Columbia All Seasons Long Shorts: Honest Review
The Columbia All Seasons Long Shorts earned a permanent slot in my hiking kit after surviving a muddy ridge trail, a sweaty two-hour drive home, and three back-to-back weekend outings without complaint.
The trail smelled like wet pine and last night’s rain when I pulled on the Columbia All Seasons Long Shorts for the first time at a trailhead parking lot sometime around seven in the morning. The air had that cool-bite quality that makes you second-guess shorts entirely, the kind where you stand at the car deciding between your fleece-lined tights and something lighter. I went lighter. An hour in, the sun crested the ridge and the temperature climbed fast, and I was deeply grateful for the nine-inch inseam, the quick-dry nylon, and the fact that I’d made exactly the right call.
The First Time I Wore It
I found these while deep in a browser spiral looking for versatile outdoor pants and shorts that could handle shoulder-season hiking without committing to full-length tights. Most of what I was seeing was either too short for scrambling through brush or stiff enough to make me feel like I was wearing khaki board shorts from 2007. The nine-inch inseam on these stopped me. That length is genuinely useful outdoors, not a fashion statement.
I ordered the black colorway, solid and clean, the kind of thing that disappears into a kit and just works. When they arrived, the fabric felt noticeably different from my usual cotton-blend hiking shorts — lighter, crisper, with a subtle sheen that telegraphed performance without shouting it. I took them out the following Saturday, and they haven’t left my rotation since.
How It Actually Fits in Training
The relaxed fit here is genuinely relaxed, not the modern “relaxed” that’s basically a straight leg with extra marketing. There’s real ease through the hip and thigh, which matters when you’re stepping over roots or climbing short scrambles where your legs need full range of motion without pulling fabric taut across the quad. The waistband sits where it should and stayed there across four hours of varied terrain on my first outing, with zero rolling or creeping down. The nylon-spandex blend has just enough stretch built in that you feel the give before you hit resistance.
“The relaxed fit moves like you forgot you’re wearing shorts, which is exactly how outdoor gear should feel.”
The length is where these hiking shorts earn their keep. Nine inches covers enough of the thigh to protect against light brush contact and sun exposure without trapping heat the way longer styles do. One honest note: the pockets are functional but not deep enough to fully secure a large phone on a steep descent without a hand on it. If that matters to your kit, plan accordingly. For everything else, the fit holds up well, as even Outside’s gear editors have noted that inseam length is one of the most underrated specs in outdoor bottoms.
The Sessions I Actually Wore It For
Session 1: Six-Mile Loop Trail, Early Saturday Morning
Gray sky, cool air, damp ground. I paired the shorts with a moisture-wicking base layer top, trail runners with a rock plate, and a lightweight wind shell stuffed in my pack. The nylon-spandex fabric handled the dew-wet brush without soaking through, dried fast when the sun came out, and never clung to my legs the way synthetic blends sometimes do when they get damp. By mile four, I’d completely stopped thinking about what I was wearing, which is the benchmark.
Session 2: A Casual Afternoon Urban Hike and Errand Run
Not every outing is a peak bag. Sometimes it’s a three-mile walk through a park and a grocery run and a coffee stop. The black solid colorway and clean silhouette of these outdoor shorts meant they passed without a second glance off-trail. I wore them with a simple crewneck and low-profile sneakers, and they read as intentionally casual rather than accidentally athletic. The quick-dry fabric doesn’t wrinkle the way cotton does, so they looked sharp enough for everything on my agenda.
Session 3: A Humid, Cloudy Day Hike with Variable Weather
This was the day that really tested the weather-resistant claim. The trail started dry, turned misty midway through, and delivered a brief, stubborn drizzle around the two-hour mark. The shorts shed light moisture well, and while they’re not waterproof, the weather-resistant finish bought enough time to pull out a rain shell before anything saturated. They dried within fifteen minutes once the rain stopped. That quick turnaround is the kind of practical performance that earns real loyalty on a trail. For more context on what to expect from a versatile outdoor activity kit, it’s worth thinking about layering systems rather than asking any single piece to do everything.
What Other People Are Saying
This product is relatively new to its current market position, and a wide review pool hasn’t fully developed yet.
Based on the early ratings, the pattern that emerges is consistent with my experience: people are responding to the fit and the versatility, and the criticism, where it exists, tends to be about pocket depth rather than fabric or construction. That’s a specific, fixable complaint, which tells me the foundational design is solid.
Who Should Skip It
If you run hot and prefer a shorter inseam for maximum airflow on high-intensity cardio hikes, these nine-inch hiking shorts may feel slightly long and warm on steep climbs in full summer heat. The relaxed fit also won’t appeal to anyone who prefers a more streamlined, body-skimming silhouette. If your outdoor activity leans heavily toward scrambling in technical terrain where you want shorts locked against your body, a fitted cut with a gusseted crotch designed specifically for climbing would serve you better. And if you need a built-in liner for trail runs or extended athletic sessions, these aren’t built for that use case. See our editor’s top activewear picks if you need something more performance-forward for running-specific outings.
What It Replaces in My Kit Bag
I had an older pair of nylon cargo-style outdoor shorts that I’d been wearing out of habit more than affection. They were heavier, sat higher, and had so many pockets that the silhouette bordered on tactical-cosplay. These Columbia hiking shorts do the same job in half the visual noise. They replaced the cargo pair for everything except trips where I genuinely need to carry small gear on my body rather than in a pack. For styled-down outdoor days, weekend travel, and the majority of trail outings I actually do, these are the pick. They’ve also quietly nudged out a cotton-blend pair I kept reaching for in cooler weather, because the quick-dry performance makes the nylon the smarter call even on mild days.
If you’re building out a complete outdoor kit, browsing outdoor tops that pair well with technical shorts or checking the outer layer options for shoulder-season hiking is worth the time, because the way these shorts layer with a packable shell is part of what makes them work so well across conditions.
FAQ
How does the relaxed fit translate for different body types?
The relaxed cut gives real ease through the hip and thigh, which works well for athletic builds and fuller thighs. If you carry more volume through the seat and quad, this fit profile will feel comfortable rather than snug. Those with a narrow hip who prefer structure may find the silhouette a bit boxy.
How well does the fabric handle sweat on a hard hike?
The moisture-wicking nylon-spandex blend moves sweat away efficiently and dries noticeably fast, even in humid conditions. After a two-hour hike with significant elevation, the shorts didn’t feel heavy or clammy, which is the real test.
Can these be worn for activities beyond hiking?
Yes, and that’s part of the appeal. The clean silhouette and solid colorway transition well to casual urban wear, light travel days, and general outdoor exploration. They’re not a dedicated running or gym short, but they’re versatile enough for most non-technical outdoor movement.
Does the build quality match what you’re paying for?
For what you’re paying, the level of finish here reads above what you’d expect at this tier. The seams are clean, the fabric resists pilling after repeated washes, and the waistband has held its shape across multiple outings without stretching out or folding over.
How does sizing run, and what should I know before ordering?
The relaxed fit means these tend to run true to size without the snugness that can make athletic fits feel smaller than labeled. If you’re between sizes and prefer a slightly more fitted look, sizing down is a reasonable call, but the standard size will give you the intended ease the design is built around.
The Verdict
Next Saturday I’ll be back on the same ridge, probably with a heavier pack and an earlier start time, and these shorts will be on. That’s the most honest recommendation I can give: I’m not reaching for them because I’m reviewing them. I’m reaching for them because they work. The all-season versatility is real, not just a marketing category, and the quick-dry fabric earns its claim on every damp or unpredictable day. The relaxed fit is genuinely freeing on uneven terrain, and the nine-inch inseam hits a sweet spot that most hiking shorts either overshoot or undershoot. If you want a detailed comparison against other technical bottoms before committing, the Runner’s World gear team covers adjacent performance categories well, and broader roundups like those from Self’s best workout clothes guides can help you see where a piece like this sits in the wider activewear landscape. These aren’t precious gear. They’re not trying to be. They’re the kind of reliable outdoor hiking shorts you pull on without thinking because they’ve already proven they can handle whatever comes. If you’re looking for an accessible everyday trail piece that punches above its tier in finish and function, these are a clear, confident yes. And if you’re shopping for someone else, they’d make an excellent addition to any outdoor gear gift list.
Verdict: The Columbia All Seasons Long Shorts are a no-fuss, high-function outdoor short that earns its place in a real kit, not just a product photo.
Every Angle
The piece as photographed for Amazon — front, side, back, detail.
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