In 2025, who among us can really ID the absolute best shorts for men? TikTok teens would have you believe that a 5-inch inseam is the only length that matters. (Mea culpa: we’ve done our fair share of 5-inch proselytizing, too). Look to Paul Mescal, the current champ of daringly short-shorts, and you might be persuaded to bare a few more inches of thigh. Look to one Mr. Hailey Bieber, and you might be persuaded to take the exact opposite approach, swaddling your thighs in shorts of gloriously baggy proportion. What’s happening in men's fashion!?
Relax, pal—you don’t have to keep up with every manufactured menswear micro-trend. Instead, embrace the fact that the state of shorts today is, well, whatever you want it to be. That means any point along the shorts spectrum is fair game, which is even more reason to make several pit-stops along the way, stocking your closet as you go. From trail-ready shorts with more storage space than a filing cabinet to dressy shorts ready-made for a Cannes photocall, the best shorts for men who want 'em all are immediately below.
The Best Men’s Shorts, According to GQ
- The Best Hybrid Shorts: Patagonia Baggies Shorts, $69
- The Best Linen Shorts: Banana Republic 7” Pleated Linen Shorts, $80
- The Best Chino Shorts: J.Crew 8” Classic Chino Shorts, $90
- The Best Sweatshorts: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Sweatshort, $90
- The Best Denim Shorts: Levi's 469 Loose Denim Shorts, $50
- The Best Dress Shorts: Todd Snyder 7” Pleated Tab Shorts, $178
- The Best Mesh Shorts: Relax Lacrosse Adult Lacrosse Short, $8
Best Hybrid Shorts: Patagonia Baggies Shorts
Season after season, the Baggies continue to reign supreme thanks to their heavenly blend of form and function. Crafted from quick-drying post-consumer recycled nylon, these shorts are a fine example of wearing your clothes in good conscience. It also doesn't hurt that the flattering cut and ideal 5-inch inseam comes equipped with oh-so spacious mesh side pockets, a stretchy elastic waist, and a snap-secured rear pocket, allowing you to have your fun in the sun, whether that be on or off the grid.
They’re clearly the most versatile shorts out there and can play as real-deal athletic shorts, or take a dip as a beach-certified pair of swim shorts. And of course we know them as an endlessly stylish pair of everyday, casual shorts that meshes with a plain T-shirt and sneakers as it does a polo and loafers. For just about $70, these hybrid shorts are unbeatable.
Reed Nelson, frequent GQ contributor and Patagonia Baggies stan, has owned around ten pairs over the years and can’t sing their praises enough. “I’m sure they have a downside, but I’ve spent a lot of time searching for one and keep coming up empty.” They’re as good as everyone says they are (and if you need more proof, check out Reed’s review here).
Best Linen Shorts: Banana Republic 7" Pleated Linen Shorts
When the summer heat is at its worst, linen shorts are a godsend. They’re breezy, lightweight, and have tons more character than the usual cotton. When we came across Banana Republic’s pleated linen shorts, we knew they’d be our top pick. The 100% linen fabric feels luxurious and syncs up well with the dressy pleats. And while most linen shorts these days lean into the lounge-y aspect with an elastic waistband, we love that these have a fixed waist which makes them more versatile.
Best Cargo Shorts: Polo Ralph Lauren Gellar Cargo Shorts
Ralph Lauren’s bar-for-bar approach to menswear classics is just one of many reasons he’s the GOAT. Case in point, these cargo shorts. Made from a dense cotton twill, they’ve got substantial cargo pockets at the sides with plenty of structural reinforcements. They’re cut into a baggy silhouette with an inseam that reaches right at the knees. Plus, they come in a trio of classic colorways that go with every closet. They’re not revolutionary, just very very good.
Best Jean Shorts: Levi's 469 Denim Shorts
Jorts have their fair share of hate, but over here at the GQ offices, we deem them stylish. You might be wondering why on Earth you'd spend money on half a pair of jeans. The answer is a) because they look cool and b) chopping your pants is both an art and a science and not all of us are qualified in both fields. The best to do ‘em is none other than Levi’s. For the quality, price, and pedigree, it’s a no-brainer. The denim is solid as ever, the 469 cut is a generous, relaxed cut, and for just $50, what more can you really ask for?
Best Chino Shorts: J.Crew 8” Classic Chino Shorts
Making a classic, everyday pair of shorts that can handle the rigors of regular wear and fit like a charm is a much harder task than it would appear, but J.Crew has it down. Their strategy? Take their best-selling chino pants and chop 'em down for summer wear. With a mid-rise, relaxed fit and 8.5-ounce cotton twill, they're about as versatile, comfortable, and timeless as a pair of shorts can be. Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones.
Best Sweat Shorts: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Sweatshorts
There comes a time in every mid to moderately active guy's life when he's on the hunt for the perfect sweat shorts. Maybe he begrudgingly agreed to join his team for a weekend spar on the court or it's too hot to get away with his go-to joggers; either way, it's suddenly a priority. Thankfully, Reigning Champ whipped up the perfect blend of comfort casual. Mid-weight cotton that won't leave you shuddering at the faintest breeze and a drawstring waist to secure the fit to your liking. And with seven generous inches, these shorts offer all the coverage you need, exactly where you want it.
Best Dress Shorts: Todd Snyder 7” Pleated Tab Shorts
Sometimes you have the itch to pair your ritzy button-down with a pair of flowy shorts–that or you've got a formal event coming up that will be conveniently located in an extremely humid locale. Obviously, you're not going to veer too casual on the bottom if the top is eliciting “sir”—but when even khakis feel like overkill, it's time to whip out the posh, calf-hitting bottoms. These Todd Snyder shorts are the answer.
The double reverse pleats in tandem with the extended tab waistband give them a distinguished gentleman vibe that’s hard to mistake for a pair of everyday lounge shorts. But don’t worry, they’re not made of a wool suiting material. Instead, these handsome shorts come in a luxurious cotton twill with a smidge of elastane (just in case you need some room to pull a xbackflip).
Best Mesh Shorts: Relax Lacrosse Shorts
Listen, the best sweat shorts aren’t actually sweat shorts: they’re lacrosse shorts. The good kind. The ones you might remember from the mid-90s, but with pockets this time—fixing what was, essentially, the only flaw with the originals. But everything else is there, including the next-level comfort and quad-flattering length (either a 6.5" or 10" inseam, depending on preference). Do they dress up? Not really, but with that knit stripe and slit at the hem, very few things look better dressed down, which is the point anyways.
More Shorts We Love
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.
How We Make These Picks
We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.
We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)