13 Best Travel Shorts for Women (All Types of Travel)

On my most recent trip to Colombia, I brought the full range of travel shorts from my favorite brands. I brought relaxed sweat-wicking shorts, athletic bike shorts, traditional jeans shorts and lightweight shorts for sleep.

For me, shorts have to perform well, especially because I’ll obviously be sweating in them. My travel shorts have to look good in photos, not show sweat stains, avoid chafing during activities like hiking and of course, function as comfortable and flattering travel apparel.

In this list, I review travel shorts I’ve tested from brands I trust. Each pair has a few helpful features that I’ll point out, so that you can decide which shorts will be a match for all your upcoming adventures around the world.

Quince Women’s Bella Stretch Vintage Shorts

I mean, gosh, they are perfect as classic jean shorts that travel everywhere. I got mine the morning before I went down to the beach for a long-weekend vacation and they were the only shorts I threw into my bag.

Edit: I wore them during the road trip down to the island, and the way back up, too. They get better with more wear: the denim gives, gets softer, more worn-in and comfy. The pockets are deep, they still fit at the waist no matter how much dinner I’ve had after a beach day and they look GREAT with a bikini top, or a loose tee.

As an update this year, I got them in a new size (I changed size) AND a new wash, the darker denim in Atlantic Blue. At a price that can’t be beat, there’s no reason not to stock up in case you wear one out, while traveling.

Here’s a bit on YouTube with me wearing the new size down in the darker wash:

DUER Women’s No Sweat Harbour Short

I find that the Harbour Shorts from DUER have the truest-to-size fit of all the DUER shorts I’ve tried. In fact, most DUER shorts have been big, and these fit just right in a size XS for me. What I like are the deep pockets and tie waist, which feel laid-back and cool and look good in vacation photos.

The placement of the back pockets reminds me of my favorite high-waisted jeans. Overall, these feel like a jean-sweatpant hybrid to me, which makes sense when I look at the complex blend of materials that make the fabric.

Nike Women’s High-Waisted 4” Biker Shorts (Pockets)

I’ve been working out in the Nike High-Waisted Biker Shorts for a few months now and they are my favorite for a bike ride at a hotel gym, or a mountain biking trip.

I think the highlight of these cool biker shorts is that they come in really fun colors, from rose pink and lavender to mint green and magenta. (Call me boring, but I have them in black.)

I plan to wear them during a lot of future hot-weather travel because they avoid leg chafing and “hold everything together,” especially when you get warm. The “medium support” is snug and comfortable, and I find myself reaching for them all the time. Make sure to check out the size chart when checking out. I wear a size S and it’s perfect.

Icebreaker Women’s Merino Blend 260 Seamless Rib 8” High Rise Shorts

Icebreaker is a brand known for merino wool products that make great travel apparel for both short and long trips. Maybe you saw how I even recommend Icebreaker’s Women’s Merino Blend 125 Cool-Lite™ Sprite Racerback Bra in my list of gear for solo female travelers!

The Women’s Merino Blend 260 Seamless Rib 8” High Rise Shorts are travel-minded in that they are form-fitting and functional for active performance while you’re on the road. The fabric blend is no joke: 37% Merino wool, 37% TENCEL™ Lyocell, 18% Nylon and 8% Elastane, they’re savvy for being worn tons of times before needing to be washed, and also have that stretch element. I recommend sizing UP, as they run VERY TIGHT, in my experience trying the XS.

For other features, added-coverage high waist, which I like for “keeping things together” on a really active day spent hiking.

REI Co-Op Active & Trail Shorts for Women

I’ve gotten into quite a few activities while traveling, from biking, hiking, caving and canyoning to zip-lining, hot air ballooning, rappelling and jogging. I guess I’ve broken a bunch of sweats during my worldwide adventures. For all these activities, there’s an REI Co-Op pair of shorts to match.

And that’s why I’m always looking at the styles from REI Co-Op for women’s travel shorts because REI Co-Op knows what they are talking about. I can’t even choose just one pair to suggest. From running “tights” shorts with side slip pockets to Bermuda Shorts and lined active pursuits shorts with a 4” inseam, REI Co-Op always has a product to accompany what you plan to get into. They all fold up small in your packing cubes and some come in HIGHLY inclusive sizing from women’s 0 to 26.

prAna Stretch Zion™ Cargo Short - Women’s

Okay, these Zion Cargo Shorts are so cool. Great for long-torsoed women and great for women who are on the tall side. These are the shorts for you and your travels! The stretch in these shorts makes them ideal for lunging during a hike, or lounging at the bay or a river bank. The two back pockets have super handy zippers, which in my opinion is ideal for staying theft-proof and avoiding pickpockets during a trip.

The front pockets are DEEEEP, deeper than other front pockets I’ve seen on women’s shorts. These help stash things like hotel card keys, trinkets, a little cash when you’re in a cash-forward country or even a seashell you find at the beach. Inclusive sizing runs from size 0 to 16, with two options for inseam lengths at a short 3” and a longer 5”, great for long legs.

Ibex Women’s Springbok Performance Shorts

As the only women’s shorts from Ibex, I trust that these travel shorts do it all.

The thermoregulating Springbok performance shorts are light and breathable, and have a built-in brief for helping you stay cool. As for travel bonus features, there’s a hidden interior pocket that’s perfect for keeping valuables safe, AND a back pocket with a zipper.

Wait, one more thing that I haven’t seen on many shorts for women: the Ibex Springbok Shorts have an interior elastic loop key holder. That’s so handy!

lululemon Women’s Fast and Free High-Rise Short 6”Pockets

Coming from one of my favorite athleisure brands lululemon is the travel-day-ready high-rise Fast and Free Shorts for women. I say they’re ready for a travel day because of that super handy side leg “drop-in” pockets for my phone. It’s the same pocket you’ll find on my lululemon Align High-Rise Leggings, which I mention as one of the best travel pants for women.

These shorts have weightless coverage and a 6” inseam, with a redesigned waistband that has three drop-in pockets to hold even smaller items. This is cool if you’re taking multiple flights, or just doing outdoor activities like hiking during a trip.

The fabric is sweat-wicking, breathable, quick-drying, stretchy and sleek, so there’s not much more to ask for.

Free Fly Women’s Bamboo-Lined Active Breeze Short – 3”

Outdoorsy brand Free Fly has another travel short for women: the Bamboo-Lined Active Breeze Short – 3”. It turns heads because of its feature that all shorts should have: a secure side zip pocket that comes in handy during workouts and activities.

On a travel day, enjoy the lightness and airiness of these lightweight shorts with UPF 50+ sun protection. What I like best is the “odor liner,” which is like a built-in brief to hide undies. My best advice when purchasing is to go for a dark color, because I have the light ones and they’re a little bit see-through. “Black” and “Blue Dusk” would be really nice.

Curious to see more of my experience with Free Fly? Check out my Free Fly women’s apparel review.

Quince European Linen Shorts

If you’ve tried Quince’s European Linen sheets (or even if you haven’t), their European Linen shorts are like a lightweight hug on your legs. They’re the easiest and breeziest style and feel for beach vacations, summer in Europe, lounging by the pool or walking down sunny streets in the tropics.

What I can recommend is also picking up the European Linen Shirt for an effortless yet matchy-matchy leisure linen set that’ll look classic in all your travel photos. They come in 10 colors and sizes XS-XL. I have them in Navy, but I hope to get them in more colors soon.

Nike Tempo Women’s Brief-Lined Running Shorts

If you’re packing light, why not take one pair of shorts that folds up super small for a hot-weather vacation? My Nike Tempo shorts have an easy activewear fit and a built-in brief that I really like for fitness-style shorts. I wear them around the house and they’re my top pick for quick pre-dinner yoga, most nights of the week.

The smooth woven fabric on these gives comfortable coverage while out walking, running, hiking or doing some treadmill workouts at a hotel gym. And like most Nike exercise gear for women, these shorts come in lots of color-pop hues from bright pink to royal blue. For sizing, consider sizing “up” because while they may run true to size for some women, I found that they run small.

Patagonia Women’s Baggies™ Shorts - 5”

This is a travel shorts list, so of course we have to include the Patagonia Baggies! They’re one of the products that Dan featured in the best travel shorts for men. They come in a women’s version and have the same throwback look: a high rise and relaxed fit.

They’re perfectly baggie and ready for travel action.

Patagonia’s Baggies shorts are known for a few things: coming in a number of fun colors (Pineapple Yellow, Pufferfish Gold, Salamander Green and Pimento Red, to name a few), coming in a lot of sizes (XXS to XXL), mesh pockets, a key loop and the durable water-repellent (DWR) finish.

Want them on sale? There seem to be a few colors on sale at any given time if you click the product page.

KUHL Women’s Freeflex shorts

Would you believe that the KUHL Women’s Freeflex shorts come in two flavors: “skort” and traditional shorts? These shorts are made for the outdoorsy woman looking for a chino-style pair of shorts to be worn in summer.

The superpowers of KUHL’s fabric are that it is quick-drying, moisture-wicking, has UPF 50+ sun protection and a luxuriously lightweight feel. These shorts come in 10 colors and five standard sizes, with two options for inseam lengths, 4” and 8” for different traveler tastes!