These shorts are still a staple in my hiking, and here they are, nearly 10 years after I originally wrote this article
From time to time, I will be reviewing some of the gear that I use. Since I only use stuff that I like, most of the these reviews will be positive. I will be honest in addressing any potential flaws. I was not compensated in any way.
For those interested, here is a list of my gear that I have found works well for me. This is, of course, an affiliate link and your enjoyment of these may vary:
This review is for the prAna Men's Stretch Zion Short (Amazon affiliate link). I first found a pair of these shorts several years ago on the clearance rack outside side of REI for about $25. The material is 97% Nylon and 3% Spandex.
Since then, I have not seen these shorts anywhere near that price. These were an older version that had stiff but stretchy fabric with netted pockets and were quite comfortable, stain-resistant and wrinkle-free. I stuffed them in my backpack or suitcase and they always looked good. I've been wearing them regularly since and I see no visible signs of wear. They are made from strong material to withstand years of abuse. Since I liked them so much, I recently decided to order more since I will be spending more time out on the trails.
The current year's version lists for about $74 (2023), but are for some reason hard to find these days, especially in large.
I just received the new shorts the other day and the fit was excellent. The only difference I can see between the older version is that the back pocket is not zippered on the new version, which isn't a big deal for me. It has a built-in belt that I pretty much set and forget and find it easy to wear under lumbar or overnight pack belts. Other shorts that I own tend to restrict my movement up the steeper parts of the trail, but these shorts do no such thing due to the stretchy fabric.
I like that I can travel with these and they always look great and fresh. Dirt seems to slide right off of them. I’ve been wearing some for over 14 years and they still look fairly new.
I love these shorts and can't recommend them more.
