RubeRad

Not trying to joke or poke fun, I think women's shorts might actually be your best bet. Women's cycling shorts are just 2-3in shorter, the fashion seems to be that women prefer that. Hopefully the rest of the anatomical design isn't problematic.

As for me, I've decided to pivot away from cargo shorts, I never use the cargo pockets, so they're unnecessarily heavy, and long and flappy, and I decided they look just too 'dad'. I picked up a great pair of shorts from salvation army that I really like, they're Hurley, subtle blue-on-blue plaid, kind of a cotton/linen type fabric, and a nice mid-thigh length, nowhere near the knee.

EDIT: Hurley Shorts. Each one they state the length (full length, not inseam length), so maybe some 18.5" shorts would work better for you than 20.5". Like maybe this? Also, shorts like that should be cheap/easy to re-hem. Couple bucks at most drycleaners.

winston63 

The model of Columbia shorts I've got are the Voyager Cargo shorts

I don't remember what I paid, but I got them pretty cheap at a Winners.

RubeRad

So I went home and measured the Hurley shorts I like so much, lol they're 20.5". Unless I hike them up unnaturally, they basically reach the top of my kneecaps.

And now that you got me thinking about it, I'm more self-conscious and you've ruined those shorts for me because I'm always thinking "It sure would be nice if these shorts weren't brushing my kneepits all the time"

However, these shorts still are a good length for sitting in, if I lost a couple inches I might feel a bit exposed while sitting.

But I'm a hair under 6', for a shorter guy an 18.5" short might be just the thing

wipekitty

Okay, this thread made me think of coaching shorts. Remember when like every Little League Dad-coach ever had a pair of those really short shorts that they wore while conducting coaching duties? I'm pretty sure my high school coaches had them, too, and that was only...umm 20 years ago.

There must someone still producing such things. They were definitely short, had pockets, and were more normal looking than gym or basketball shorts.

RubeRad

Confusingly, the brand of those old 'coaching' shorts is "Bike". Not sure if they're still made, but this ebay listing looks like them:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-BIKE...c/272840539199

inseam maybe 3in?

nayr497

Ha, one of my high school lacrosse coaches ONLY wore Bike coaching shorts. Nothing else. Unless it got really cold, then he went with Bike pants. It was amazing. I loved that guy.

nayr497

Thanks for all the feedback and replies. I almost went with women's short. But, I measured another pair of shorts I like and the inseam was 8.5" and I don't mind the length.

I went with some actual cycling shorts from L.L. Bean, 8.5" inseam, removable liner, black in color, AND plenty of pockets with zippers. $50, not terrible. (I can't believe the shorts priced at $130 or $150. That is what I paid for one of my commuter bike framesets. Not paying that much for shorts!) Funny that there were a few negative reviews. Why? "Pockets too small for my smart phone." That is exactly the reason I use a plain, old tiny Nokia "brick" phone. Why can't at least one company make a smart phone that is small? I'd like GPS, I'd like a camera, I'd like to look something up sometimes, but I don't want to carry a mini laptop around at all times.

Ha, I'm in my 30s and complaining that I can't find short shorts and small phones. I'm a curmudgeon at heart

RubeRad

Hey I ran across this and looked this old-ish thread up to drop a link.

One reviewer criticizes Keen's Slacker men's shorts as being too long:
Patagonia.com not working for me right now, but google snippet says "Made of durable, long-wearing, garment-washed 10-oz organic cotton canvas in 5" and 7" inseams, Stand Up Shorts® have been an outdoor staple since the early Tin Shed days."

fietsbob

Wear cargo shorts over bike shorts if you like the look.

RubeRad

OP I don't believe is over-weight, just under-tall. I see in one of the early posts though "I have some cargo shorts from Cabelas that are great, have a 5" inseam...but are heavy and would be a nightmare if it rained on the commute.", so 5" inseam on these patagonia stand up shorts is good, but I think he's looking for shorts that would be lightweight and for cycling. I don't think these patagonias are it, they boast double-thickness fabric so the butt doesn't wear through. And cotton canvas basically, probably a nightmare if wet

bmthom.gis

I have that problem with normal shorts too, not just cycling stuff. I don't want to wear shorts that go past my knees.

Chrome makes some that might fit the bill for you. They are spendy, but they look good
https://www.chromeindustries.com/pro...d=pants_shorts

Also, Rapha. Again, spendy, but I don't have a problem with buying one or two spendy clothing items
https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/shop/a...roduct/ADS01XX

Ministry of Supply
https://ministryofsupply.com/product...rts-cadet-blue

I also found some Dockers chino like shorts that are pretty nice, but not quick drying or anything.

You might also look at Uniqlo.

khyricat

these are womens, btu they are 5.5" and also come in 8" length: https://www.skirtsports.com/product/shorties-5-5-inch/

no motor?

I think I still have a pair of Patagonia shorts I bought in the early 80's. They were really short, and I don't think I've worn them since the late 80's. 36" waist, or maybe I was a 34 then, will trade for beer.

RubeRad

I would trade a 34" or 36" waist for beer. OH WAIT I DID ALREADY

no motor?

Join the club!

fietsbob

tyrion

You can make your own short shorts.

RubeRad

is that caitlin?