Features We Like And Don't Like In Trail Shorts
The short list of what works and what doesn't.
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Features We Like In Trail Shorts
- Gusseted crotches and leg hems that don’t grab thighs when high-stepping
- A removable, nonstretch belt, so you can convert it for emergency use as a strap, repair item, or tourniquet
- A strong but trim belt buckle that’s comfortable under a cinched hipbelt
- Fast-drying fabric
- At least one zippered pocket to safeguard critical items
- A zipper fly for easy deployment and easy shedding
- A snaps or blue jean-type button at the waist, because most regular buttons come loose or crack
- Streamlined pockets that don’t snag swinging arms and are deep enough to hold key items even when you sit down
- Cargo pockets on the side of the thigh-not in the front-to keep bulkier items from hitting your legs
Features We Don’t Like
- Elastic belts, which sag under a pack
- Buttons; they’re slow to undo, fragile, and quick to fall off
- Mesh pockets, which most testers found fragile and quick to snag on objects