Gear Review: Patagonia Baggies
When I returned to Vermont from England this summer, I only had one pair of shorts in tow - my black Patagonia Baggies. Previously, my Baggies had been something I wore on hikes and that’s about it. This summer, however, would be different.
After leaving my other worn-out shorts behind in the UK, I figured I’d finally put the Baggies through a true test. I wore them literally every day. I hiked, swam, biked, worked, went out for casual drinks, and more, all while wearing them. After a week or two of seeing me in the same outfit day after day, my mom tentatively said, “um do you have another pair of shorts?” This prompted me to buy a second pair of Baggies.
Anyway. Finding a good pair of shorts is usually challenging for me. I don’t often like the style of women’s shorts and men’s shorts don’t generally fit me well. Baggies changed that for me - they are just a good, comfortable, functional, everyday staple with a fairly non-gendered style.
The Details
$55
Available in sizes XXS-XXL
Made of lightweight 100% recycled nylon with durable water repellent
Elastic waistband w/ inner drawcord
Deep mesh pockets
Regular rise
Relaxed fit
The Good
Pockets!!
If you’ve ready anything else on Wild Wanderer, you’ve probably heard me complain about the pocket situation in women’s shorts/pants. These are the exception! I can put my keys or wallet in these pockets without worrying about them falling out if I sit down or bend over or simply exist. Good job, Patagonia.
Colors
I like that there’s a good range of colors and patterns whether you buy the women’s or men’s version of these shorts. If I buy the women’s, I can get black and dark blue. If I buy the men’s, I can get pink and purple. I love that Patagonia didn’t limit the options to stereotypical gendered color choices.
Quick-dry
These shorts dry really quickly! In my experience, they have fully dried in the sun in about 15 minutes. Also, because of the material, they don’t cling uncomfortably even when they’re wet or damp. I have happily stopped for a mid-hike swim in these shorts, returned to the trail without changing, and been comfortable the whole way through and dry within minutes.
Worn Wear
I really love Patagonia’s Worn Wear program, which lets you shop for used/repaired gear at a lower price. Better for your wallet and the environment - a win/win! I always start my search with Worn Wear and move to Patagonia’s regular site if I can’t find what I’m looking for.
The Bad
Flare
I really don’t have much bad to say about these shorts. But, if I were to be nit picky, I would say that there’s a slight flare at the bottom of the leg that I don’t love. It certainly doesn’t stop me from wearing them, but I do notice it and feel slightly irked by it.
Length
I wear the women’s 5” baggies but I’d be curious to try the men’s version and see how they differ just for kicks. I think the length options could be improved between the men’s and women’s versions, too.
The women’s version comes in a 5” inseam or a 2.5” “Barely Baggies” inseam. For the men’s, the options are 5” and 7”. The men also get a 6.5” hemp version of the baggies, while the women only get a 3” option for hemp. Anyway - just saying.
Biking
The one activity I have found that doesn’t agree with Baggies is biking. The inseam is too short and they ride up and are not comfortable or functional, in my opinion, while in the saddle. On multiple occasions, I’ve had my bike seat get caught in my shorts while trying to get on/off. While I’m sure this is humorous to any onlookers, it’s less than ideal as a rider.
One last thought is that Patagonia could do a bit more to up their size inclusivity game by offering larger sizes.
Final Thoughts
Patagonia markets these as “everyone’s favorite shorts.” While this is true for me, I am really curious to hear from all sorts of different people - is this true for you, too? Do they work for all different body shapes and sizes? I don’t know - I’m only me. Leave your thoughts in the comments!