I've often thought that a pair of shorts made of a stretch material like that used in a lot of trousers would be very useful, particularly for "multi-discipline" trips involving biking, walking and/or climbing. Ordinary shorts tend to be pretty uncomfortable for biking, and specialist biking shorts are generally not good for other activities, and very expensive as well. I was therefore glad to see Mountain Hardwear had brought in just such a stretchy short, but dismayed when I saw the price — £60 for a pair of shorts!
So, does anybody know of any more reasonably priced stretch shorts, other than lycra ones?
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 Which Mountain Hardwear shorts Guy? I know they used to do a pair with quite long legs - I have some and use them for walking, biking and running - but I thought they were discontinued a year or two ago. Have they brought out some new ones? Haglofs do some, Zodiac shorts, very light and stretchy, and £32.50 from The Climbers Shop, but they were such a baggy fit that the stretch seems irrelevant! I've just returned a pair. But the cut might suit someone else...
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 Someone told me that Tchibo were to do some bike riders kit for this years outdoors lines, soon to be hitting the online shop there. I will keep my eye open for them for you there Guy, and post if I see them. 
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Hi Matt
The Talus Pack Short is the MH model I meant, but perhaps at that price it ought to be called the Diamond Studded Pack Short.
Thanks Trevor — the Tchibo stuff should be cheap enough, but the trouble with a lot of bike shorts is that they're very baggy, which I ain't keen on, and have padded inners, which are hot and uncomfortable.
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Link  In fact just on checking back there - just in case - they still have some of last year's ones at the half price!
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Thanks Guy. They look very like a replacement for mine, which I recall were called Escalade shorts, neatly cut like a slightly relaxed traditional cycling short (i.e. close fitting, not baggy). I think they were £40. Not that that's much help to you..... 
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 Prana do a shorts version of the Stretch Zion Pant we recently reviewed, called - fanfare - the Stretch Zion Shorts, which sound like the short of thing you're looking for. They're a bit too short for my tastes, but I like quite long shorts, but worth a look. Not sure of the price off hand, but the pants are £45 so probably around a tenner less at a guess.
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Have a look at the Supertankers from New Zealand bike clothing company Ground Effect. They are unlined, and although a baggy style I don't think they are excessively baggy, plus they have liitle straps so thay can be gathered in a bit at the hems. £42 including postage and VAT. They do some really nice merino base layers too, and delivery is very quick.
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 I have just got some Salamon XA series shorts and were only 30quid very comfy and I have used them for walking and cycling another pair I have tried and like is the Ron Hill Advance Powerlite shorts although they are more of a cycling/running short
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 Why not lycra? Numerous companies make stretch shorts for running and exercise. They're inexpensive and comfy. While superficially like cycling shorts, they're not the same, lacking a padded insert and usually being a much simpler construction (cycle shorts are typically 6 to 8 panels and account for a cycling crouch in the shape) and considerably cheaper. Pete.
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Why not lycra? Lol, that's akin to asking "why not RonHills?". Let's say it's not purely a performance thing!! 
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Fwiw, I sometimes use mountain biking baggies for walking - good cut, lots of pockets and vents as well. My faves are Sugoi Gustovs but they're ruinously expensive. Plenty of alternatives out there, Endura, for example, does a few styles which might work for walking and come without a liner. Of course you may be mistaken for a mountain biker, but hey, you can't have everything. Lycra? Great function, disastrous aesthetics in any sort of social setting and not always, erm, flattering. Great for cycling though.
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 Prana do a shorts version of the Stretch Zion Pant we recently reviewed, called - fanfare - the Stretch Zion Shorts, which sound like the short of thing you're looking for. They're a bit too short for my tastes, but I like quite long shorts, but worth a look. Not sure of the price off hand, but the pants are £45 so probably around a tenner less at a guess. Prana also do some convert versions of the Zion
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