Meet the reviewer
Columbia Women's Summit Valley Hiking Shorts: first impressions
These women's hiking shorts might look pretty basic, but there's actually lots going on to provide functional performance and comfort on the trail. Made with a blend of nylon and elastane, they're extremely lightweight, stretchy and wrinkle-resistant and an excellent choice for travel. The fit is flattering around the hips and loose enough around the thighs for comfort, breathability and movement.
The fabric is treated to repel a little moisture, making these shorts great for summer rain storms, and also stain-resistant, which means these shorts don't require a lot of care. If you do get wet, they dry in a flash.
• List price: $55 / £60
• Gender specification: Women's
• Sizes: 2 - 18 US, 6 - 20 UK
• Inseam: 5" / 7"
• Weight (women's US 4): 5.3 oz / 150 g
• Materials: 86% nylon/ 14% elastane
• Colors: Canoe, Nocturnal, Black, Canteen
• Best use: Hiking
We found them to run a little on the large side, with two lengths available. but fortunately they do have belt loops as well as a fly and snap button so you can size up or go for your normal size.
For those who prefer carrying gear close to hand, there's plenty of room between two hand pockets, a drop-in pocket on the right leg, and back pocket on the right side with hook-and-loop closure.
We did notice we got a little sweaty around the seat while sitting down in these indoors for a long time, but while we were walking, they were perfectly breathable. We'd like to see some recycled materials used, but we think they're a great deal for the price.
Columbia Women's Summit Valley Hiking Shorts: in the field
I don't often wear hiking shorts, but when I was invited on a press trip to the Swiss Alps where the weather was forecast to be warm and dry, I was happy to get out of my leggings and into these shorts for the trails around Val d'Anniviers.
Here’s how they performed:
Sizing, fit and comfort
I tested a US 4 which is my normal size (with the 7" inseam) and they definitely run large. I didn't need a belt (though they do have belt loops) and I don't mind my clothing being a little loose, but next time I'd definitely size down.
Despite them being a little loose, they are still flattering around the hips and I was able to see them on different bodies during the press trip and generally I think the streamlined design looks good.
Between the stretch and loose fit, I found these to be really comfortable on the trail and in warm weather.
Breathability and weather protection
By nature, shorts are breathable and when I was on the trail, I had no issues with these shorts. However, twice when I'd been sitting down in them for a while (on a bus in warm weather) I was actually a little surprised at how sweaty my seat felt when I stood up so they're perhaps the fabric is not quite as breathable as I thought.
Obviously, you'll get a bit more leg protection from the longer inseam and while they're really lightweight, the material is pretty robust. The water-repellency works well although I might not choose these for a wet day, but if the weather caught me off guard they dry really quickly.
Storage and other details
I'd say these are almost deceptively simple. At first glance, they could be a fashion-friendly imitation of an old-school safari short (especially in the canoe color I tested) but they're actually quite technical and one of the great features is plenty of pockets. In addition to two hip pockets and a rear pocket that are all plenty deep, there's that all-important thigh pocket that I can just slide my phone into and easily grab for a picture without having to wrestle with my backpack. Granted, it could do with a zip, but nothing is going to fall out of it.
The only other features to mention are the belt loops, which help with the slightly odd sizing, and the traditional fly fastening which makes these easy to get on and off.
Columbia Women's Summit Valley Hiking Shorts: the bottom line
If you're seeking a functional, flattering and super lightweight approach to hiking shorts that have everything you need and aren't too showy, these are comfortable and get the job done. They can be a little sweaty if you're sitting around in them indoors, and they're not versatile enough to also double as running shorts, but they're low maintenance and likely to last a long time. If you're willing to pay a little more for a more fashionable approach, check out The North Face Trailjammer Shorts.
