Males’s Nike DRI-Match Challenger Shorts Evaluate

Backside Line

The Nike Dri-FIT Challengers have been one in all our go-to mountain climbing shorts for a few years since they’re inexpensive, light-weight, breathable, and quick-drying. The straightforward design makes them straightforward to maneuver in, and we’ve discovered the ultralight materials is simply sturdy sufficient for a few seasons of intense mountain climbing.

They work equally properly for working and mountain climbing. They don’t have a ton of options or extras, however their minimalist aesthetic additionally helps them keep light-weight. We examined these on wet hikes round lakes and on longer day hikes within the Rocky Mountains to see how they carried out. For larger-frame males, these is probably not the best choice as they’re susceptible to using up and chafing. However for smaller hikers who like path working, these are nice shorts for lengthy thru-hikes. 

Consolation

When you’ve got a smaller path runner body and need to put on as little as potential, then these are the shorts for you. The worth tag is a cut price for such a light-weight pair of shorts. 

These working shorts are comfy for brief and longer hikes. Relying in your physique sort, they might experience up and trigger chaffing over time. The built-in liner and working brief design can have drawbacks on the subject of mountain climbing. The built-in liner makes them straightforward to throw on however gives much less protection for thighs and legs than different shorts or mountain climbing underwear do.

For hikers with a bigger body or physique sort, these is probably not your best option as they will experience up and trigger discomfort or chafing whereas mountain climbing.

Sturdiness

The Nike Dri-FIT Challengers rank common in our testing on the subject of sturdiness. The material is powerful, however over extended use or tough terrain, there’s a probability that these shorts might tear or fray. The light-weight cloth is skinny and there have been a number of unfastened threads, which might result in fraying over time.

The ultralight materials is made to be simply sturdy sufficient for a few seasons of intense mountain climbing. However don’t count on these to final you a lifetime. Our testing in moist overgrown trails didn’t tear the shorts, however additionally they didn’t present a ton of safety both. With the lower cost tag comes the potential for having to exchange them extra usually. 

Options

There usually are not numerous options that include these shorts. For essentially the most half, what you see is what you get. The light-weight woven temporary liner is the most important function to assist the shorts breathe higher in addition to wick away sweat.

In addition they have customary aspect pockets and a hook-and-loop again pocket, which the shorts can pack into if wanted. The waistband features a slim drawcord to assist maintain them tight round your waist whereas mountain climbing. To assist in airflow and breathability, the shorts have built-in mesh aspect panels and aspect vents.

Dry Time

The identify of those shorts actually says all of it. Other than how light-weight these shorts are, the dry time is basically the place these stand aside from different mountain climbing shorts. These are the quickest-drying choice on our checklist, partly because of the light-weight materials. There’s simply much less cloth to dry right here. The built-in temporary liner makes these nearly like a swimsuit. You’ll be able to hop in a waterfall, lake, or stream carrying these and belief that they are going to be dry in a matter of minutes. 

We examined the Nike Dri-FIT Challengers by utterly submerging them after which leaving them out within the solar. They dried in round 10 minutes. One factor to bear in mind is that we examined these at elevation in a dry sizzling atmosphere. For a extra humid and wetter hike, these might not dry as rapidly, however would nonetheless outperform different fashions below comparable situations.

Weight & Packability

These weigh six ounces and are one of many lightest shorts in the marketplace for mountain climbing. Partially it is because the shorts are so brief with the inseam and tight or streamlined. The shorts are made utilizing recycled polyester, making them extra environmentally pleasant. On the path, these shorts weigh subsequent to nothing and usually are not going to decelerate quick hikers. 

We additionally discovered you could pack them into their very own again pocket all the way down to the dimensions of a baseball. So, in case you are carrying these in a pack they are going to take up little or no room and solely value you just a few ounces.

Ought to You Purchase the Nike DRI-Match Challengers?

Hikers who’re in search of light-weight and quick-dry shorts are certain to be proud of the Nike Dri-Match Challengers. They’d work properly for quicker hikers who aren’t as involved about a lot of options or sturdiness.

These wouldn’t be nearly as good for bigger body hikers who’re susceptible to chafing, because the built-in liner could cause the fabric to bunch or experience up at instances. The dearth of long-term sturdiness in these additionally means they aren’t best for somebody who’s seeking to purchase a pair of shorts to final for years. And for anybody who needs the choice of a trail-to-town brief, this might not be the most effective match for that hiker. 

What Different Mountaineering Shorts Ought to You Take into account?

REI Trailmade Amphib Evaluate: The REI Trailmade Amphib affords an identical fashion of shorts with its inexpensive and versatile bottoms that sit someplace between board shorts, mountain climbing shorts, and informal on a regular basis shorts. They’re additionally extra sturdy than Nike’s. 

Cotopaxi Brinco Evaluate: Just like the Nike DRI-Match, the Brinco Shorts are a hybrid mountain climbing and swimming brief fashion. They’ve comparable pockets and built-in briefs. In addition they have extra colours and elegance choices than the Nikes, making them higher for around-town put on.

These are wonderful options to the DRI-Match Challengers since they provide light-weight, quick-dry, and breathable mountain climbing shorts.