Looking for Recomendations for Shorts

You just want lightweight running shorts. Paper thin nylon. Elastic waist. Some have pockets, some don’t — maybe an inside pocket for a car key or credit card. They weigh nothing.

Rather than point you to some $$$ option, all of the running companies (Nike, Adidas, Brooks, New Balance, and on and on) make them in various lengths (3 inch, 5 inch, 7 inch, etc). This is the kind of thing you can easily pick up at the discount outlets (TJMAXX, Marshalls, etc.) — despite the current trend in men’s shorts for mid-calf capri length. From what you describe, the 5} version should be fine — about the length of boxer shorts.

Most will have liners, which you could cut out if you like, although it’s probably not necessary.

Brooks Essential Run Short

I like to run so my hiking shorts do double duty.

I really love my Haglofs "Intense" shorts (great colour choices) but I find them a little short to hike in so I have a pair of Pearl Izumi "Elite Infinity LD" which are perfect for fair weather hiking. Both have a really comfy liner so no need for underwear and the Pearl Izumi shorts have lots of little pockets perfect for trail snacks!

Both were bought from flash sale websites for less than half of their retail price – not sure I'd pay full price for them. … saying that, I'm not sure I want to pay full price for anything.

Patagonia Baggies? Or like hwc, pretty much any running shorts.

Boardshorts! Hurley are my favs. You can go commando in them, they're stretchy and the most comfortable short I've found for surfing, yoga, muay thai, jiu jitsu, backpacking, running, etc. … I do everything in board shorts.

REI in Berkeley has black nylon "travel" underwear that also can be used for swimming and even hiking, although they have the usual male design in the front; you just have to be careful around others for modesty's sake. I wear them as underwear when backpacking because after being washed they dry so quickly–in an hour or so usually. But I would definitely hike in these alone while my pants dried from a wash. Although I usually just wear my nylon pants wet and let them dry that way.

Thanks folks for all the suggestions.

I learned many things, including that there are some freaking expensive running shorts out there!

I ordered a pair of cheapo ones for $14 from amazon, and finally succumbed and also ordered Patagonia Strider shorts for $45. The latter are pretty close to the Patagonia ones I'm replacing (from maybe 8 years ago). Since I'm both a Patagonia fan and a Tolkien fan, these will probably do. ;-)

I've bought various Nike, Brooks, and addidas running shorts from TJMAXX in the $14 to $16 range. You don't have to pay a fortune for them. I'm partial to the NIKE 7 inch Essential Running Short. A little longer, so they can be worn to the store. Front hand pockets and a zipper wallet pocket on the back, so there's a place for car keys, a wallet, and a phone. Fine for running. Great for working out. I've worn them hiking, although the fabrics are a bit light for wear and tear on rocks and brush. Good all-around super light short.

Patagonia Baggie shorts are hiking shorts, swim suits, and suffice around town. You can't kill them or even tear them. A friend sharpened his metal-edged skis so much he shaved his leg in a fall THOUGH his Baggie long pants. Which were undamaged. You do need to replace the elastic in the leg holes of the mesh liner every 30 years, but then they're good to go.

But going UL, I'd also have a pair of Jockey UW in black that looks like bike shorts but is far lighter and quicker drying. And switch between them.

I have those Patagonia Strider shorts and love them. I think they changed a bit since, at least the way they look, but they have nothing I don't want or need and not big logo. Cut out the inner.

"Patagonia Baggie shorts are hiking shorts, swim suits"

Definitely. I saw the 8+ oz stat and realized these were more like "real" shorts. Also the belt loops gave it away. Somewhere I got out of wearing shorts, even in the desert. I feel like the 4 oz striders might be ok in a pinch while hiking with tights, but they are definitely a multi-purpose item like gloves that stay in the pack much of the time.

Patagonia baggies don't have belt loops, just a draw string. My medium (5" inseam) sans inner weighs 5.4 ounces. The material to tough, tough, tough. The lightest shorts I have ever found are Pargonia Field Shorts at 2.4 ounces. No pockets though, if you need them.