REI Co-op  Sahara Amphib Shorts - Women's

Normally I wear a size small in REI pants and shorts so I was surprised to find the fit of these particular shorts to be extra loose. These may be considered "high waisted" shorts for some people but if you prefer to wear them lower, as I do, there is too much bagginess all around. A size XS may have worked better in my case. Pros: Easy to use belt buckle with removable belt. Zip back pocket to keep things secure. Deep front pockets. Lightweight, quick dry fabric. Well made. Very comfortable.

I am a long-time fan of Patagonia barely baggie shorts. I was drawn to the cut and pattern of these while browsing in my local REI store. The material is comparable: breathable and quick drying. The cut is in between the "baggies" and "barely baggies" offered by Patagonia— longer than the barely baggies and a more fitted leg than the baggies, so I really like the fit. The buckle is a nice feature, but I will be sure to follow the advice of other reviews and remove before washing. The shorts closure is button and zipper, so between that and the belt, they are a bit more structured than pull-on, elastic waist shorts. They will be great for hiking, camping, kayaking, beach/pool cover up, and day-to-day wear.

I purchased the purple and green shorts for a 10 day vacay in AZ, I am in love with these shorts and pretty much lived in them the entire time!! Took many hikes in very hot temperatures, they were so comfortable, breathable, and convenient with the zip and open pockets. I did not experience any chaffing issues as a couple other reviewers mentioned nor have I had trouble with the buckle as of yet, I thought the shorts were pretty great. I will be buying the remaining colors (orange and tan) today bc I want ALL of them! My only complaint that I considered contacting corporate about is to beg them to produce more colors! (Jk). But seriously it would be amazing if more colors were available bc I want much more than just 4 pairs that’s how awesome they are. I am not one for leaving reviews but the shorts deserved one.

I really, really wanted to love these. For me the length is PERFECT- not too long ("Mom" shorts!), not too short ("Booty" shorts). Just right. The Goldilocks length. Pockets are great, once I figured out the belt it was great. Fit true to size (I ordered Medium, I usually wear 6/8/29 in bottoms). Colors are really pretty & accurate. Everything was great, right?? Once I MOVED in them, the leg openings proved to be a tad too tight and didn't move with me the way I wanted them to. I don't want these to be too stretchy, but a tiny bit of stretch or a slightly wider cut leg opening would make them perfect. I didn't love them enough to keep them.

I'll start on the positive, these shorts are cute and great for adventure. They are a nice length, not too short or long. The material is comfortable and dries quickly. BUT, and here it goes, there are some serious design flaws, specifically with the built in belt. The clasp on the right side easy comes totally off of the belt, theres nothing on the end of the belt to prevent this. I've lost the clasp a few times in the wash and once just in my bag. Also the button at the top of the zipper has come off. Because I really like the shorts otherwise Ive decided to fix these issues my self. But for REI I'm a little disappointed in the product.

I cannot say enough good things about these shorts. I work with animals outside in the Phoenix weather everyday all day, and these shorts hold their own! They don’t show butt sweat (WIN) and they don’t absorb anything that gets on them (BIGGER WIN)! I do admit, they can be a little rigid, I have thick thighs and when I walk they can sometimes ride up but it’s never been an issue enough to cause chafing. Also when sitting they tend to stay where they are when you’re sweaty, so I pull them up at the hip when I’m sitting. But overall the good WAY outweighs the bad here. I will continue to buy these shorts until they’re no longer made.

First: 5’4”, 148-150lbs. = Medium fits fine These are a good pair of light-feeling shorts that will do well for me while I kayak, but the fabric doesn’t allow much for movement if you’re doing a lot of uphill hiking. These would be good for those hikes toward a swimmin’ hole or a fun portage to a secret lake. The pockets are nice and deep: I can fit my entire hand in them. There is a zip back pocket with a loop inside for keeping your keys nice and tethered (and stabbing you in the butt???).

Zero stretch, no inclusive sizing. I bought XL which fits me in other REI products, but these could not be zipped up and they were awkwardly/extremely tight on my thighs and rolled up in the center just from putting them on. I loved the purple pattern and am extremely disappointed in the fit. They are unwearable for me, so the rest of the gear I bought to match it is now awkward without a full outfit. REI, please do better with your in-between and plus sizing. Bigger people enjoy and need time outside too. You hardly release anything in your plus sized clothing. I'm often forced to buy from Columbia or random Amazon brands instead of supporting REI for clothing. I purchased some yoga style shorts to wear under these and wanted this cut and fit. The only Sahara short product in plus sizing has a longer inseam and only the most basic of colors. Very disappointing.

I liked the color and fabric of these shorts; they could be great for hiking in the desert but not for me. The belt (which could be removed) has a cheap plastic white buckle that's hard to operate. The button hole was too small for the button. This is on me, but they were much shorter than I expected. Have a weird fit - when I walk in them, they pull against my thigh so not comfortable for hiking. They could be great shorts if these flaws are corrected.

Not my favorite shorts. The material has no stretch, the seams chafe pretty badly, and the belt buckle breaks easily. I had them for only one summer and the buckle broke. I bought them for paddleboarding but because the material doesn't stretch it is hard to sit in them comfortably. And you DO NOT want to try hiking or walking any distances in these. Very uncomfortable.