Shorts

[CarlZog]

Alright, this may be slightly off topic and sound more than a little bit silly, but....

I'll be damned if I can find a decent pair of shorts anymore.

I'm not much of a fashion guru, so maybe somebody can tell me when and why men's shorts devolved back into knickers. All the sudden, everything being sold as "shorts" are hanging down around my knees. What's the point of that?!?

West Marine has discontinued their canvas cargo shorts, which have been my favorites for 10 years. Big pockets, 6-inch inseam, NO elastic waistbands, very durable. Perfect and practical. (the only thing I've ever gotten from them that I can say that about)

Does anybody else make anything like this? All I can find are baggy, ultra-long fashion statements made of worthless material and decked out with a dozen uselessly shaped pockets.

Even more practical companies seem to have fallen prey to this fad: Carrharts, Cabela's, Patagonia, Columbia.

Carl

[pcford]

http://www.exofficio.com/product_results.aspx?
category_guid=80cf7b98-1fea-4ee6-b982-7885442b1440

Paste the two together.

[TomF]

Lee Valley - but they're pricier than they should be.

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=10283&cat=2,42407

[Thorne]

Yeah, it gets me too -- I was wearing cut-off VietNam jungles (BDU pants) in the late 60's and early 70's == when everyone else thought it was totally wierd to wear shorts that 'long'. Now you can't buy short men's shorts, well, hardly.

Try climbing and backpacking stores --

http://www.toothoftimetraders.com/philmont/assets/product_images/PAAAIANGFGOJBOAD.jpg
http://www.toothoftimetraders.com/
http://www.usoutdoorstore.com/outlet/index.cfm/Mens_Shorts/Mens_Running_Shorts/fa/products.showDetail/sku/24591/Patagonia_Ultra_Shorts.htm

Even better, Patagonia still makes their great canvas Stand Up Short -
http://www.patagonia.com/tsimages/57220_943.fpx?wid=167&ftr=8&effect=dropshadow,0x000000,10,8,120,8&cvt=jpeg

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/search/esearch.jsp?OPTION=ESEARCH&N=0&special=both&Ntt=hiking+shorts&src=pkw&src=pkw

Also check out Cabela's - http://www.cabelas.com/
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/90/10/57/i901057sn01.jpg

[Nicholas Carey]

PataGucci :D makes lots.

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/product/collection.jsp?OPTION=COLLECTIONS_DISPLAY_HANDLER&catcode=MAIN.CLOTHING_GEAR.MENS.SHORTS

I like their Stand-Up shorts. Baggies are great for swimming, sailing, assorted playing in water.

[clancy]

CAMPMOR (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=61351&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=61294)

[Nicholas Carey]

You can go a bit further afield and get yerself a Utilikilt.

http://www.utilikilts.com/store/images/modelsimages/SNcapacity.jpg

They even offer -- should you need it :D -- the "beer gut cut" as an option.

If you're a Harley rider, they even have a version in black leather, so you can ride style.

[Kim Whitmyre]

Duluth Trading's DTPro shorts are nice but I find it hard to pay $50 for shorts! While googling tarps the other night, I came upon a nurseryman's supply house: Gempler's (http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/product.asp?T1=133992-30&UID=200608231603070158400542), that has these for $32

http://www.gemplers.com/pix/prod/P133992.jpg

Riggs Ranger Shorts, they call 'em.

[John B]

Carl, here's a gimmick which may work for you.
You buy 3/4 zip off leg pants. ( why do they have em ?I don't know) but there are 3/4 zip off leg pants out there. So you buys yer 3/4 units , zip off the bottom few inches and use the ex knee sections for cleaning rags. Wear the 'shorts':D

[Todd Bradshaw]

Hope that kilt comes with a self-defense kit. I have an old pair of Patagonia sailing shorts that are actually made from Sunbrella. It's nice to know that your butt isn't going to U.V. deteriorate or mildew when you're out sailing. It is rather curious how teen-hoodlum shoplifter pants have found their way into mainstream fashions.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/

Best shorts I have ever owned. Good stuff but not cheep.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/images/productImages/OM1714-219x.jpg

[Ken Hutchins]

Dickies work clothes available at many places.

[Nicholas Carey]

Hope that kilt comes with a self-defense kit.From the Utilikilt gallery, it appears that some guys like to stay well-ventilated in Iraq:

click thumbnails for larger images

http://www.utilikilts.com/gallery/albums/BatchUploadLocation/ORIGINAL/normal_COMBAT_KILT1.jpg (http://www.utilikilts.com/gallery/albums/BatchUploadLocation/ORIGINAL/COMBAT_KILT1.jpg) http://www.utilikilts.com/gallery/albums/BatchUploadLocation/ORIGINAL/normal_COMBAT_SCOTSMAN.jpg (http://www.utilikilts.com/gallery/albums/BatchUploadLocation/ORIGINAL/COMBAT_SCOTSMAN.jpg)

[Tim_H]

I just bought a few pairs of the shorts from West Marine in Port Townsend a few weeks ago. They still have that kind on the rack.

[cs]

What I do is when I retire a pair of khakis that I wear to work, the wife takes them and makes me a pair of shorts. BTW when I say khaki I refer to the style not the color. They make great shorts.

Chad

[Popeye]

capris are in this summer

[Figment]

.
Even more practical companies seem to have fallen prey to this fad: Carrharts, Cabela's, Patagonia, Columbia.


I only caught this on the re-read. My kneejerk reaction was that Columbia is the only "big label" making anything worth buying these days. I go to TJmaxx or Marshalls and paw through the racks, and lately it seems like every time I actually pull something off the rack for a closer look, it turns out to be Columbia. It's kinda freaky, actually.

I'll admit that I can't figure out what the drawstrings at the cuffs (do shorts have "cuffs"?) are for, but other than that the design is fairly sedate, they're comfy, and they seem to withstand my abuse better than the rest of the stuff on my shelf.

I share your disappointment regarding the recent "urbanization" of the Carhartt line, though.

[geeman]

I too have a problem with the much too long baggy shorts.If I want to wear shorts ,thats what I want to wear.I dont particularly care what the current style is.

[bamamick]

Gramici's. They are climbing shorts and give you a little extra room, if you know what I mean? They are really comfortable to sail in, but like many specialised garments they are pretty pricey. Around $40?

Mickey Lake

[troutman]

Stand Up Shorts. Take a lickin keep on tickin. For climbing, double seat. May out live you. Can't believe I was ever young, dumb and fit enough to actually climb in them.

[Nicholas Carey]

Stand Up Shorts. Take a lickin keep on tickin. For climbing, double seat. May out live you. Can't believe I was ever young, dumb and fit enough to actually climb in them.My PataGucci Stand-Ups (1st edition...c. mid-80s) are still in fine condition -- albeit a bit tattered 'round the edges. Sadly...the old waistline isn't in the same pristine condition :D

Back then they were made from two layers of #10 duck -- tough as iron. I used to have a pair of Stand-Up pants, made the same way. Bulletproof. Made Carhatts and Filson gear look lightweight. I actually got rid of them because they were too heavyduty.

[Vincent Serio III]

These Carhartts are good ones--you can get seconds at Sierra Trading Post at a reduced price.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/10015,23512_Carhartt-Washed-Duck-Work-Short-for-Men.html

[Peter Eikenberry]

I like Sportif shorts, http://www.sportif.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=25. They come in a variety of weight of cloth. I like the heavy cloth. It's not as heavy as canvas but almost. I have five or six pairs of these. One pair which I still have I bought in 1982. I've had to sew up a seam or two but it is not frayed or torn, no holes through the seat. They fit comfortably, are definitely not baggy. In the summer I wear these things all the time so they see a lot of use. Except for the first one that I bought in a sporting goods store, I have always bought these at boat shows. I think the lady at the Sportif booth at the Miami Boat show knows me by sight now.

[Roy Morford]

Up here in the frozen north we swear by Tilley's. They're not cheap but they have a real, life time guarantee. That's right, if you wear them out, they'll replace them. Very comfortable and all the pockets you could ask for. Check em out.
http://www.tilley.com/detail.asp?catId=13&gender=m&extractBy=CategoryId&id=8&productNo=TE20

[Sea Smoke]

Up here in the frozen north we swear by Tilley's. They're not cheap but they have a real, life time guarantee. That's right, if you wear them out, they'll replace them. Very comfortable and all the pockets you could ask for. Check em out.
http://www.tilley.com/detail.asp?catId=13&gender=m&extractBy=CategoryId&id=8&productNo=TE20
These are nice but OVER $100 for shorts?!?!?!

[Woxbox]

Last I was in an LL Bean outlet store they had such a thing as you're looking for, and also on the rack at West a couple of weeks ago. But you're right, everyplace else they're not so short anymore. And what are those little ties hanging out the cuffs for? A bit longer, and they'd be perfect breeches.

[Bradley Stemen]

Arborwear. Best working clothes you can find. Tough as Carharts but you don't have to walk around like the Tinman from Oz while breaking them in. Made for tree climbers, lots of room to move around. Don't have a hammer loop though. Their shorts are just their longs with the legs shortened up. Find them at arborwear.com.
Brad