Saturday, October 18, 2025

Ladies’s Columbia Sandy River Cargo Shorts Overview


Backside Line

The Columbia Sandy River Cargo Shorts are budget-friendly shorts with a technical, quick-drying cloth, useful pockets, and a built-in belt – a mixture perfect for hot-weather climbing and brief hikes. The 4 pockets present respectable storage with safe thigh pockets for small necessities, however the match might be awkward. After we examined them on the Hunter Creek Trails within the sizzling solar, we discovered the waistband uncomfortable, and the material’s stiffness resulted in some discomfort and chafing throughout lengthy hikes.

These shorts aren’t essentially the most sturdy choice in our greatest girls’s climbing shorts information. However they’re a strong funds purchase, particularly for climbing in sizzling climates. Their quick-drying properties and light-weight design make them an amazing worth for the worth.

Fast Specs

Stock image of Columbia Sandy River Cargo - Women's

Ladies’s Columbia Sandy River Cargo

Inexpensive Fast Dry Mountain climbing Shorts with Pockets


CleverHiker Ranking:

72.5/100


Value:

$50


Weight:

5.2 oz.


Inseam:

6 in


UPF Ranking:

30


Material:

100% nylon Perfecta Plus II

Professionals

  • Inexpensive
  • Breathable
  • Fashionable
  • Contains belt
  • Light-weight
  • Nice storage

Cons

  • Awkward match
  • Tendency to bunch up
  • Not as sturdy

Mountain climbing in Columbia’s Sandy River Cargo shorts – picture credit score: alice Hafer (cleverhiker.com)

Consolation

The Columbia Sandy River Cargo Shorts have a light-weight, breathable cloth that feels comfy towards the pores and skin, particularly in sizzling climate. Nevertheless, the waistband generally is a bit clunky and restrictive. We aren’t a fan of shorts with a built-in belt, and the standard of the Sandy River’s plastic belt was questionable. It’s very massive and obtrusive, particularly whenever you evaluate it to the smooth belt of the Houdini Wadi. Though the material is tremendous gentle and nice for summer season, the match was awkward. The shorts are likely to trip up within the center, and the seams typically catch on the legs, resulting in minor chafing over time. The material doesn’t have a lot stretch, which may imply if you happen to measurement down they could tear simply. Whereas they work properly as a funds pair of technical climbing shorts, they don’t seem to be essentially the most comfy for lengthy, in a single day hikes or rugged use.

The Columbia Sandy River Cargo Shorts include a built-in belt. – picture credit score: alice Hafer (cleverhiker.com)

Sturdiness

The Sandy River Cargo Shorts provide cheap sturdiness for lighter climbing however aren’t fairly as robust as some high-end choices. We examined them by rubbing the shorts towards sharp rocks and strolling via thick bushes. Although the material didn’t tear or fray, it began displaying put on a bit ahead of anticipated. The fabric feels light-weight and breathable, which is nice for consolation, however it’s not as resilient towards abrasion as heavier responsibility climbing shorts. One concern is the plastic clip on the waistband—it feels a bit flimsy and may not maintain up as properly over time, particularly if you happen to use it typically. With care, we will see these shorts lasting for a season or two, however they don’t have the standard construct of the Ferrosi or the prAna Halle climbing shorts. These shorts are an inexpensive pair however aren’t the longest-lasting shorts.

Options

The Sandy River Cargo Shorts include some helpful options, significantly the 4 pockets. There are two entrance pockets and two smaller aspect pockets. One aspect pocket has a zipper, which is tremendous helpful. The opposite aspect pocket has a lip to assist preserve objects from slipping out, including a little bit of peace of thoughts. Nonetheless, it’s very small. The primary entrance pockets have a breathable mesh backing which retains the shorts lighter and quicker to dry. The shorts additionally include an adjustable belt, although it feels a bit pointless—most of us discovered it didn’t actually add a lot to the match and will even be slightly awkward at occasions. Additionally they characteristic Columbia’s Omni-Shade for UPF30 solar safety.

Cargo Pocket on the columbia Sandy River Cargo Quick – picture credit score: Alice hafer (cleverhiker.com)

Drying Time

The Sandy River Cargo Shorts are nice relating to drying shortly. Constructed from Nylon Perfecta Plus II, the shorts don’t take up a lot water, and their quick-drying remedy causes water to bead off. In testing, we soaked the shorts utterly via, and so they dried quicker than anticipated – in about quarter-hour. They didn’t change into uncomfortable after they had been moist, both, so that they’ll work properly in summer season or locations with anticipated showers. For the worth, they’d an amazing efficiency when it comes to dry time. 

Weight & Packed Dimension

 The Columbia Sandy River Cargo shorts are very gentle, weighing solely 5.2 ounces. Though they’re light-weight, the stiffer cloth doesn’t compress in addition to another shorts, making them a bit bulkier when packed right into a backpack or stuff sack. The belt additionally takes up additional house when packing. They’re gentle and simple to hold, however not essentially the most compact choice if house is a precedence.

Ladies’s Sandy River Shorts from Columbia. – picture credit score: alice hafer (cleverhiker.com)

Ought to You Purchase the Columbia Sandy River Shorts?

The Columbia Sandy River Cargo Quick is good for hikers in search of one thing light-weight and breathable that performs properly in sizzling climate. They dry in a short time, have a little bit of a moisture-protective coating, and have good storage with useful pockets. We don’t really feel they’re the only option for lengthy, strenuous hikes on account of their restrictive match, potential for chafing, and lack of long-term sturdiness. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re in search of a budget-friendly, comfy pair of shorts for summer season hikes, the Sandy River Cargo shorts are a strong choice.

testing the Columbia Sandy River Cargo Shorts – picture credit score: alice hafter (cleverhiker.com)

What Different Mountain climbing Shorts Ought to You Think about?

For extra choices, please see our full information to the greatest girls’s climbing shorts.

Out of doors Analysis Ferrosi Overview – The Out of doors Analysis Ferrosi Shorts are extra versatile in model and have a softer extra comfy cloth that also manages to dry shortly. They arrive at the next value level, however they will even last more and have an athletic lower that matches properly on most physique sorts.

Houdini Wadi Overview – For additional consolation and lightness in sizzling climates, the Houdini Wadi Shorts are a wonderful alternative. The pockets are deep and safe. These ultralight shorts are extremely breathable and dry extremely quick. They’ve a flattering match and superior consolation with their stretchy cloth. 

Ladies’s Patagonia Quandary Overview – The Patagonia Quandary Shorts are an amazing all-around choice for hikers who need a mixture of sturdiness and elegance with the perform of a high-quality technical cloth. These shorts are light-weight, breathable, and have wonderful storage with 4 pockets, together with a safe key loop.

The Columbia Sandy River Cargo Shorts are tremendous inexpensive

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