Hiking Boots With Shorts – How To Wear Them Together

Hiking boots with shorts is a casual, comfortable, and stylish look for warm-weather hikes.  Best of all, nearly everyone already owns a pair of shorts.  But putting together the look the right way is in the details… so, how do you wear hiking boots with shorts?

You can wear hiking boots with shorts by pairing your favorite pair of boots with well-fitting and breathable shorts that are kneecap length or higher and with hiking socks that are appropriate for warm weather.

We’ll go a little further in depth below on how to wear shorts with hiking boots.

Can You Wear Hiking Boots With Shorts?

You can absolutely wear hiking boots with shorts.  In fact, it will keep you much cooler than wearing hiking pants on the trail during hot weather.

You just need to make sure to wear the right kind of shorts with your hiking boots so that everything looks as it should, which we’ll cover next.

Can You Wear Hiking Boots With Shorts
Can You Wear Hiking Boots With Shorts?

How To Wear Hiking Boots With Shorts

Here are some things to keep in mind to make sure your shorts and hiking boots look great together.

Wear The Right Socks With Your Hiking Boots And Shorts

It’s important that your socks do a good job of keeping your feet and ankles free of sweat, as moisture buildup can lead to hot spots or blisters.

We don’t recommend wearing boots and hiking shorts without socks, as that’s a recipe for disaster and will be very uncomfortable.

Try wearing hiking socks that come up to at least the height of your boots so you don’t have the upper boot rubbing on your ankles or calves as you hike.

Consider wearing hiking sock liners for extra protection against sweat and to keep your feet cool.

Proper Hiking Short Length To Wear With Hiking Boots

Most hiking shorts should sit at or above your knees when standing.  If you prefer to go shorter than that, no problem, but we do not recommend going with long, droopy shorts.

There’s two reasons for this: one is that the longer your shorts, the less ventilation you get and the more sweat you are dealing with.  Second, having the right length hiking shorts to wear with your boots also gives you better range of motion to climb and descend hills and to maneuver around obstacles on the trail.

For most people, the best length shorts for hiking will be around 7”, and up to 9” if you’re a little taller than average.

Proper Hiking Short Width To Wear With Hiking Boots

The leg opening on your shorts can vary quite a bit between manufacturers and styles, so it’s important to pay attention here.

A leg hole that’s super wide is going to look funny and also makes your legs look unnatural, so try to find shorts that match the shape of your legs but still offer some room to move around.

In other words, don’t go skin-tight or for something that looks like a little kid would wear.

Consider The Trail You’re Hiking

Plan ahead so you know the layout and terrain that you’ll be hiking.

If you’re hiking a trail that has lots of underbrush or bushes, you are probably better off wearing lightweight and breathable hiking pants to protect your legs from scrapes and insects.

Many warm-weather hiking pants also can convert to shorts so you have some flexibility going with this option.

Advantages Of Wearing Shorts With Hiking Boots

Hiking Shorts Keep You Cool

The extra airflow you’ll get by wearing hiking shorts instead of pants will cut down on moisture and allow sweat to evaporate quicker, keeping you more comfortable on hikes during warm weather.

This dryness will also prevent chafing and skin irritation which is a big plus.

No Tucking Or Rolling

You don’t risk your pants legs being too long when wearing shorts with hiking boots, as the shorts never need to be rolled up or tucked in to your boots – easy!

Water Crossings Are Easier

If you’ll be hiking across streams, creeks, or rivers, you’ll stay drier overall by wearing hiking boots with shorts rather than pants.

Of course, the water level may not come up as high as your shorts and your legs will dry much faster being exposed to air.

If your shorts do get wet, the extra airflow will allow them to dry faster which is a win-win.

How To Wear Hiking Boots With Shorts
How To Wear Hiking Boots With Shorts

What Kind Of Shorts Should I Wear With Hiking Boots?

We’re assuming that you’ll be going hiking if you’re reading this guide, so considering that, you’ll want to make sure your hiking shorts are breathable, quick-drying or moisture-wicking, not too long or wide, and are not 100% cotton or denim.

Breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying shorts will keep moisture from irritating your skin, which is important.

Don’t wear jean shorts, denim, or anything 100% cotton like sweatshorts as cotton can hold a lot of moisture and doesn’t dry easily.

Ideally, look for lightweight shorts that have synthetic materials (or at least a cotton-synthetic blend) of polyester or nylon that will help them keep sweat at bay.

Additionally, go for hiking shorts with belt loops so you can pair a hiking belt to keep those shorts up, or a hiking fanny pack to carry your stuff.

Other Shoes You Can Wear Besides Hiking Boots With Shorts

If you’re hiking in warm weather, hiking boots may not always be your best option.  Sure, they provide the most protection, but you run the chance of getting super-sweaty feet and they can be heavier than other choices available to you.

You can consider trail runners, minimalist hiking shoes, barefoot and minimalist hiking boots, and even hiking sandals that will all pair great with shorts.

Wrapping Up Wearing Hiking Boots With Shorts

As we covered, there’s plenty of benefits to wearing boots and shorts together for hiking, and it’s pretty easy to get a great look by paying attention to a few small details.

Have any tips or recommendations?  Leave them in the comments below.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the hike!

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