From Trail to Tide: Seriously Good Shorts for Summer 2026
May 06, 2026Alright, so there’s been a bit of seasonal see-sawing this year, but we’re calling it – shorts season has arrived.
Here at WildBounds, our warehouse is stacked with shorts in all shapes and sizes, from technical hiking designs and quick-drying board shorts to sturdy canvas workwear ones and retro-looking chino shorts.
Whether you’re after knee-length surfer baggies or the kind of short-shorts that your old man used to embarrass you with on childhood camping trips, read on for our pick of the best shorts currently on WildBounds.
The retro ones
A longstanding favourite around here are the Field Shorts from heritage-heavy Norwegian brand, Amundsen. Built in super-tough stretch Cordura, the pockets and seat are reinforced with British Millerain waxed cotton. The cut is daringly short in a 1970s overlander sort of way, and our Scandi friends reckon you should treat them a bit like a waxed jacket – letting them get really grubby and beaten-up before you even think about washing and re-waxing them. We’ve worn ours from the Swedish mountains to the Okavango Delta.
For a pair that projects old-school style without showing quite so much leg, check out the Virgil chino shorts from &Sons. Based on their bestselling trousers, they’re stacked with natty little features including buttoned turn-ups and a cinch strap at the back.
And to take those vintage vibes to the beach, Aussie surf brand, Rhythm, do super-cool retro Heritage Trunks – best teamed with an old-fashioned longboard, a pair of ratty flip-flops and an old Beach Boys cassette stuffed in the tape deck of your dune buggy.
The hiking ones
A good pair of hiking shorts has to tick a lot of boxes. The best ones are breathable, flexible, durable, weather-resistant and quick drying – preferably with a decent amount of pocket space for your compass, penknife, emergency fun-size Haribo etc.
For a combo of value, performance and environmental conscience, it’s tricky to beat Patagonia. Their Outdoor Everyday shorts for men and women are quick-drying and water-repellent, and the lightweight stretch nylon fabric is made from old fishing nets. For women, they even do a skort version.
For a gnarlier stretch twill fabric that’s still flexible and breathable, try the excellent Stretch Zion Shorts from prAna. Based on their bestselling full-length Zion Pants, they’re a super-stretchy 8-inch short with an adjustable waist and useful cargo pocket.
Most hiking shorts tend to feature synthetic fabrics, but Kiwi brand Mons Royale have built their Escapade shorts for men and women in a stretchy cotton-merino blend. Naturally quick-drying and odour-resistant, their streamlined looks conceal a surprising number of pockets, plus a cool magnetic belt. Wear them long or roll them – it’s your call.
The beach ones
What’s your idea of a perfect day by the sea? Paddle board, barbecue and beers? Deck chair, a Thermos of funny-tasting tea and a Lee Child novel? Whatever your preferences, there’s nothing like piling in the car on a sunny Saturday morning and heading to the beach.
For a pair of easy-going beach shorts, you can’t get much better than the Sandbar swim shorts from Deus Ex Machina. Garment-dyed with a heavy enzyme stone wash, they’ve got that faded beach-lifer look straight out of the bag, with a casual elasticated drawstring waist.
Some of the best swimmies on WildBounds at the moment come courtesy of surf brand Rhythm, as already mentioned up top. Drawing on heritage styles, their shorts feature comfortable cuts, quick-drying fabrics and four-way stretch – making them perfect for surfing or paddle boarding. Rhythm’s Essential Trunks are an old-school board short – cut long and contoured with understated side piping and a lace-up front – while their Shaken Trunks are a smidge shorter with a Hawaiian-style graphic pop.
The workwear ones
We all love a pair of really well worn-in canvas workwear shorts, but the faff is getting them that way. Order a pair from one of the big heritage workwear brands and chances are they’ll turn up stiff as a board, with several months of near-constant wear and regular washing before they start to get really comfy and scruffy-looking.
To skip the, ahem, legwork, opt for a pair that’s been hit with an enzyme wash – giving you that broken-in feel straight out of the box. PrAna’s Rock Ridge shorts (or the similar Rock Ridge Carpenters for women) look the part but feature lightweight garment-dyed canvas with a sneaky bit of stretch in the mix. For more of a cargo style, the DUER stretch canvas cargo shorts pair workwear looks with DUER’s famously flexible materials and design.
For those who don’t believe in shortcuts, the Filson dry tin cloth shorts are the real deal – and then some. Based on a vintage design from the Filson archives, they’re the kind of thing you can imagine a US park ranger wearing in the 50s, with 10.5-oz duck canvas, double-panel reinforcement and even buttons on the waistband so you can wear them with braces. Best start practising The Lumberjack Song from Monty Python…
The everyday ones
You know that pair of shorts you reach for when you’re grubbing in the garden, running errands around town or sinking a cold lager in the beer garden? Sure, they might not be the most technical ones in the wardrobe, but somehow they find themselves in the washing basket more often than any other pair.
The clue’s in the name with Fjällräven’s Vardag shorts. ‘Vardag’ means ‘everyday’ in Swedish, and these relaxed-fit shorts in G-1000 polycotton are the ideal mix of durable and comfy. We especially like the elasticated back waist that keeps them smart while offering a bit of extra comfort.
For a summer classic, the Linen Jam shorts from Rhythm have the look of traditional linen shorts but in a more robust cotton-linen blend material that won’t wrinkle so much. With an elasticated waist and drawstring adjustment, they’re a warm-weather staple that’ll pair with just about anything.
If you like your fabrics ultra-lightweight and airy, the Snow Peak NSD Easy shorts for men and women are constructed in a low-sheen stretch nylon that looks a lot like cotton but performs better. Unisex and minimalist, they’ve got a loose silhouette that’s based on Japanese streetwear.
The travel ones
When you’re living out of a backpack, you want shorts that are packable, lightweight and comfortable enough to wear on long bus or plane journeys. Bonus points for odour-resistance and plenty of secure pockets.
Roark's Layover Pro shorts are full of canny features for the regular traveller. Zip pockets and a phone stash compartment keep your essentials locked down, and the metal-free waistband means you won't set off airport security scanners. They're made in an organic cotton blend with four-way stretch that give them a tailored fit without sacrificing flexibility.
No-one wants to be wasting valuable travel time sitting in a coin-op launderette flicking through some Spanish-language version of Take a Break – and that’s where Duer’s No Sweat shorts come in. The material contains natural TENCEL Lyocell fibres that are naturally wicking and anti-bacterial – so you don't need to wash them as often. Add in stretchy fabric, a flattering cut and triple-stitched seams and you've got a pair of shorts that are comfortable, durable and pretty much ideal for long-range adventures.
The amphibious ones
Whether you’re messing about in a sailing dinghy, river scrambling, canoe touring, or just want a pair of hiking shorts that’ll do for a dip if you find an inviting mountain tarn, a good pair of amphib shorts should be top of your kit list.
Roark’s Hytide Hybrid shorts are specifically designed to transition easily between land and water, with a quick-drying stretch polycotton fabric and a drawstring-adjustable waistband like off your swim shorts.
For a similar crossover short with a slightly slimmer fit, try Patagonia’s Hydropeak Hybrid shorts. Super quick-drying and with a comfortable contoured waistband, they’ve got mesh-lined pockets so you don’t end up carrying a couple of water balloons around when you haul yourself out onto dry land.
The Jack-of-all-trades
There’s one pair of shorts that doesn’t fit into any particular category – and that’s because it fits just about all of them. We speak, of course, of the Gramicci G-shorts.
A bestseller on WildBounds for yonks, the G-shorts were originally designed for climbing – cut deliberately roomy and featuring an elasticated waistband with an integral cinch belt for a perfect fit. Famously comfortable, they’ve since become a fan favourite for travel, outdoor adventures and everyday wear.
The OGs come in rugged cotton twill, but these days they’re also available in a range of fabrics and patterns – including a packable version in ultra-lightweight and quick-drying nylon.
So, what do you think? Is it about time the trousers got relegated to the back of the wardrobe until autumn?
As well as being one of WildBounds’ principal copywriters and a regular contributor to our Journal, Joly Braime is an author, editor and sometime adventurer. He lives on the North Yorkshire coast and is often to be found trolling mackerel feathers behind his kayak or hurling tennis balls down the beach for his ageing lurcher and tempestuous toy poodle.