AllOutdoor Review – Patagonia Baggies Shorts “More than Sport Shorts”
Patrik Orcutt 05.31.23
Yvon Chouinard, who began his career as a climber in the early 1950s, is credited with starting Patagonia. Chouinard, billed as both an outdoor enthusiast and environmental activist, had developed a lifelong love of rock climbing, which later led to the creation of an outdoor retail chain that has dozens of locations around the world. By 1957, as he continued to pursue his hobby, Chouinard began to teach himself how to blacksmith to create climbing tools. With his new talent, the passionate climber was able to make his first pitons with an old harvester blade. By 1970, merely five years into the business, the company was billed as the largest supplier of climbing hardware in the United States, according to Patagonia’s website. Fast forward to 2022 and Patagonia is one of the biggest outdoor clothing brands in the world. Today, we will review a pair of the Patagonia Baggies Shorts which we quickly learned were “more than sport shorts.”
The Baggies were independently purchased by the reviewer. Patagonia did not send a review copy and had no say in this written review. Over the course of the last four years, I have been wearing these shorts on almost a daily basis. They have been with me for long-distance hikes, dunks in the ocean, high-intensity workouts, and lounging are the house on lazy days.
A number of years ago I was looking for a more versatile set of shorts that I could wear while hiking, and in the gym and wouldn’t look out of place at the beach. I bought my first set of Patagonia baggies in 2019 and today I now own seven sets. These are 100% recycled material shorts that perform well and come in a ton of different colors and patterns. The shorts are breathable and the fabric dries very quickly. With summer fast approaching, I figured I would get my review out on one of my favorite sets of shorts.
Specs – Patagonia Baggies Shorts
- Weight: 7.8 oz
- MSRP: $55 – $65
- Material: 100% Recycled Nylon
Comfort and Mobility – Patagonia Baggies Shorts
Coming from New England, I find that my body runs hotter than most. So, in the summertime I tend to sweat a lot. I find the baggies to be incredibly comfortable to wear even on the hottest days in the summer. This is in no small part due to the mesh lining that comes with these shorts. They are incredibly breathable and keep me very comfortable whenever I’m wearing them. The shorts come with a drawstring which enables you to fine-tune the fit for either a looser or tighter feel. The legs are nice and wide and don’t limit your mobility so even when you’re hiking or running, you have full range of motion while wearing the shorts. When I first picked up these shorts, I was skeptical of how comfortable they would be especially since they only have a mesh lining on the interior, but today I can fully endorse them as some of the most comfortable shorts I’ve ever worn.
Features – Patagonia Baggies Shorts
The baggies are pretty light on features, but that’s the way I like my shorts. There is the aforementioned drawstring for adjusting the fit. You have two hand pockets and one back pocket with a plastic button closure. The front pockets are actually really deep and you can jam a lot of stuff in there if need be. I find that even running around with a full-size smartphone in them is not uncomfortable, and also, surprisingly secure. There is also an elastic loop for your keys so you can keep them extra secure while climbing your next mountain.
Versatility and Styling – Patagonia Baggies Shorts
These shorts definitely promote a more casual look. I think the styling on them is perfect. They are very simple in their design so they can go with a lot of different articles of clothing. I’ve also found these to be some of the most versatile shorts I’ve ever owned. I can take them into the gym. I can go swimming with them. I can go hiking with them. I can wear them out to a casual dinner and I can wear them to bed. With this being said, when packing for trips, I often reach for my baggies as my go-to set of shorts because of how many different roles they can fill in a single garment.
Water Resistance and Drying – Patagonia Baggies Shorts
These shorts are water-resistant across the board. The nylon exterior has a DWR coating that beads the water away and also helps them dry very quickly. The inner liner is mesh so that will also dry fast. Whenever I’m on vacation and somebody wants to go for a swim. I don’t bother bringing swim trunks anymore. I just bring my baggies as my swim trunks substitutes.
Likes
- Many colorways and options
- Incredibly versatile
- Breathable
Dislikes
- Expensive
Wrap-Up – Patagonia Baggies Shorts
If you’re looking for a highly versatile set of shorts that can fill a multitude of roles in your life, then look no further than the baggies. A few years ago you could snag a pair of these for $50 – $55, but these days they will cost you around $65. I think that price is getting out of hand, but these are premium products made out of recycled materials and they will last forever. Go get yourself a pair of these and you’ll thank me later.
