Some of the best shorts I found while looking at cargo shorts were Columbia Sportswear brand shorts offered at REI. They seemed to be very well made, had nice size pockets and 9 inch inseams, and used a lightweight but sturdy cotton fabric which looked like it would wear well. Their main shortcoming was excessive use of Velcro. I should mention my Velcro fixation. I just don't like the stuff. It's often hard to open - pulling the pocket when it should be releasing, likes to close in any old position, causing bunches and wrinkles, and picks up stuff you don't really want stuck to your clothes. It's also uncomfortable, scratchy and makes garments with a lot of it rather stiff and heavy. To properly open a Velcro sealed pocket requires two hands - one to hold the pocket down and one to pull the Velcroed tab - and then it makes an annoying ripping noise. I'd like to be able to open my pockets without noise and with one hand.
One day two years ago, I accompanied my wife to Kohl's, a nationwide discount department store which had only recently invaded our stripmalls. I didn't expect to find anything exciting there. The general quality and selection isn't the greatest, but when wandering through the men's section I discovered that they had Columbia shorts. They didn't have a lot to choose from, basically just a wet short and a walking/cargo short, but the latter was a revelation. I know that clothing companies sometimes make an exclusive item just for a particular chain of stores, but it boggled my mind to discover that the Cameron Creek Cargo Short which Columbia makes exclusively for Kohl's is better made and has nicer features than the shorts from their main line which they sell through their more upscale outlets. Unlike other Columbia shorts there's not a bit of Velcro to be found on the CCC short. It has a metal rivet waist fastener, snaps on the rear pockets and double snaps on the cargo pockets. In addition it has riveted seams for even greater durability. And to cap it all off, on the outside of the right hand cargo pocket there's a nice, deep open-topped cellphone pocket. And those cargo pockets are brilliantly designed. Rather than having expansion space around the outside, they have two small expansion seams in the front. This means they can't hold as much as some, but they don't bulk out and get all puffy even when empty. Everything about these shorts is sleek, streamlined and efficient. They provide the utility of cargo shorts without the clumsiness which is the price you usually pay. And they're ever so comfortable - perfect for hiking or lounging about. They have soft, fine cotton with a really tight weave and a very light weight on the outside and a softer cotton/poly blend for the interior pockets and liners. There are only four colors, an off-white, a khaki, a moss green and a unique dark green-blue. They're also not too expensive. List price is $35, but they are regularly discounted to about $25 so you can stock up.
Article comments
1 - Tristan
I have heard soooo many women say men look absolutely ridiculous in shorts~~~
and that almost all men look much better in long pants than shorts .....
Is this "true" ....?
I know, personally, I love seeing a really hot girl in a pair of tight shorts ........... or short tights ....???
2 - Jon Sobel
Shorts recommendations! I love it. I actually needed to read this. Thanks, Dave!
3 - Dave Nalle
Tristan, all I can tell you is that gay men apparently like my legs in shorts - I've always assumed that carries over to women as well, but they're not willing to comment on it.
Dave
4 - Dave Nalle
Oh, the HORROR! Kohls has just brought in their summer merchandise for this year, and the design of Columbia's Cameron Creek short has been changed. Gone are the snaps and rivets to be replaced with velcro and double stitching. The cellphone pocket has been moved to a bizarre position behind the right cargo pocket, and the super-durable waistband rivet is now a crappy button.
Why can manufacturers never leave well enough alone? I imagine the new version is slightly cheaper to manufacture, but then it's not any better than anything else on the market, so who's going to buy it when you can get the same thing for $5 less?
Argh! Thump!
Dave
5 - mike
my favorite shorts of all time were black, pleated, velcro waistbanded jimmy'z. i cried when i finally had to throw them away. i found some similar a few years later. they were called "beatnik" and were constructed similarly - but the waistband was not thick. close enough though - i bought one in every color that they had. i still own some. although they are getting ready for the trash heap. i liked the jimmy'z better because the waistband was made of a thick rope like flat cotton material. black and it matched the shorts. i have looked for some like them on the internet and the only ones i have found are for incontinent seniors - i'm not ready for them yet!!!
6 - Keith
I love wearing shorts all the time too. I wish I could wear shorts to my job, but I cannot, long pants are required. Sometimes in chilly weather I will even wear my shorts w/a jacket since my arms get cold first. I live in Indiana so our weather changes quite a bit---but whenever stores have clearance sales on shorts, I buy them & stock up---my favorite are cargo shorts in khaki colors
7 - Keith
It is me again, I cannot believe no one commented since September 2006; but I still love we ring shorts and having bare legs. Wearing shorts is the greatest thing ever. I Love short pants and always will.