perfect shorts

I like these North Face swim trunks. They seem to meet the requirements that you're looking for.

http://www.rei.com/product/763348

those actually look like they might work! i even looked at rei just before posting that. must have missed it. thanks, i'll check them out!

Try going to an athletic equipment/clothing store rather than an outdoor equipment/clothing store to find a good selection of running shorts. At REI and a lot of similar places, the trend seems to be for cottony knee-length shorts. The outdoors stores don't carry a good supply of running shorts, though. However, go to a Sports Authority or a New Balance store, maybe even a Dick's Sporting Goods and check out the non-outdoors section there.

Patagonia Ultra Shorts

These are great shorts, fast drying with good pockets.

I second the Patagonia Ultra Shorts. They dry very quickly and are very comfortable. They have some extra handy pockets on them and even the liner is a high quality material instead of the scratchy mesh.

The Patagonia Nine Trails shorts would also be great. They are made out of a stretch woven material.

I do have a pair of the North Face Class IV(?) water trunks. The drawstring broke in half where it is sewn at the back and had to be fixed in the field.

Christopher (plus the other owner of recommended shorts), have you used the Patagonia Ultra Shorts to swim in when you had a chance? I'm looking for a quad-use set of shorts (for sleeping in, swimming in (obviously I won't sleep in wet shorts), wearing while washing my one pair of pants, or use as trail underpants if I did not have time to launder my normal underpants). Main question, are the recommended shorts good for swimming in too?

Try looking at the Cabela shorts. They have quite a selection of models from which to choose. And you can't beat the prices (on sale for 17.95). I use the 7 pocket Hiker model with a 7" inseam.

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I use long Brooks running shorts: two hand pockets, inner liner (easy to cut out), drawstring + elastic waistband, and made of a dense but open mesh. Even with the liner they weigh 5oz/142g. I've not sunburned through them yet, the mesh makes them ventilate like crazy and dry quickly, but the material makes them utterly unsuitable for bushwhacking; ontrail use only. They have basically no insulative value so a pair of wool longjohns or insulated pants would be important for evenings in camp.

I like the relaxed it and long inseam (they come to just above my knee, saves me on sunscreen), but that sounds like it may not be your cup of tea. They're almost like basketball shorts. I do have a pair that are more like true running shorts, 3.5oz. (Brooks, too) but they have no hand pockets.

Roleigh,
Don't dive in from to high otherwise the pockets may catch the water and yank them down to your knees. Otherwise they would make great swimming shorts as well as hiking and running.

The velcro tabs in the side pockets hold small items quite securely. It is nice to go on a trail run and not have to check to make sure my keys are still in my pocket every few steps.

When you say “hand pockets” is your desire to stuff your hands in your pocket, or are you saying that you want enough room to hold some things?

The REI’s trail running shorts have reasonable sized side pockets that have worked well for me fastpacking and trail running.

–mark

more along the lines of sticking my hands in, although i don't necessarily think i will do this. i just dont like having the little tiny zip pockets or key holder pouch deals. thanks for all your suggestions guys. im sure one of these will work for me.