inseam of shorts

Personally, I prefer a shorter running short. I look for a short that has an inseam of about 2.5”. I leave the liner in all of my running shorts and combined with a pair of lightweight wind pants, they are all I usually need in summer. Granted, I don’t have very big thighs and ran cross country and track in high school, so a shorter short just seems natural to me.

Plus, being my age (22), most guys wear longer shorts and I enjoy the laughs my short shorts get.

or is the liner enough usually?

I find the liner to be enough by itself. The very open weaves that liners usually are I find very breathable and have never found a need for regular underwear. I just wear the wind pants if I want to wash my shorts. But again, I have never had problems with chaffing on my thighs.

I agree, the liner is great without underwear, but synthetics will stink, just like all other synthetics. The other option is to cut out the liner, and wear wool underwear underneath (i'm thinking long term week long hikes here). For shorter hikers, just use the shorts with the liner, without undies. I like my inseams around 4-5inches. Until you try on 2 inch inseamed running shorts, you will have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Mobility is great on short shorts, but in the end you are almost wearing nothing. If chaffing is a problem, try bodyglide anti-chaff product. It looks like a deodorant stick and works great to prevent chaffing and blisters. Use it on your feet, thighs, and hips or anywhere for that matter

Wearing almost nothing is the whole point– light weight, good ventilation, freedom of movement, and the only reasonable combination with wind pants.

I consider this minimalist clothing for hot weather and brushless trails– not the stuff for cold wet weather and trails lined with devils club and nettles. I prefer to use zip-offs and forget windpants— it would just be needless duplication of layers and function.

Mobility is great on short shorts, but in the end you are almost wearing nothing.

And the problem is ???

Reminds me of what we used to wear for pack shorts … people like Appie hut boys and various trail crews …

* Start with a pair of old blue jeans
* Cut the legs off, leaving just enough to cover the pockets
* Undo the inseams up to the crotch (leave the crotch seams to hold things together)
* Undo the outseams up to the pockets

They were light, tough, and non-binding. Of course, I was younger and leaner then, too ….

— MV

No problem. Just whether youre personally comfortable with it or not. Until you try em on, you won't know how you feel is all im saying. 2 inches on paper is a lot different than 2 inches on you, whoever you may be. :)

For me, the only thing that has worked so far is spandex type running/bike shorts. I currently use the GoLite Stride (discontinued….booo) most of the time. I also have the Ibex Balance Runner short and intend to try the BPL Beartooth merino short. The liners in running shorts don't hold everything together well enough to prevent rubbing.

As a person with large legs I find shorts more and more comfortable the shorter they are. The magic for me are 5 inch inseams shorts. I too rock my shorts (sometimes)with Go-Lite Strides or UA Compression tights underneath for chafe reduction.

For just hiking or what have you, running shorts are easy to find, replace, clean, etc… All around tops!

Since I prize mobility above all in shorts 5 seams seems (HA!) pretty good for me!

Something like Bob's trail crew shorts are Patagonia's Stand Up shorts which are my go to shorts. Perfect for climbing and durable. If the hike will have any sort of climbing you can bet they are on.