Let’s talk about hiking shorts!! Before summer 2021, I exclusively wore long tights for hiking, no matter the conditions. I acclimated to wearing leggings even in hot weather while training to day-hike Mt. Whitney because I loved not having to think about my legs – sunscreen and anything brushing up against them. However, as I got more into backpacking, I noticed the drawbacks of tights – they stretch out and become funky if you sweat profusely. And going on a multi-day rafting trip gave me a deadline to figure out some shorts. And you know what, they are great to dry quickly and stay airy down below. For summer 2022, I went full tilt boogie to try out the following three different brands and types of hiking shorts from Active Threads:
- Topo Design River Shorts
- Cotopaxi Tierra Adventure Shorts
- Girlfriend Collective Trail Shorts
Active Threads
Active Threads is an online retailer that hand-picks outdoor clothing and gear for women, which makes them a perfect partner to try out different brands of hiking shorts. In this post, I’ll break down my experience with each individual pair of shorts – where I used them, my favorite features, and discuss the possible downsides.
Overall, I was delighted with each of the shorts. They each had comfortable fabrics, with added features like hidden zip pockets and flattering cuts. I also found that each was best for different activities – the Topo Design River Shorts resisted water on a river trip, the Cotopaxi Adventure Shorts are comfortable for nearly any activity and were exceptionally airy, and the Girlfriend Collective Trail Shorts were shorter while still providing coverage and security. Keep reading for my thoughts on each pair!
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Who is Active Threads?
The shorts I’ll be reviewing are distinct brands (Topo Designs, Cotopaxi, and Girlfriend Collective), but I received them from an online retailer called Active Threads to do an independent review. Active Threads is a woman-owned company that hand-picks women’s outdoor clothes and related items, so you can shop across the brands (think like REI or Backcountry). I like that they make sure that the brands they carry are eco-friendly or strive for sustainability, have ethical manufacturing, and give back. And I was super happy with the style of each of the shorts, so they are thinking about what looks good for their consumers. On a phone call with the company, they told me they want to have functional products for the trails but wouldn’t seem out of place going to bunch afterward. The owners have done the legwork for us! (Pun intended!)
For total transparency, I want to let you know that I received the following three pairs of shorts at no cost. However, the brands are not aware I am writing this, and Active Threads does not know my thoughts about the shorts other than that they fit. In short (ANOTHER PUN?), all opinions are my own, and you can thank Active Threads for this review.
Where I’ve Taken The Shorts
Okay, I know this post is coming out late in the summer season, but I wanted to try the shorts out in various circumstances to see how they perform and what special features were actually used in the wild. Here’s where I took them:
- Casual Training and Hikes in Santa Barbara: Before the summer travel started, I did some test hikes, jump roping, and general exercise at home. The Girlfriend Collective Shorts were great for jump rope as they were flexible and covering.
- Lake Tahoe Family Vacation: I took the Cotopaxi Adventure Shorts on the Rifle Peak Hike, Girlfriend Collective Trail Short on the Eagle Lake Hike, and Topo Design River Short on a short Cave Rock.
- Rogue River Rafting Trip: A multi-day rafting trip was the *perfect* way to try out the Topo Design River Short, and of course, they performed amazingly. I also took the Cotopaxi shorts, and they did pretty well.
- Exploring Oregon: I’ve also been exploring Oregon this summer and have worn shorts on waterfall hikes!
Okay, without further ado, let’s get into each of the shorts… which are not in any particular order!!
At a Glance:
My Sizing:
- Height: 5’10” (may affect how you look at the shorts length)
- Size of Short: Medium
- Pant Size of the Summer: 8
Topo Design River Short
- Brand: Topo Designs
- Website: Active Threads Product Page
- Other Websites: Backcountry.com (on sale as of 9/11/22) and Topo Designs Directly
- Price at the time of writing: $79.00 (on sale for $55.30 on Active Threads!)
- Color: Brick (burnt orange color with hot pink accents)
- Rise: High-waisted (to belly button)
- Rating: 5 out of 5; I loved them on the river
- Best Use: When you need shorts to dry quickly – river/water
Cotopaxi Tierra Adventure Shorts
- Brand: Cotopaxi
- Website: Active Threads Product Page
- Other Websites: REI.com (on sale as of 9/12/22), Backcountry.com, and Cotopaxi Directly
- Price at the time of writing: $70.00 (on sale as of 9/12/22)
- Color: Indigo
- Rise: High-waisted (to belly button)
- Rating: 7 out of 5; wow, I loved these
- Best Use: Hiking, running, anytime you want loose and comfy shorts
Girlfriend Collective Trail Short
- Brand: Girlfriend Collective
- Website: Active Threads Product Page
- Other Websites: Girlfriend Collective Directly
- Price at the time of writing: $55.00 (on sale as of 9/14/22)
- Color: Moss
- Rise: Mid-Rise (just below button)
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5; I loved the layers, but they were a little too short for me
- Best Use: Running, Training/Regular Exercise, Yoga, anytime you want to have a shorty-short
Topo Design River Shorts Review
When I first got in contact with Active Threads, I knew I would go on a multi-day rafting trip this summer, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to try out shorts specifically designed for a river trip. The shorts I selected were the Topo Design River Shorts in the color brick. I immediately noticed the fabric was a little stiff while still being lightweight and flexible around the legs. The structure/stiffness comes from the nylon fabric treated with DWR (durable water repellent), which is ideal for a river trip!
Favorite Features
Style and Color: The brick color, scalloped sides, hot pink accents, and HIGH WAIST all add to the super-cuteness of these shorts. They are the perfect amount of baggy and not-baggy, and the length is fantastic. I felt very stylish. I even had someone compliment my outfit while I wore these in a coffee shop in Lake Tahoe.
Quick-dry: Due to the DWR finish, these shorts resist water. They are not waterproof but do not immediately soak in water droplets. They will get wet when fully submerged (I went swimming A LOT on my river trip) and slowly dry out. The dry-out time was quicker than other fabrics, like the arms on my REI Sahara Sun Shirt, but longer than the ultra-lightweight Columbia Silver Ridge shirt.
Pockets: The two large front pockets can fully fit my iPhone 12 Pro. On the back is a smaller zippered pocket, which is not large enough to encompass an iPhone but is 6”x5” and would easily hold cash, credit cards, chapstick, etc. I didn’t notice until writing this blog post, but each pocket has a white mesh section to drain water – how smart!
Downsides
There were two things I noticed when wearing these shorts, which may or may not be deal-breakers for you:
Belt Closure: The River Shorts close with a zipper and button with the hot pink belt on top. The waistband is stretchy, while the belt is decidedly not at all. The belt is easily adjustable, but the non-stretch was interesting. It was great on the river because things tend to stretch out when wet, and they remained secure. However, when hiking, I needed to loosen the belt every now and then as my stomach adjusted to elevation changes (is it just my stomach that does this?).
Thigh Ride: I’ve got some thighs. While they tried their best, the River Shorts rode up slightly between my thighs when hiking. This didn’t bother me on shorter hikes (less than 5 or so miles) but would be a consideration when walking further. FYI, all three shorts I tried in this post had some level of thigh ride.
Usage Review/Best Use
Designed for the river, these shorts excelled on the river!! While it wasn’t an instant dry, The Topo Designs River Shorts didn’t seem to hold onto water the way other fabrics did. The 4.5” inseam and structure made it so I could be in any compromising situation and feel secure/covered, even when wet. Upon reviewing my two lists above, I noticed that any drawback I could think of for hiking was a benefit on the river.
When hiking, these shorts also performed well but did not excel. They are stylish, generally comfortable, and great for shorter hikes, but I still need to test them on longer trails for the thigh ride and non-flexible belt.
Wear these if you are going on a rafting trip, fishing, or hiking with water.
Where to purchase the Topo Design River Shorts
Cotopaxi Tierra Adventure Shorts Review
Next up, we have these dark turquoise babies that I’ve been wearing non-stop this summer. The Cotopaxi Tierra Adventure Shorts are loose, airy, and incredibly comfortable. The fabric is super lightweight with a 3” inseam. It’s some magic fabric that doesn’t wrinkle or crease when wearing (however, it might wrinkle a bit if shoved at the bottom of your bag). The first time I put these on, I couldn’t believe how comfortable the waistband was, and it didn’t dig into my stomach or leave a mark. Cotopaxi encased the waistband in fabric and sewed it together so it doesn’t bend or move around.
Due to the comfort, I wore these shorts the most for hiking and simply for casual wear. They are comfortable enough to sleep in (which I ended up doing when I got Covid this summer), wear them on the trail, jump rope in the backyard, or take on a rafting trip. These were my most versatile shorts of the summer.
Favorite Features
COMFORT! These shorts are easy, breezy, and comfortable! From the soft waistband to the a-line, loose design, these shorts are comfortable enough for casual wear. I seriously wear them all the time – on zoom meetings, around the house, etc.
Style and Color: These shorts are loose without being baggy, meaning the cut and fabric are just right. The back is slightly longer than the front, and the sides overlap. I love the rise, which pairs well with cropped tops.
Hidden Zip Pocket/Pockets: These shorts have three pockets – two large front pockets that can fully fit an iPhone 12 Pro. In addition, there is a hidden zippered pocket within the right side pocket. The hidden pocket does not entirely fit my phone but is 5”x6” and would easily fit credit cards, cash, chapstick, etc. All three pockets have mesh siding, which is excellent for water drainage! There are no back pockets.
Downsides
Loosey Goosey Marilyn in the Wind: The only downside I could think of for the Cotopaxi Tierra Adventure Shorts was a rare side-fluttering of the shorts in particularly windy conditions. It was super windy on the top of Rifle Peak, and I caught the side-flutter in the photos. You can see that the buns were not exposed, but that could have been because of my foot position. There was still thigh ride present, but it was the least out of the shorts I tried. I’ll take the loose airiness of the shorts in exchange for the low possibility of fluttering.
Large Pocket Openings: The opening for the main front pockets was quite large, and I worried that items would fall out.
Usage Review/Best Use
I wore these shorts everywhere. Lake Tahoe, rafting the Rogue River in Oregon, around town, and in my bed. I still wear them around the house on hot days in Santa Barbara, which is a testament to how comfortable they are naturally. Nothing beats the airiness down below when you can’t run a fan during a zoom meeting or after sweating for hours on the trail. Speaking of which, these shorts are fantastic for hiking with plenty of legroom.
On the river trip, they performed pretty well for not being designed for water activities. There is mesh siding on the pockets to drain water, and they were comfortable at all times, but they did take longer than the Topo Designs River Shorts to dry and stuck to my legs when wet. They did excel once we were hiking around off the river.
These are a great choice if you’re looking for comfortable, airy, all-around shorts.
WHERE TO PURCHASE THE COTOPAXI TIERRA ADVENTURE SHORTS:
Girlfriend Collective Trail Shorts Review
And finally, the third pair of shorts I tried this summer was the Girlfriend Collective Trail Short. I was intrigued by and stoked to try out the layered shorts system, where there are compressive bike shorts under the looser fabric with scalloped edges. With a 2” inseam on the outer shorts, these felt particularly short on me, but I also felt secure with the bike shorts underneath. What a combo! These felt familiar to leggings but with an adorable outer layer with scalloped edges.
I tried these out on the trail, making large steps, doing some light scrambling, and walking for a while. I loved how the shorts felt loose and not-form fitting to my booty, with a secret underneath. Like wearing a seat belt, the biker shorts were great to know I was safe from accidentally flashing anyone. Secure, but still short, I might recommend these for running/yoga/training over hiking.
Favorite Features
Layered Style = Security: The layered shorts style is fantastic. As soon as I put them on, I could tell I would enjoy the double security — loose on the outside with flattering scalloped sides and supportive and covering on the inside. I did not fear wind or flashing anyone behind me on the trail! I felt ready for anything, which may be why my poses on the Eagle Lake Hike are ridiculous.
Recycled Materials/Recyclable: On both Active Treads and Girlfriend Collective, they talk about how the outer short is made from 100% recycled water bottles, and the inner compressive bike shorts are 79% recycled water bottles and 21% spandex. Apparently, this is equal to 29 water bottles. How cool is that?! We love a sustainability queen! The inside of the shorts also asks you to wash with cold water and hang dry to “help the Earth :)” – very cute. I’m glad to see such a stylish brand lean into sustainability and pray that it’s not just greenwashing.
Other Features: I noticed two more features: the waistband and outer layer texture. The waistband is visible, but the inside has a super soft layer. The softness made this part of the shorts comfortable and secure – those babies were not going anywhere. The outer layer fabric is incredibly lightweight and breezy, so I was surprised to read that it is also water resistant. They are not water-proof, but water does not immediately soak into them. I did not take these on my river trip for fear that the biker shorts would NEVER dry out during the day, but now I’m curious how they would perform.
Downsides
Shorty Shorts with Internal Thigh Ride: Overall, I was slightly uncomfortable on the trails with these short shorts. I noticed that I would reach for the other two shorts over these for hiking. There was thigh ride with compressive bike shorts… not that you could see it under the outer shorts, but I could feel it. These shorts would be perfect for runners and other active people who are used to shorty shorts or bike shorts! Also, the Girlfriend Collective website states that these are high-waisted and show the shorts covering the belly button of the woman pictured. I’m unsure if it has to do with my bun size or that I’m 5’10”, but the shorts did not reach my belly button but sat slightly below. The compressive bike shorts were the limiting factor in pulling them up any further.
Pocket: There is one zippered back pocket on these shorts. The size of the back pocket is roughly 5”x6.5”. This is big enough to fit cash, credit cards, chapstick, etc. With some jiggling, I can also squeeze my iPhone 12 Pro into the pocket, and it holds about 80% of the phone but is not comfortable to have in there when walking. Having this pocket is GREAT! I just wish there was a pocket I could comfortably fit my phone so I didn’t always have to bring a pack.
Usage Review/Best Use
I’m so glad I got to try out the Girlfriend Collective Trail Short! Instead of “trail short,” I might cheekily suggest calling “trail running short” or “bend and snap short” because they were great for high kicks and stretching but maybe not as well-designed for hiking. These shorts helped me realize that I prefer a looser fit with lots of pockets for hiking. If I look past the name, these shorts are adorable and great for other forms of exercise and stretching when you need to be in several different positions and don’t want to flash anyone.
These shorts excelled when I was doing general exercise/training: jump rope in the backyard, walks/runs around the neighborhood, and stair steps at Santa Barbara City College stadium.
Where to purchase the Girlfriend Collective Trail Shorts:
Overall Thoughts: Active Threads Hiking Shorts Review
Wow, wow, wow, I was pleasantly surprised with each of the shorts I tried. While I picked them out, I think the success of these shorts comes from the hand selection on Active Threads. For example, I had never tried a product from Topo Designs before this review, and I was not sure I would have considered the brand if I had purchased from another retailer. I am stoked to have a new resource to shop for outdoorsy clothes.
The shorts performed well under different circumstances but totally elevated my style and helped me discover what I like in shorts for hiking, a river trip, and regular exercise. I loved the high-waisted designs with plenty of room around the thighs, with activity-specific qualities and features. To wrap things up, here is where I think each of the shorts performed the best:
- Topo Design River Shorts: Buy for your next rafting trip, fishing, or other water-intensive activity
- Cotopaxi Tierra Adventure Shorts: Buy for hiking and comfort during all adventures
- Girlfriend Collective Trail Shorts: Buy for general exercise and stretching
What are your favorite pair of hiking shorts? What should I try out next season? Also, are you more interested in trying Topo Designs, Cotopaxi, or Girlfriend Collective shorts now? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
