Our Nine Favorite Shorts for Summer

After a winter of long johns, Gore-Tex, and jeans, we’re ready to see our shins again. Here are nine great options to let those knees breathe.

Arc’teryx Bastion Long ($80)

Loose and flowy, these cotton and nylon shorts are at home on the approach and at dinner in the city. The midweight blend is breathable yet built to take a punch.

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Myles Everyday ($60)

Matched with a T-shirt, these nylon eight-inch-inseam shorts are great for a casual brunch. Take off the shirt and they’re great for the beach.

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Levi’s 511 Slim Cutoff ($60)

Jorts are so easy to do wrong, but Levi’s does them right. They come looking like they’ve been beat to hell and feature a trim fit and rolled bottoms.

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Kitsbow The Haskell ($165)

A solid dose of spandex allows these nylon shorts to stretch in every direction, making them ideal for the bike. But a slim, tailored fit means they also go great with a button-down.

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Chubbies All Days ($40)

“Sky’s out, thighs out” is the Chubbies tagline. These particular 5.5-inch-inseam shorts are tiny and expose half your thigh. Some can rock it. Some cannot. Figure out where you fall before buying.

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Fjällräven Barents Pro ($120)

With a double-layered seat and Fjällräven’s bomber cotton/poly blend, these trekkers are made for bushwhacking. We also dig the bevy of pockets that hold all your everyday carry essentials.

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Patagonia Stretch All-Wear Hybrid ($70)

Organic cotton with just a touch of spandex makes these great for long days playing by the water. Two side pockets, a key bungee, and the just-above-the-knee length let us take them hiking and camping, too.

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Nau Kush Chino ($80)

Clean lines and zero pretense: that’s what we appreciate about the Kush. The materials are environmentally friendly—organic cotton, recycled polyester, and hemp.

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Corridor Seersucker ($175)

Textured cotton makes these shorts stand out. High-quality cotton and hand stitching make them as comfortable as shorts get.

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