As we previously mentioned, Patagonia’s trademark Baggies set the shorts gold standard. While only recently discovered by the fashion set courtesy of gorpcore and hikingcore, for years men across the world have gravitated towards the Supplex nylon shorts with durable water resistant (DWR) finish. Originally released in 1982 after founder Yvon Chouinard was “inspired” by a pair he saw in an Oxnard, California department store window, the Baggies were an immediate success and remained in the summer catalogue for decades. Featuring a mesh lining, quick drying capabilities and even pocket holes specifically designed for optimal water drainage, Baggies dry in less than 20 minutes of direct sunlight—impressive figures even by today’s standards. Today, Baggies are available year round in two lengths—a 5-inch and 7-inch inseam, respectively—and with an impressive number of colors and patterns, there’s a baggie for pretty much everyone.

Our personal favorite? While certainly hard to justify in more formal settings, the more adventurous 5-inch is a silhouette that requires confidence, but certainly makes a statement. If you’re up for the challenge, the short-shorts are a guaranteed conversation starter. Pro-top: cut out the mesh lining. Trust us, you won’t regret it.

While simply referring to Noah as “grown up streetwear” is reductive, it’s an apt description all things considered. The brainchild of former Supreme creative director Brendon Babenzien, the label offers the gamut of streetwear classics—graphic tees, hoodies, camp hats, jeans and sneakers—alongside tailoring, wide wale cords and cashmere sweaters, all with a prep undertone and references to his native Long Island. Boasting luxury fabrics and premium construction at a higher-than-average yet totally justifiable price point, Noah is the perfect mix of skate and high fashion.

Take its Military Short for instance. Whereas most streetwear brands make a simple cotton twill version, Noah instead opts for a 10 ounce sanded Italian cotton. The result is essentially a heavyweight mid-thigh chino, which maintains its structure despite a brushed outer surface that’s surprisingly comfortable even with its rigid shape. In a slew of solid collars and occasionally available in bold prints, there are the shorts that work just as well in a business casual setting as they do skating.

In 2010, Nike partnered with Undercover designer Jun Takahashi to form Gyakusou. Literally meaning “running in reverse,” the brand is directly inspired by Takahashi’s own experience as a distance runner and his penchant for running opposite the designated direction on local park trails. While the sub-label focuses on technical running gear, it also produces leisurewear, including its seasonal Utility Short.

Made from the same polyester as the best-selling running shorts, the Utility Short features a wider body and additional length for added comfort, while a hidden utility pocket allows you to carry the necessities. Inspired by vintage running gear, the silhouette is reminiscent of the cotton warm-ups athletes wore in '70s, however with modern design flourishes and the sort of clever twists only Takahashi can think of. For those in search of transitional shorts equally suited for the gym and a lazy Saturday, you’d be hard pressed to find better.

In 1984, designer and Comme des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo introduced her most conceptual menswear line, Comme des Garçons Homme Plus. Since its debut, the line has been an avant-garde favorite playing with proportion, experimenting with fabric and pushing the limits of the male wardrobe in a way only Kawakubo is capable of. While the line is best known for its experimental tailoring, devotees somewhat randomly snatch up its oversized shorts season after season.

Available practically year round in a range of seasonally dependent materials from polyester to cashmere/wool blends, Comme des Garçons Homme Plus shorts sport a rather peculiar fit, that—while entirely unorthodox—is surprisingly flattering and versatile.

Massively oversized, the shorts feature a slightly dropped crotch and end well below the knee. While on a rack they oddly resemble ¾ length pants or capris, in actuality they are closer to an aggressively cropped wide leg trouser. While intended to be worn alongside other experimental pieces, a black pair alongside low top sneakers and an oversized white T-Shirt is a quality summer fit. For those with an urge to experiment (and not for the faint of heart), Kawakubo always delivers.

While current creative director John Galliano’s genderless approach to menswear—and Maison Margiela in general—is, for many, hit-or-miss, thankfully the core collection is chock full of menswear must-haves including slouchy suiting, sensible shirting and, of course, reliable shorts.

Based off the brand’s fan-favorite pleated trouser, the oversized short sits at your true waist and hits slightly below the knee for an oversized trouser effect. The crop, slimming pleat and attached shoelace drawstring provide a contemporary feel. While the design may initially seem aggressive, the magic of Margiela is consistently creating clothes that, while ostensibly complex—be it silhouette, construction, fabric or otherwise—in actuality, are simply well made, simple garments that work for anyone. These shorts do just that.

If you're a fan of techwear, you likely already own a few Acronym pieces. While these pieces are designed to withstand anything, unfortunately even the most committed may find it tough to survive summer underneath literal pounds of black Gore-Tex and taped seams. Thankfully, Errolson Hugh’s Berlin-based label has a solution.

Dubbed the SP1TS-S, Acronym’s hallmark shorts are—like all of its creations—a marvel of engineering. Made of ventile—a highly-breathable high-density cotton with water-wicking properties—the shorts feature countless details all with one common goal: keeping you cool in the midst of a summer heatwave. While mesh-lined pockets provide some relief, they can’t compare to the cleverly placed open seam running across the back of the shorts, allowing for near constant airflow. Available in both black and olive (an Acronym rarity!) even if you are not a techwear fanatic you certainly would not mind a pair of these. While particularly expensive, considering the shorts numerous technical details, they are no doubt worth it—particularly when bought slightly used on Grailed.

Ever since Thom Browne introduced his infamous short suits–summer weight blazers with matching suit trouser-like short bottoms—the menswear world has been split. While some love the delightfully camp nature of the entire ensemble, others feel suits, in general, are the one garment you really shouldn’t mess with. Whatever your take, considering Browne’s boundary pushing approach to tailoring, the short suit is arguably the logical conclusion. While we will let you make up your mind on the set, Browne’s ability to make even patterned shorts somehow part of the tailoring canon is impressive to say the least. Leave the blazers out of it and there are numerous impressive examples including our personal favorite, the Seer Sucker Tweed shorts.

Though Browne is best known for his heather gray color palette, each season classic suiting fabrics and patterns (think madras, tweed, houndstooth) all feature prominently. Take his Seersucker Tweed shorts for instance. A combination of the summer weight fabric with the knit pattern, the shorts are part classic American menswear while decidedly off-kilter. In a slim cut with a subtle flare at the hem, these are not for the faint of heart. Though a difficult look to pull off, if you skip the blazer and pair these with an oxford and a pair of Thom Browne signature brogues, it’s a hard fit to argue with.

While Jerry Lorenzo’s label Fear of God is an entire ready-to-wear collection including footwear, outerwear and accessories, the designer cut his teeth with ultra-heavyweight hoodies, sweatpants and, our personal favorite, shorts. Clearly inspired by numerous other labels ranging from Rick Owens to vintage Nike basketball shorts, the brand’s Military Training short is an updated take on the brand’s classic heavyweight French Terry sweatshorts.

Made from military grade nylon and featuring an elasticated waist, extended drawstring, slightly dropped crotch and hitting slightly above the knee, these shorts combine classic sports elements with high-fashion and military design cues for, as Lorenzo put its, “American Luxury.”

While $500 is certainly steep for a pair of essentially lightweight trunks—though you can of course find alarmingly good deals on Grailed—for those looking for a less pricey alternative, the ESSENTIALS version—Lorenzo’s diffusion line made in collaboration with PacSun—makes an incredibly similar version for a fraction of the cost.

Some shorts are purely for lounging. No tricks or gimmicks, simply good fabric, an elastic waistband and a couple pockets for good measure. Though increasingly experimental in recent seasons, at its roots Acne Studios is the pinnacle of Scandanvian minimalism with a core collection chock full of straightforward basics—shorts included.

Purposefully baggy, its fleece short is made from a substantial cotton-blend fabric with two hidden front pockets and a patch back pocket. With minimal adornments apart from a subtle Acne Studios tag on the rear, these are precisely the type of shorts that besides being incredibly comfortable, work for every situation. Cut wide with a subtle taper at the thigh, these shorts are more flattering than most, particularly for those with an athletic build.

For Grailed OGs, Rick Owens Pods short are the first and last name in the game. Whether the mainline version or those from his DRKSDHW diffusion label, the agressively directional shape, exaggerated dropped crotch, elongated drawstrings and oversized pockets encapsulate Owens’ entire aesthetic.

Based off of vintage boxing shorts and fused with Owens post-apocalyptic sensibilities, Pods have been a Rick Owens mainstay for years. These shorts are available nearly year after year in numerous colors, iterations, fabrics and lengths. While the crowd favorites are easily the Cargo Pods—essentially a short version of the label's blockbuster cargo pants—we are particularly fond of the version with a less severe drop, as they are considerably easier to justify. That said, if you’re willing to take a large aesthetic leap, you might as well go big. Rick Owens Pods are without a doubt a look, and if you’re willing to commit, we salute you.

Given that shorts are New York-based label Eric Emmanuel’s bread-and-butter, we couldn’t possibly leave them off this list. Though today the label offers collaborative sneakers and a full cut-and-sew cotton basics program, just a few years ago the brand got its start when founder Eric Emanuel slapped his interlocking E logo on a pair of cropped mesh shorts reminiscent of the sort basketball players wore in the ’80s and ’90s. The limited runs, made entirely in New York, sold out instantly, and with each drop came a new unique colorway that was just as coveted as its predecessors.

While today the shorts are not limited to mesh and come in cotton as well, for our money the OG logo short is the way to go. For those willing to dig and spend a bit extra, the rare and ultra-coveted rose-print pair are a personal favorite—especially come summer time.

As anyone familiar with Engineered Garments might expect, of course it makes cargo shorts. Modeled off of vintage army fatigues, every Spring/Summer Collection the label releases a similar model, made from a cotton or twill and featuring more pockets than one can possibly count. Though the colorways tend to stay within the label’s usual color palette—navy, grey, tan and green—occasionally a special edition drops, and those are the ones worth searching for.

Last spring, a patchwork pair was particularly alluring and—featuring a respectable 8(ish) inch hem—highly versatile. While these shorts may not be the most flashy or original pair floating around, they are incredibly durable, reliable and will go with just about anything. Given how tough it is to find a good pair of shorts anyways, that is more than enough.

For those of you familiar with wearing Baggies (see above), wearing swim trunks (or, at least, shorts that can handle a little water exposure) as shorts is nothing new. Whether you cut out the mesh liner or let it rock, there are a ton of great trunks that double as fantastic shorts, and this pair from Stone Island might just be our favorite. Rather than simple nylon trunks however, these take things up a notch.

As the technical Italian label is wont to do, rather than a simple synthetic material, Stone Island weaves actual metal fibers into the nylon, adding insane durability as well as giving the material a distinctive sheen which reflects light. While the justification is safety—they shine in bodies of water so your are easier to spot—in reality the aesthetic is what matters, and from any angle these look incredible. For those who have grown tired of baggies and are looking to level up, these are your best bet. At 6 inches, the hemline is where it should be.

Silk shorts can be a tough sell. Yes they are light and breathable, but also flimsy and, in humid climates, can be a nightmare. Thankfully, Dries Van Noten, is here to help. Made ultra thin with a partial lining, these are made for serious lounging conditions, perfect for pool or beach side on your next vacation (whenever that may be). Available alongside most Spring/Summer Collections, Van Noten juxtaposes whichever fantastic print and colorways he has chosen to work with that season onto shorts, printing directly onto the silk—a process few other labels can claim.

While similar to some of the trunks above, make no mistake, these are not waterproof or quick dry, and are designed exclusively for aesthetics. That said, for hanging around (and looking great while doing it), there is nothing better.

Jean shorts are certainly not for everyone. The cut is unforgiving, the material is certainly not designed for hot days, and pairing them with just about anything in your closet is a tough sell. Still, when they’re made by Kapital, it’s hard to not make an exception. From the label’s already coveted Kountry line, this particular pair is even more in-demand.

Part of the extremely-hyped “bones” capsule, these shorts feature bones leather appliques running down the leg, one of the Japanese label’s most popular motifs. Painstakingly crafted and instantly recognizable, these not only immediately sell out but command a handsome resale price, and following endorsements from the A$AP Mob, Travis Scott and countless others, they may just be the most in-demand shorts out. Of course Kapital got its start as a denim mill and Kountry products are made immaculately, but that’s not really the point here. For those looking to flex, look no further.