Patagonia Barely Baggies: The World’s Best Casual Shorts?

Tackle Village is reader supported. If you buy a product through links on the site we may make a small commission

Updated on:
Purple Barely Baggies 1

Sometimes, it’s nice to just chill at home, in the yard, or on the beach in a baggy top and casual shorts.

Good casual shorts can be hard to come by – that’s why the Patagonia Barely Baggies are a standout pair of shorts for women.

They have a lower rise and shorter inseam than the original Baggies which makes them more comfortable if you like your shorts to genuinely be short.

In terms of practicality, Barely Baggies Shorts have two side-entry pockets (one on the left and one on the right) and a top-entry mesh pocket. Patagonia has lined the pockets with polyester mesh which lets any water or sand drain out nicely.

The slits on each leg allow for greater mobility which is always handy when moving around in the wild.

If you are on the hunt for a great pair of casual shorts, you may have just found them!

What are Barely Baggies?

Barely Baggies are the highest cut version of Patagonia’s Baggies Shorts range for women.

They are made from 100% recycled nylon so they are a tough pair of casual shorts and are equally as comfortable in the wild as you are. To add to the Barely Baggies toughness, they have also been finished with DWR – durable water repellent.

The low-rise cut adds an element of style as well as increasing comfort even more.

Barely Baggies are designed to be quick-drying, no-frills, and durable shorts. The purpose of them is to fit in with any outdoor activity you choose to do whether you are hiking, climbing, or just chilling by the campfire.

If you are an active person who wants your casual shorts to be able to deal with bumps and scrapes as well as being comfortable, practical, and stylish – Barely Baggies are a good choice.

Patagonia sells Barely Baggies for $55. This might sound a lot for a pair of shorts but when you consider the amount of time you will spend wearing them (it will be a lot), then the price becomes great value and affordable.

What activities are Barely Baggies shorts good for?

Patagonia barely baggies

As previously mentioned, Barely Baggies are tough! This means that they are well suited to lots of outdoor activities.

If you are heading out on a hike in warm weather but there’s a risk of some rain, Barely Baggies will keep you cool in the sun and will dry quickly after a rain shower.

Barely Baggies are more than capable of dealing with a quick dip too. If you need to cool off while out in the wild, just jump into the nearest river and have a bit of a swim. The quick-drying ability of these shorts will have you dry and comfortable again in no time.

If you are a keen runner then these make good running shorts. The shorter length makes sure you aren’t carrying extra fabric which could slow you down. The recycled nylon is also very good at wicking away sweat so you can feel comfortable on longer, hotter runs.

One of the best things about Barely Baggies Shorts is that they are well suited to pretty much all outdoor activities. From hiking to yoga, running to climbing, or even just relaxing around camp, Barely Baggies will fit nicely into any outdoor environment and keep you looking stylish, feeling comfortable, and generally just being an all-round cool pair of shorts.

What colors do Patagonia offer?

Patagonia offers Barely Baggies Shorts in a good range of colors. Whether you like your shorts to make a bit of a statement or you prefer plain and simple designs, you should be able to find a color you like.

  • Current Blue makes your Barely Baggies plain and simple but still cool-looking.
  • Black – who doesn’t like a nice pair of black shorts?
  • Pollen Confetti: Dolomite Blue is a much louder color and adds personality to your Barely Baggies Shorts.
  • Kalani Big: Float Blue is another color choice that makes you stand out from the crowd (in a good way).
  • Mangrove Tiki Small: Henna Brown is a more subtle design than the pollen confetti and the kalani big but still looks cool and adds even more style to your look.
  • Aurora Small: Henna Brown – a relaxed wavy pattern that will look very cool in hot environments.
  • Tidepool Blue is another plain and simple design but in a darker shade to the current blue Barely Baggies.
  • Wild Iris: New Navy adds some floral designs to your blue shorts.
  • Joya Blue is a lighter shade of blue than the other blue colors already listed here.
  • Marble Pink is another no-frills color design that keeps you looking stylish and cool without needing to be loud about it.
  • Pigeon Blue is the final shade of blue the Barely Baggies Shorts are available in and has a gray tone added to the blue.

Alternatives to Barely Baggies in the Patagonia range

If you think that Barely Baggies Shorts aren’t quite right for you then Patagonia has more options for you when it comes to casual shorts.

Patagonia Women’s Baggies Shorts 5″ are the original and classic design. They are longer in length and come in an even wider range of colors to suit your personality and style.

They are made from 100% recycled nylon so they are lightweight and durable. As with the Barely Baggies, these are finished with a DWR to make them water-resistant.

For even more leg coverage from your casual shorts, the Patagonia Women’s Skyline Traveler Shorts 8″ are a good option. These are made from 88% nylon and 12% spandex blend which has a more stretchy feel to it for a comfortable fit.

Also finished with DWR for water resistance, the Skyline Traveler Shorts also provide 40-UPF sun protection so are a good choice for hot and sunny conditions.

To make sure your Skyline Travelers fit perfectly, there’s an interior elasticized drawcord that lets you customize the fit quickly and easily.

One final alternative to Barely Baggies Shorts is the Patagonia Women’s Stand Up Shorts. These are less suited to wet conditions as they are made from 97% organic cotton and 3% spandex but they look extra cool and stylish.

You can wear a belt with these for a tight and comfortable fit and the metal button will give you confidence they will stay up regardless of what you are doing.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Photo of author
AUTHOR
Rob Harvey is an experienced outdoor writer with a passion for using and writing about all the gear that makes camping, hiking and fishing fun.