Free Fly Men's Reverb Short Review: Do-It-All Travel Shorts

I’ve had great luck with Free Fly travel apparel for men, from their famous hoodies, to layers and accessories.

The Reverb Shorts are one of the staple products they make, and surprisingly, I only just got them. These shorts are made from Free Fly’s best-selling Reverb fabric, which is a performance material that wicks moisture and odors. In addition to being a “hanging by the water” pair of shorts, they work great for travel days, hanging out, lounging and outdoor activities.

This is my first impressions review of the Free Fly Men’s Reverb Shorts. Make sure to check out my photos and some details about the fit, before you shop.

What makes the Reverb Short special

The Reverb Short is designed as a jack-of-all-trades performance short. Believe me, I’ve owned quite a few of those types in my day. I tend to own “performance shorts” from all the brands I like. Then, I compare them all and see which ones come out on top: those are the ones I reach for when I open my “shorts drawer.”

The Reverb Shorts are part athletic short, swim short and casual everyday short. The quick-dry, water-resistant construction means they dry super quick. This means I tend to wear them to our local pool, or on beach vacations, knowing that they’ll dry by the time we hang out to barbecue outside. I don’t have to have a second pair of shorts with me.

The fabric is a blend of polyester, cotton and spandex. This gives you 4-way stretch for freedom of movement. It’s also a quick-dry material that doesn’t weigh me down after getting some splashes from the ocean, or the lake.

And even more special is they look good with a few different types of tops: mostly, I pair them with pocket tees or T-shirts, but I also wear a long-sleeve tee on top, or throw on a hoodie. With my Birkenstocks on my feet, or sometimes my Native sandals, I’ve got a solid travel outfit on and I’m vacation photo-ready, too.

Fit and comfort

The 7” inseam is pretty average, so it’s not a super short style, but it’s more of an athletic short that can also be a casual/decent short. I actually plan to also wear them as pool shorts or beach shorts.

I rarely go in the water, so I don’t need actual board shorts. (Yep, that’s right: I love to travel, but you won’t see me swimming in the ocean, or quite frankly, on a boat, all to often.) Having water-adjacent shorts is my hack. I never really have to pack a swimsuit, but having shorts like the Reverb Shorts gets me through a summer day where water is nearby.

The fit: on the thigh, it is a little bit tapered, which I like, because I don’t like wide leg holes that make shorts overly baggy and goofy. These do the trick for me in terms of flattery, as I have an athletic build. These are just the types of shorts I go for: not too long, not too thin, not too wide-legged.

The elastic waistband with drawcord gives both some laid-back design, as well as adjustability, if you sized up for whichever reason and you need to tie them to keep them snug.

One more thing: there’s a back patch pocket for keys or wallet, which is handy for travel. My only complaint is that they don’t have two back pockets, but that’s kind of the almost-boardshort design.

Performance features

The Reverb fabric keeps moisture to a minimum and keeps anyone comfortable during active travel days. The UPF 40+ offers sun protection–I expect this from all of Free Fly’s apparel, and I remember reading about their UPF protection the first time I got clothes from Free Fly.

Becca actually had the Reverb Shorts in the women’s version last year and was excited when I got them. First off, so that we could match, but second, because she knows they work great for humid- and tropical-weather travel.

Care and durability

The care instructions are simple: machine wash cold with like colors and tumble dry low. Ask Becca, though, and she won’t put these in the dryer, as she keeps anything but cotton out of the dryer. Along with her Reverb shorts, mine will also hang dry on our drying rack with no dryer treatment. This preserves the spandex stretch.

The Free Fly Men’s Reverb Short is quickly becoming my go-to for any travel day that might involve activity, whether that’s hiking, exploring a new city, or just dealing with unpredictable weather.

Bottom line: do they deliver?

The Free Fly Men’s Reverb Short delivers on its promise as a do-it-all performance short. The fit works well for my athletic build, the fabric performs in humid conditions, and the versatility means I can wear them from morning hikes to evening dinners while on vacation.

Whether this would be your first time wearing Free Fly, or if you’ve been a fan of the brand since the start, having the Reverb shorts in your summer attire for travel and for lounging is a good idea. They’re a pretty timeless choice that lives many lives, from my perch on the couch at home to the beach, and more.

Next steps: where to get them

• Shop the Free Fly Men’s Reverb Short
• Free Fly Men’s Bamboo Lightweight Fleece Hoodie Review
• Free Fly Men’s Seawool Flannel Shirt Review
• Best Travel Shorts for Men
• Travel Apparel Reviews