When the temperature rises and humidity levels peak, nothing beats pulling on a pair of breathable and lightweight hiking shorts for comfort on the trail. Yet, as many women already know, historically, women’s hiking shorts have not always had the same high-performance features and functionality as men’s hiking shorts. While a colorful print or flattering silhouette is a good start, there are many more technical details that need to be added and boxes that need to be checked in order to make the cut.
A well-designed pair of women’s hiking shorts should provide plenty of flexibility, rugged durability, long-lasting comfort that won’t quit before you do, and pockets—lots and lots of pockets. With a keen eye for detail and high expectations for performance, we scoured the market to find the best women’s hiking shorts, by testing a wide range of high-tech materials, different fits, and styles to ensure they offer the freedom and function needed to log miles on the trail with ease.
So let those stems breathe and soak up the sun! These are the best women’s hiking shorts for warm weather strolls or sunny alpine adventures.
Field Mag's Top Picks:
- Best Lightweight: Mountain Hardwear Trailsender Short
- Most Comfortable: Kari Traa Ane Short
- Best for Trail to Town: Hikerkind Shorts 01
- Most Versatile: Patagonia Baggies
- Most Sustainable: Prana Halle E-Waist Shorts
- Most Comfortable: Bearded Goat Summit Shorts
- Best for Style & Function: Wondery Isabel Outdoor Shorts
- Best Hiking Short Tights: Fjallraven Abisko Short Tights
- Most Durable: Amundsen 5incher Field Shorts
- Most Flattering: Astrid Wild Ester Outdoor Shorts
- Best Waterproof Shorts: Topo Designs River Shorts
- Most Tech Features: Lululemon WovenAir Hiking Shorts
- Best High-Performance Shorts: Outdoor Research Ferrosi Shorts
- Best Coverage: Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Shorts
- Best Hiking Skort: Houdini Skort