Best Hiking Shorts for Women for backpacking, thru-hiking, camping, adventure, outdoors, including lined, unlined, and biker shorts — Vuori Dash Shorts

Whether you're heading out for a day hike or gearing up for a thru-hike, finding the right pair of women’s hiking shorts makes a big difference. But here’s the truth: you don’t necessarily need shorts labeled as “hiking shorts”. If you already have a pair of running or athletic shorts that you love and find comfortable, they’ll probably work just fine. It’s all about comfort and what works for you.

After hiking thousands of miles over the past six years, including thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and countless weekend hikes in Washington State, I’ve tested a wide range of hiking shorts for women. There are so many options out there, so I want to help you narrow down your search.

This post doesn’t include every single pair on the market, just the best women’s hiking shorts I’ve personally worn and recommend.

Finding the right pair of hiking shorts varies person to person – what works for one person might not work for someone else. Below, you’ll find my all-time favorite hiking shorts, including lined, unlined, and biker short styles, plus a few tips to help you find your perfect pair.

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What to Look for in Hiking Shorts

What Type of Hike are You Doing?

Casual day hike or a multi-day backpacking trip? For day hikes, I don’t have a strong preference of hiking shorts. But for backpacking or thru-hiking, I prefer shorts that are super comfortable and durable.

When I was choosing shorts for my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, my partner Tim asked me, “What would you run a marathon in?” Since I was quite literally about to walk a marathon every day for 100 days in a row, I chose shorts that I would run a marathon in. At the time, that was the Lululemon Hotty Hot Shorts (I’d still pick those for a marathon today, along with a few others). Over time, I’ve switched to biker shorts, which I would also run a marathon in.

I like shorts that layer easily, which is why I’ve been wearing biker shorts on recent thru-hikes and backpacking trips. Biker shorts allow me to pull leggings or pants over them without the shorts bunching up. With regular/non-biker shorts, you technically can layer them, but they tend to bunch up uncomfortably, which means to avoid that you have to change out of your shorts to your pants/leggings, which is a hassle I prefer to avoid.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Shorts for Hiking:

Liner or No Liner: Some hiking shorts come with built-in liners. Liners are typically lightweight, breathable underwear that is sewn into the shorts. Decide what works best for you. In this post, I’ve organized my favorite women’s hiking shorts into lined, unlined, and biker short categories.
Biker Shorts or Classic Style Shorts? Biker shorts are tight-fitting, stretchy shorts that usually reach mid-thigh and are designed for layering and freedom of movement. Biker shorts are a great option if you want to try to prevent thigh chafing. Classic style shorts are looser, often made of lightweight fabric, and resemble traditional running or hiking shorts. Choose based on your personal preference.
Inseam Length: This is the length of the inner seam of the shorts, which determines how much thigh coverage you get. Inseam options typically range from 2.5 to 5 inches or more. This is a personal preference, but worth thinking about based on your comfort and coverage needs. As I’ve gotten older, I now prefer longer inseams (I used to love 2.5” inseam but now prefer something in the 4-6” inseam range).
Rise: This refers to where the waistband sits on your body, whether it’s low on your hips (low-rise), around your natural waist (mid-rise), or higher up near your belly button (high-rise). Again, this is personal preference.
Material: For hiking, I typically look for quick-drying and durable fabrics. Durability is key because when you’re out hiking, you might be climbing over rocks or sitting on the ground, all of which it’s important for your shorts to not rip during.
Comfort: This really depends on your personal preferences. My goal is to try to avoid chafing by choosing shorts that fit well and feel good on my skin (I love wearing soft but durable fabrics!)
Pockets: Do you care if your shorts have lots of pockets or large ones? I personally love having lots of pockets, especially one that can fit my phone.
Belt or No Belt: Belts allow for an adjustable waist, which can give a better fit.
Layering: Can you pull leggings or hiking pants over your shorts easily? (if that’s something you want to do)

If you already have athletic shorts you love, even if they aren’t labeled “hiking shorts,” those might work perfectly. Many hikers swear by traditional running shorts like the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Shorts, which perform great for hiking, too.

Everyone’s body and preferences are different, so it’s important to find what works best for you. There are plenty of options out there, but hopefully, this list of the best women’s hiking shorts I’ve tried will make your search a little easier.

Best Hiking Shorts I’ve Worn:

Best Unlined Hiking Shorts for Women

Unlined women’s hiking shorts (meaning they don’t have a built-in liner or underwear) are perfect if you want more breathability or prefer wearing your own underwear instead of doubling up with a built-in liner. Here are a few of my favorite unlined hiking shorts for women:

Vuori Dash Shorts

Rise: Mid-rise
Inseam Length: 4"
Lined: No (these shorts do not have a built-in liner)
Material: 89% recycled polyester/11% elastane – soft, lightweight, quick-drying, 4-way stretch performance fabric
Pockets: Yes – 4 front pockets and 1 zippered back pocket (5 total)
Best For: Day hikes, backpacking, travel, and hot weather. Also cute and comfy enough for everyday wear.
Link to Shorts: Vuori Dash Shorts

I wore these shorts for my thru-hike of the John Muir Trail in 2021. I love how many pockets they have (five!). I find these shorts super comfortable and they are still a favorite hiking short of mine. The material is lightweight, soft, and dries quickly. I find them very durable and I still wear the same Vuori Dash Shorts I got in 2021!

Patagonia Women’s Baggies Shorts

Rise: Mid-rise for the 5” inseam, low-rise for the 2.5” inseam
Inseam Length: 5” or 2.5”
Lined: No (these shorts do not have a built-in liner)
Material: 100% recycled nylon faille with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish (made without PFAS) – durable and lightweight with a slightly structured feel
Pockets: Yes – 2 front pockets
Best For: Great for hiking and backpacking (they’re very durable), especially in hot weather. Can also be worn as swim shorts or for water sports.
Link to Shorts: 5-inch Baggies Shorts / 2.5-inch Barely Baggies Shorts

Patagonia’s Baggies Shorts are a classic hiking short and extremely popular for both women and men. They come in multiple inseam lengths, so you can choose what works best for you. The material is super durable and lightweight. These shorts also always come in fun colors and patterns, which is great if you want a colorful hiking outfit. Patagonia Baggies Shorts dry super fast, so they can double as swim shorts if you find an alpine lake you want to jump into!

prAna Stretch Zion Cargo Shorts

Rise: High-rise
Inseam Length: 5"
Lined: No (these shorts do not have a built-in liner)
Material: 95% recycled nylon/5% elastane – lightweight, stretchy, and durable fabric
Pockets: Yes, 6+ pockets
Best For: Great for day hikes, backpacking, and even going around town
Link to Shorts: prAna Stretch Zion Cargo Shorts

I absolutely love the pants version of these shorts (prAna Stretch Zion Cargo Pants), so it makes sense why I would love these shorts. The material is great for hiking – lightweight, stretchy, comfortable, but super durable. And they have so many pockets! These shorts are super cute and are great for a trail-to-town look!

Mountain Hardwear Women’s Stryder Belted Shorts

Rise: High-rise
Inseam Length: 5"
Lined: No (these shorts do not have a built-in liner)
Material: 100% recycled nylon with a PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) finish – lightweight and durable fabric
Pockets: Yes, 4 pockets total – 2 side-entry hand pockets and 2 secure zippered pockets (one at the left thigh and one at the back right)
Best For: Great for day hikes, going around town, and water sports (kayaking, canoeing, etc.)
Link to Shorts: Mountain Hardwear Women’s Stryder Belted Shorts

The material of these shorts is basically the same as the Patagonia Baggies. I like that they’re high-waisted and have an adjustable belt. The longer inseam with the high rise offers more coverage than some of the other shorts in this post. These shorts are durable, lightweight, and great for hiking, but also super cute!

Outdoor Research Women's Ferrosi 5" Shorts

Rise: Mid-rise
Inseam Length: 5"
Lined: No (these shorts do not have a built-in liner)
Material: 46% recycled nylon/40% nylon/14% spandex – stretchy, breathable, lightweight, and quick-drying fabric
Pockets: Yes, 4 pockets – 2 drop-in mesh hand pockets, a back-right zip pocket, and a back-left drop-in pocket
Best For: Day hiking, backpacking, camping, great in warm weather
Link to Shorts: Outdoor Research Women’s Ferrosi 5” Shorts

These hiking shorts are wind, water, and abrasion-resistant! They're breathable and comfortable with a nice stretch while still being durable. These shorts have nice coverage and typically come in a variety of fun colors.

Backcountry Women’s Wasatch Ripstop 3.5” and 5” Shorts

Rise: Mid to high-rise
Inseam Length: 3.5” or 5”
Lined: No (these shorts do not have a built-in liner)
Material: 61% recycled nylon, 33% nylon, 6% spandex, PFC-free DWR treatment – lightweight, durable, quick-drying
Pockets: Yes, 4 pockets
Best For: Hiking, backpacking, camping, casual day wear
Link to Shorts: 3.5” Wasatch Ripstop Shorts / 5” Wasatch Ripstop Shorts

These shorts have an integrated belt, so you can adjust the waist, which is great. The material is quick-drying, durable, and has a little bit of stretch. I love the cut and fit of these shorts!

Best Lined Hiking Shorts for Women

Lined women’s shorts are typically similar to running shorts – light, breathable, and perfect if you prefer not to wear separate underwear. The liner is usually lightweight, breathable, built-in underwear sewn directly into the shorts. Here are some of the best lined shorts I’ve worn for hiking:

Lululemon Hotty Hot Shorts

Rise: Low-rise or high-rise
Inseam Length: 2.5" or 4”
Lined: Yes, these shorts have a built-in liner
Material: 86% Recycled Polyester, 14% Elastane – lightweight, quick-drying, sweat-wicking, very comfortable
Pockets: 2 very small pockets (zippered pocket in the seam for small items and hidden stash pocket in liner)
Best For: Running, hiking, backpacking, exercising, daily walks, trail running
Link to Shorts:

I wore the 2.5”, low-rise Lululemon Hotty Hot Shorts for over half of my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike (1,325+ miles!). These are a favorite short of mine for running, hiking, and backpacking. Although these are technically running shorts, I think they work great for hiking. I like that they come in different inseam lengths and rises. My go-to now is the 4”, high-rise version (I like the additional coverage). These shorts are super comfortable, cute, and quite durable – I still own and wear the same pair I used for those 1,325+ miles of hiking!

REI Women’s Active Pursuits 4.5” Shorts

Rise: Mid-rise
Inseam Length: 4.5”
Lined: Yes, these shorts have a built-in brief liner
Material: 86% recycled polyester/14% spandex – sweat-wicking, quick-drying, breathable, lightweight, comfortable
Pockets: Yes – 1 small zippered side pocket
Best For: Running, hiking, backpacking, exercising, daily walks, trail-running
Link to Shorts: REI Active Pursuits 4.5" Shorts – Women’s

These are another great pair of active shorts for running, hiking, and backpacking! The fabric is soft, lightweight, and quick-drying I like the length of these shorts and the waistband is very comfortable.

REI Co-op Women’s Swiftland 5” Running Shorts

Rise: Mid-rise
Inseam Length: 5"
Lined: Yes, these shorts have a built-in brief-style liner made of a soft mesh
Material: 73% recycled nylon/27% spandex – lightweight stretchy grid fabric that is breezy, breathable, and sweat-wicking
Pockets: Yes, 4 pockets total – secure-zip back pocket on waistband that fits a phone, 2 small stash pockets on waistband, and an internal card pocket in shorts liner
Best For: Running, hiking, backpacking, exercising, daily walks, trail-running
Link to Shorts: REI Co-op Swiftland 5" Running Shorts – Women’s

These have been some of my favorite day hike and daily exercise shorts for the past year. They’re super lightweight, comfortable, and breezy, but still provide good coverage. I’ve worn them on day hikes and backpacking trips. While I have taken them backpacking, they’re probably not the most durable shorts since the fabric is so lightweight. I love them for trail running, daily walks, and day hikes!

Best Biker Shorts for Hiking

For recent thru-hikes and longer backpacking trips, I’ve been choosing to wear biker shorts because I find them more versatile than classic running/hiking shorts. I can easily pull on my leggings or pants over them without having to take my shorts off, which I love. Plus, if you’re prone to thigh chafing, biker shorts can help prevent that.

I’m also very picky about which biker shorts I wear since I have muscular/athletic and not skinny thighs – I don’t want the shorts to squeeze my thighs too much so, especially at the hem. I avoid biker shorts that are so tight at the hem that they squeeze my thighs like sausages and cause my legs to bulge out. In my experience, all of the options below fit comfortably without squeezing. Here are my favorite biker shorts for hiking:

Vuori Biker Shorts: Studio Pocket Short, Daily Short, & Clean Elevation Shorty

Rise: High-rise
Inseam Length:
- Studio Pocket Short & Daily Short: 5"
- Clean Elevation Shorty: 6”
Lined: n/a
Material: All are made from soft, comfortable, stretchy material that is lightly compressive, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying.
- Studio Pocket Short & Daily Short: 72% Polyester, 28% Elastane
- Clean Elevation Shorty: 87% Recycled Polyester, 13% Elastane
Pockets:
- Studio Pocket Shorts: Yes, they have 2 side pockets & 1 stash pocket
- Daily Short: No pockets
- Clean Elevation Shorty: Yes, 1 back zippered pocket
Best For: Hiking, running, backpacking, daily casual wear, daily exercise
Link to Shorts: Studio Pocket Short, Daily Short, & Clean Elevation Shorty

I’ve worn the Vuori Studio Pocket Shorts for thousands of miles of hiking (half of my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike and my entire Continental Divide Trail thru-hike!). I love how the fabric is super soft, comfortable, durable, and not too compressive. The material doesn’t have that slick, spandex-y feel that most biker shorts have. However, it seems like Vuori might be discontinuing the Studio Pocket Shorts because they’re currently only available in very few sizes, which I’m bummed about.

Since it seems like they might be phasing out the Studio Pocket Shorts, I wanted to include two of Vuori’s very similar biker shorts: the Daily Shorts are made out of the same exact material as the Studio Pocket Shorts, but they lack the pockets that the Studio Pocket Shorts have. The Clean Elevation Shorty is made out of a very similar material, but is slightly thicker and has a slightly longer inseam – it does have a zippered back pocket, which is nice! I really love Vuori’s biker shorts for hiking and backpacking because they’re so comfortable, durable, and I love the feel of the material.

Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Short 6” With Pockets

Rise: High-rise
Inseam Length: 6"
Lined: n/a
Material: 84% Nylon, 16% Lycra Elastane – stretchy, quick-drying, sweat-wicking, slick-feeling
Pockets: Yes, 5 pockets total – 2 side pockets that can fit your phone, 3 small waistband pockets
Best For: Running, hiking, backpacking, trail-running, daily exercise
Link to Shorts: Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Short 6" With Pockets

I wore these shorts on my hike of the 93-mile Wonderland Trail in 2024. These biker shorts are made from a compressive, slick-feeling fabric that wicks sweat very well. They have lots of pockets and I find the material both comfortable and durable.

Arc'teryx Essent HiRise Utility Shorts (6” or 8”)

Rise: High-rise
Inseam Length: 6" or 8”
Lined: n/a
Material: 71% nylon/29% elastane – stretchy, breathable, durable, moisture-wicking, abrasion-resistant
Pockets: Yes, there are 2 side thigh pockets and also a wide 360-degree mesh waistband pocket that goes all the way around the waist
Best For: Hiking, backpacking, running
Link to Shorts:
- 6” Arc'teryx Essent HiRise Utility Shorts
- 8” Arc'teryx Essent HiRise Utility Shorts

These are the newest hiking shorts I’ve tried (I have the 6” version)! I’ve worn these shorts hiking, backpacking, and running. I love all the pockets. The fabric is thicker than some of the other biker shorts mentioned here, making them very durable, probably the most durable biker shorts I’ve listed in this post. The pocket that wraps around the waistband is super nice and you can fit so much in it. I find these shorts very comfortable and they will definitely be a go-to hiking short for me this year!

CRZ Yoga 5” Biker Shorts with Pockets

Rise: High-rise
Inseam Length: 5"
Lined: n/a
Material: 71% Polyamide, 29% Spandex – sleek, lightweight, sweat-wicking
Pockets: Yes, 2 side pockets
Best For: Hiking, backpacking, running, working out
Link to Shorts: CRZ Yoga 5” Biker Shorts with Pockets

I wore these shorts on my thru-hike of the Arizona Trail. These are a great budget-friendly biker short (only $20!). I love that they come in a variety of colors. The material is a bit thinner than the other biker short options I include, but they did last my entire 800-mile thru-hike of the Arizona Trail.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to women’s hiking shorts. These are the ones I trust and love after thousands of miles of hiking, but your favorite hiking shorts might be something else or even something you already own! Try a few out and see what fits you best. Happy hiking!

Best Hiking Shorts for Women

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