Patagonia Hydro Planing Board Shorts

There are a few pretty sweet elements that go into these simple yet technical Hydro Planing Board Shorts. First of all, these Patagonia board shorts were stitched with Fair Trade Certified sewing—meaning they were ethically constructed and weren’t put together by an underage, overworked kid in a sweatshop. The UPF50+ fabric is also an eco-friendly 100% recycled polyester treated with a DWR coating.

The waistband is comfortable, and the drawstring passes through a double ladderlock for secure fastening that holds tight in bigger conditions. One of the coolest features is the shorts stuff into their own pocket, a self-storage design similar to that of many rain jackets. When stored, the key loop is on the outside of the pocket, and the packed shorts can be easily attached to the outside of a backpack if wet.

Our tester’s main complaint is that the fabric—while providing adequate stretch and comfort in and out of the water—doesn’t dry as quickly as some other technical, fast-drying board shorts. That said, the durability is what makes these board shorts a winner for the traveling surfer. Notched outseams don’t irritate the skin, nor do they snag or fall victim to run-of-the-mill abrasions. The internal draining hip pocket design separates the pocket material from the short’s outer fabric, meaning that it is less susceptible to damage, and a slash on the outer fabric won’t leave the pocket’s contents vulnerable.

Tester Comment: “I pretty much lived in these Patagonia board shorts in Indonesia. I’ve slept in them on multiple occasions, and once for multiple nights in a row—which I suppose says a lot about how comfortable they are… or how little clothes I have. Perhaps both."

Bottom Line: Durable technical (and ethical!) board shorts that are primed for daily life in the tropics.

Best For: Prolonged surf trips; daily use abroad