Columbia Battle Ridge Short

Lightweight, quick dry nylon shorts great for hot, humid days. Also works well for canoeing and fishing where you might get wet and what to dry off fast if you do. Demonstrates the quality that Columbia normally builds into their "active" line of clothing.

Columbia's Battle Ridge shorts can be found at most department stores, mine came from Belk on sale for $29.  They are made of nylon with polyester mesh pockets, with two inseam lengths - 9 inches and 11 inches.  Two front pockets and two back pockets.  The right back pocket has a zipper but the left side only has a small Velcro patch.  There is also one cargo pocket on the right side, again secured by one Velcro patch.  Mine are dark green, with other colors offered as well.

The medium size fit my 34" waist very comfortably without the need for a belt, and the 9inch inseam falls just above the knee (which is still too long, but what can you do these days?)  The front pockets are very deep, which is good in that nothing falls out. However, it does lead to your car keys being uncomfortably low down on your thigh. Issue for me, may not be for others. The velcro patch on the back right pocket isn't big enough to secure the pocket, which matters to me as that is where my wallet goes. 

The interior mesh pockets and other details seem to be firmly attached and up to the quality that folks expect from Columbia.  There is also a bit of contrasting interior sticking and an extra waist button. The belt loops accept a 1" belt.  The waist button stayed buttoned.

I've used these shorts on several outing, including a week long Scout summer camp, and several hikes.  Generally speaking, you can wear the shorts for several days straight without issue or smell.  They are great in hot, humid weather with excellent breathability. They are not overly baggy, and fit well under a pair of rain pants without riding up.  No chafing or other issues.

Of note, I've been very impressed with their quick drying capability. I've gotten soaked in a rainstorm and the shorts dried within 45 min or so, even though the humidity was around 80%. Also I was able to push through a blackberry patch on a couple of occasions and the shorts don't show any damage from the thorns.  At the Scout camp, it rained almost every day, and the shorts were dry and ready to go each morning.

Overall I've been very happy with them and am considering buying a couple more colors to go with my green ones.