Buyers' Guide - Shorts And Zip-Offs

You can wear shorts all year round if you choose, but most of us use them in mild to hot conditions, however in Britain there's always a good chance you could get rained on at any time of year. Ideally then you want a fabric that's going to wick away sweat and dry fast if they do get damp.

Cotton tends to dry slowly, so our preference would be either for a poly-cotton mix with a high percentage of polyester or a pure microfibre like polyester or nylon. Fortunately most outdoor-specific shorts use just such fibres as do running shorts, if that's your bag. A fabric with high SPF - sun protection factor - is another big plus and commonly available now.

If you're off to a mosquito-prone region, consider the various insect repellant fabrics out there as well from the likes of Berghaus and Craghoppers.

Lycra? If you must, but consider the traumatic impact on other hill users and the questionable comfort of skin-hugging attire on very hot days.

Your first decision is length. Short, running-type shorts give maximum leg exposure and cooling, but also offer less protection in breezy conditions. Less obvious is that some designs have a tendency to chafe the soft skin on the inside of your thighs in use. If you want to go short, then look for a soft, non-abrasive fabric and, most imporantly, make sure that there isn't a bulky hem which could rub you raw over the course of a day on the hill.

Our personal preference is for looser cut, cargo-type shorts that reach just above the knee. Again look out for seams that could chafe the inner thigh, but the longer cut means that the potentially troublesome hem area is out of harm's way and far less likely to make a meal of your legs.

Pockets are a personal thing. Generally though, it's not comfortable carrying anything remotely bulky in short leg pockets in the same way that cargo pant pockets can actually restrict your movement if you carry, say, a map in them.

One area that's often overlooked is pack compatibility. Be wary of seams, pockets, belt loops and belts that could rub under a pack harness and lead to discomfort and possibly blisters. Some manufacturers, Mountain Hardwear for example, with their Pack Pant and its variants and Haglofs have addressed the issue by removing seams and bulk from this area. Worth thinking about, particularly for backpacking use.

At first sight, zip-off or convertible pants seem like the best of both worlds, shorts when you want them, full-length trousers when you don't. They bring problems of their own however, which are worth being aware of...

Aesthetics yes, we know, you're not a gear tart, but it seems to be amazingly hard to make a pair of zip-offs that look good in both shorts and trouser mode. Usually they're okay in one manifestation, but hideous in the other...

Comfort is another potential stumbling block. The main area for concern is the join where the trouser legs zip off. Usually there's a zip plus an exterior flap and a crucial internal flap to protect you from rubbing from the zip. That means three layers giving a bulky join which can rub painfully against your thigh in both shorts and trousers mode.

We'd try very carefully before buying. A combination of the zip sitting in the right place and minimal bulk should see you right, but it's better to be sure than sorry.

Losing Legs Just be careful not to lose them, that's all, some brands even allow you to stuff the detached leg into a pocket then hang them from a belt / stow in your pack - Royal Robbins - but at the very least, be aware that it's a potential problem area.

More Help and Advice

Hopefully this article will have given you some basic pointers. The good news is that there's a load more advice on OUTDOORSmagic:

• Ask on the gear forum about general issues or specific items.
  
• Check the member reviews section for user experiences of kit.
  
• See OM editorial reviews on the front of the site for our impressions.
  
• Ask Richard Gear if you have a specific question you need answering.