Outdoor Research Ferrosi Shorts : Travel, Climb, and Trail

Summer has arrived, so I've been living in Outdoor Research's awesome Ferrosi shorts. Climbing, trail runs, bike rides, trips through town, two vacations to Europe -- they've done it all, and done it admirably. 

If you're a guy and you like to travel, you may have noticed how much more pack space men's clothing takes up compared to women's. My folded cotton shirts are literally two to three times the volume as my girlfriend's, and when we travel it means my pack is way bigger and heavier. So I've started to avoid cotton when on the road. Instead I have been using tech tees and lightweight shorts. The trick is to find clothing that's compressible and light, but also extremely strong. The Ferrosi shorts fit the bill.

Available in both men's and women's styles, they're made of a Cordura nylon/Spandex blend, which is burly but also stretchy. I think it may well be the best fabric for outdoor and travel clothing. It's soft to the touch, it dries quickly, it packs small, and its stretchiness is a bonus for all my outdoor pursuits. These shorts do everything: they work as swim trunks, as casual "kicking it around town" shorts, and they're super strong so they can take any beating I can throw at them on the trail or on the rock. If I did cut them open, I'd feel good knowing that they're made of ripstop nylon, so the cut wouldn't get any bigger.

Outdoor Research's attention to detail shows through in the Ferrosi shorts. One thing I love is the soft, lined waistband. If I'm swimming in them or if I'm now wearing any underwear, the lining keeps them comfy. I love wearing them for climbing because the waistband never causes chafing under my harness (which happens with some of my other shorts). I also like the small zippered cargo pocket -- it's the perfect place to store keys, a spare $10 bill, or an ID and credit card.

In use, the stretch in theses shorts is something awesome. They move with me regardless of what I'm doing. Certain shorts are so constricting that I feel like I'm fighting with them. My Ferrosi shorts are a little baggy and oh-so-stretchy, so I have complete freedom of movement in all all-purpose travel short.

Available in green, brown, and black.

Bottom Line :  Stretchy, quick-drying, wind- and water- resistant short that's great for every summer sport imaginable. (NW, June '09) 

Price : $65 ,

Manufacturer's Site: www.outdoorresearch.com

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