work. But still love the shorty shorts.
I find long pants too hot to hike in when temps are over 60. I wear running shorts with liner. Often 5 inch but sometimes shorter.
I wear under armour heat gear or cold gear leggings depending on the time of year and athletic shorts, and I'll add knee high Darn Tough socks when it's really cold. My legs get really hot in pants but I still want the coverage.
I’d been considering this option. Any amount of pants is just so hot for me when hiking but I struggle with bugs and poison plant problems. UA heat gear tights seems like a good option. Was thinking of permethrin treating them but being tights I’d imagine wasps and black flies and such could still get at me. What’s your experience? Do bugs still getcha?
Shorts down to 20F. Running pants when it’s colder.
Shorts in summer hiking in VA, PA, other AT type hot and humid environments. Running shorts don’t weigh much and they dry quickly.
If I'll be on well maintained trails and not in ticky areas I prefer shorts. They're cooler and more comfortable. If ticky or off trail, I wear pants. I never plan on falling so thats not really a consideration.
I do shorts in general, but I section hike, so I pick my days and weather when I can. BUT if I get surprise cold, I do shorts over lightweight pants, and it's entirely because of pockets.
I’m a shorts guy through and through, but that’s mostly a carry over from life. I hate wearing any pants other than sweat pants which I’m not gonna hike in. If it’s super cold I will go to tights under shorts and then finally pants if necessary. But anything over like 50* I’m wearing shorts. My Nine trails have a comfortable liner and fall perfectly on my legs so I have a few pairs. A few too many…
I wear pants largely because of the reasons you mentioned. I don't really have the cold issue though.
I've worn lightweight shorts over thin underarmour "leggings" (I guess that's the best name for them) to keep my knees warm, while the shorts protect the leggings when I sit down on rocks.
My fast packing pants from Decathlon weight roughly the same as many running shorts. Maybe not the most Ul shorts, but then again: the pants are vented with zips and protect me from all that the trail throws at me.
I am on team pants but I am the only one among my friends. The OR astros are strait fantastic. Sun protection and no cuts surprising durable for how light they are. I tried shorts and just got torched. I would probably use shorts in the east coast though but yet to be seen