Patagonia Baggies Shorts - Women's Review

The Patagonia Baggies are known for their old-school style but are now built to include the benefits of modern design, such as a recycled nylon fabric for the body and an upgraded waistband design. The material is lightweight, water-resistant, and durable, making it a great fit for outdoor pursuits, even if the cut isn't quite as versatile as many of the other competitors. The sizing may be tricky to figure out, but it also depends on how baggy you want the shorts to look. These also come unlined and have wide leg openings, which can prove to be an issue despite the five-inch inseam, particularly when stretching or doing other floor activities (i.e., foam rolling), where there's a greater possibility of exposure than just straight hiking. Yet, the relaxed, casual, fun style mixed with various eye-catching patterns and colors is hard to ignore for folks who like to move comfortably and stand out during summertime activities.

Performance Comparison

Fairly average marks across all metrics except Fabric Performance rank this pair well below the top competitors in terms of total score, even if they are still a perfectly worthwhile pair for a variety of shoppers' needs.

Comfort and Mobility

Mobility isn't much of a concern with these shorts, given the larger leg openings, but we did find that high-stepping isn't as easy as other options due to a lack of stretch in the fabric. If you are not tackling deep stairs or boulders on the trail, you likely won't find this a problem. Average mixed-terrain hikes and even all-day casual wear worked out just fine during testing, but we found these shorts just didn't shine as much as we wished they would for any one purpose. The nylon is light and relatively soft but wrinkles easily, making them less easy to grab and go on days in town. One of our main gripes in their design used to be the waistband, but a recent update has included a softer, more comfortable elastic waistband that eliminates the complaint. Thus, our tester's primary critique now lies with the lack of stretch and how the shorts ride up on us when in use, producing wedgies over time, especially when hiking uphill. However, the deep hand pockets are a lovely and highly functional feature, and the increase in mesh lining is a noted plus.

Fabric Performance

The Baggies are airy and vent decently well. The nylon is treated with a water-resistant finish, which might diminish their breathability a tad, particularly on sweaty hikes. But in turn, this will keep them from soaking up sweat too rapidly as you cover miles, and we take comfort in knowing Patagonia uses a DWR that is free of “forever chemicals” (PFCs/PFAs). The combination of a five-inch inseam, wide legs, and mesh-lined pockets does a great job of airing out the shorts on hot days. Our drying test landed the pair in second place with a drying time of 23 minutes (only one minute behind the first-place competitor). This is certainly the metric where this pair scores the best and among the reasons why some hikers will continue to enjoy using this pair.

Versatility and Style

If you write a list of the most stereotypical summer activities, these shorts will likely prove of use in nearly all of them. From water sports to a picnic in the woods, these shorts take casual to a whole new level. They are easy to pull on, and we found that they perform decently for short runs, casual cycling, or even when engaged in easy bouldering. However, when big movements are involved, we found the potential for exposure a bit disconcerting. In such scenarios, it may be more comfortable to throw on some short tights underneath for confidence in action (which begs the question, are these the right shorts for the job?). However, exposure issues aside, Baggies are versatile from activity to activity and even fare well in town. Such “vintage” styling is trendy at the moment, and they fit that aesthetic well. But the design isn't stuck in the past, as many of the colors and patterns now on offer are modern and fun. Our lead tester wore them to the movies and happily received compliments. One other potential drawback is just how season-specific they are — great for summer but not very practical for colder temperatures or shoulder seasons.

Construction Quality

Somewhat minimally designed, there aren't many features to consider when assessing the components of construction. Their pocket design and functionality quality are high, spacious in size, and built of a soft mesh with reinforced stitching in high-stress areas. We can easily carry an iPhone, keys, and little knick-knacks. For our paperclip snag test, there were faint markings left behind, but nothing snagged or ripped. We also measured 12-13 stitching loops per inch, which for us lands construction quality in the great category, but not exceptional. We should also note that Patagonia offers a repair service for used and worn garments, which is a really handy option when you have a favorite pair of shorts you want to keep wearing for years to come.

Should You Buy the Patagonia Baggies?

The Baggies are a middle-of-the-road, relatively affordable option for varied summer adventures. They are backed by Patagonia's Ironclad Guarantee and the brand's ever-growing commitment to sustainability in manufacturing. So you can purchase with confidence. We think they offer good value for the price if what you seek is a simple, casual, lightweight pair of shorts. They may not have topped our list of performers when compared with other options in the lineup, but these shorts are still fun, airy, and comfortable enough for a casual afternoon outing, day hike, or days by the water. The baggy style is catching on in the industry (some might even say that these are all the rage), and if that fit works for you, then these shorts will surely become a wardrobe staple.

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