Prana Stretch Zion Short

4.5 stars. I've worn them hiking, working out, and casually about 7-8 times and washed them a few times. The good: GREAT stretch and material. No restriction of movement in any direction, ever. Durability seems good so far. Good fit for a guy with a "power base" (read: big ole ass and thighs). I really like the single pull tightening, much better than a draw string. Looks good enough that it can be worn casually very easily. The bad: Main complaint is pockets. The single zippered cargo pocket is pretty small and for season reason has dual zipped entry. It is also kind of awkward to hold anything more than some cash. Because it's placed so far from the pivot point of the hips, any weight like a wallet, phone, or energy bar is quite noticeable. No other pockets have zippers, so if you want to secure something in another pocket, you better hope it doesn't slip out (thanks what she said). The pants don't dry quite as quickly as I'd like (although it doesn't dry too slowly either). If you run hot, I would definitely get it in a lighter shade; I have the charcoal and khaki would be more fun in 90+ degree exposure. Some sort of keeper for the pull end of the belt would be nice. Conclusion: great pants despite some minor issues, I would give them 5 stars with either more zippered or better placed pockets. Ideally both in the next version.

My fear was that these would be discontinued or changed simply because I like them so much. So I bought MANY pair from backcountry after getting to try the first pair out. Personally, I don't like the cargo pocket on the bottom of the leg so I *very carefully * use a stitch ripper and have removed all of them. Now they are PERFECT(for me!). I have a 33" waist and the MED fit amazing.
I'm tossing out all of the POORLY made/super restrictive Volcom skate(?) shorts I have but I will say that their cell phone pocket placement (upper thigh. lateral and very slightly posterior) is superior for my use and it will be missed....Prana people---you should look at those and "borrow" their design.But all said, I LOVE these so I bought several of the M/32"pants too (Oddly, a slimmer fit...hmm?).
Finally, Backcountry rocks. Super helpful staff and zero hassles when you are returning something that didn't fit. I can't say enough good things about them so I just keep shopping here.

I like these shorts a lot for outdoor use (hiking, rafting, etc.) but they're not my favorite day to day shorts. The right back pocket has a small, pretty unobtrusive flap meant to keep your wallet more secure, while the left one does not. I don't like that flap, and every time I have to get my wallet, I like it less. But in an outdoor setting, I'm likely not carrying my wallet, rendering the pocket irrelevant. Same goes for the cargo pocket on the left side. For everyday use, I'd probably never put anything in there, which means it's a useless addition, but this past week, I spent 5 days on the Yampa river, and found it to be conveniently located and just big enough for food bars and the like.
The construction is solid, and the integrated waist adjustment is really secure and a nice addition. They dry pretty quickly, and the gusset in the crotch makes hiking, scrambling, and climbing pretty effortless.

My waist size is 33 (including other Prana products). I have these shorts in two colors -- both size Large. Based on the Prana size chart, think I could have gone with either a M or L in the Zion Shorts. Because of the drawstring, I opted for the Large. These Zion shorts have been fantastic. They stretch for comfort, breathe well, and dry quickly. I wear them all the time: hiking/biking/running/yard work/at the office/etc.
One thing I would like to see added in future versions of this short is the "cell phone pocket" on the right side that many other Prana shorts now come with.

None of the men here have commented on this, so as a woman who refuses to iron her husband's shorts...the best thing about these shorts is that they don't require it!!! After being packed away or after washing, these shorts are still WRINKLE-FREE. The material is fantastic - lightweight, soft, yet sturdy. They are also long enough that they don't look silly on my 6'5" man. Love them and am here buying another pair as I write. After 10 years with this guy, I've finally found my go-to brand for his shorts.

I am a 33 waist and wear medium. I have two pairs of the shorts and two pairs of the pants. I wear them all year long! And my shorts from last season look BRAND NEW. I typically wear 32" length dress pants, but the 32" length in Prana Zion pants is about 0.5-1.0 inch too short. I prefer the 34" inseam. These dry very well and are light and comfortable. I am buying a third pair of the shorts to wear over my padded spandex bike shorts for mountain biking.