Looser and better designed than last year's from The North Face, these make a cool option for various warm weather activities. With good coverage but a loose fit, you'll enjoy adequate sun protection but avoid overheating. The of the nylon fabric is enhanced by laser-cut holes and a good serving of elastane means you can wear these for rock climbing as well as hiking and biking.
For stashing gear, there are four zipped pockets to choose from: two on the hips and two on the thighs which make accessing your phone easier even when you're mountain biking on rough terrain. The stretchy waistband is really comfortable, but it's not adjustable, so size carefully and we do recommend sizing down. The men's version doesn't have a real fly, and we'd like to see some recycled content used, but we've enjoyed various activities wearing these in warm weather and been comfortable all day long.
Last year I tested The North Face Stolemberg Alpine Slim Straight shorts and liked them a lot, but had issues with the waistband and fit. These shorts strike me as the new-and-improved version. We haven't got to shorts weather in Scotland yet, but I recently tested them on a hike, a mountain bike ride and a during a press trip to Corsica with The North Face.
Here’s how they performed: I tested a small and I would say these shorts run a little large. It wasn't a problem, but I'm aware that the waistband doesn't tighten, so if they were any larger I would have had difficulty keeping them up. I'd be bet.
