Smartwool Women's Active Lined 4" Short review: fresh, airy comfort for long, hot days on the trail

Meet the reviewer

Julia Clarke

Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the book Restorative Yoga for Beginners. She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing.  

Smartwool Women's Active Lined 4" Short: first impressions 

With warmer weather on the horizon, we're ready to lose some layers and always keen to pounce on any gear that uses magical merino. We've been testing out these women's running shorts in city parks and on a hiking trip to Gran Canaria and been pleased with their all-day comfort.

The design is both airy when it gets hot out, and flattering with a wide waistband, slightly loose, drapey fit and a not-too-short cut. The lining is made using a soft blend of merino wool and Lyocell, which we found great for wicking sweat, comfort and breathability even when it gets hot out. Unbelievably, these didn't get stinky even when we wore them for three straight warm days on the trails.

The remainder is made using polyester and elastane, which helps ensure they are quick drying and more durable than wool alone. A wide, stretchy waistband is comfortable against the skin and adjustable with a drawcord that makes sure they stay put. Reflective details are handy if you're wearing these on the roads and though it's not clear how much, the website does state that some recycled materials are used in the construction.

These aren't lightest shorts we've tested, nor are they the heaviest, and wool does require a little more care than you might want to give if you run a lot and just want to be able to chuck these in with the rest of your clothes. However, our main gripe is that there is only one small zipped pocket that isn't big enough for a phone, so without a running vest you don't have storage for much more than a key or a running gel. However, we were comfortable in these shorts and think they make a good choice if you want a flattering design and something less sporty.

Smartwool Women's Active Lined 4" Short: in the field

I've had these shorts for a little while, but we had a long cold winter here in Scotland and only in the last few weeks has it actually been warm enough to test them. After wearing them on a few city park runs, I decided to take them on a hiking and running trip to Gran Canaria where I expected temperatures in the upper 70s.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing and fit

I tested a small, which is my usual size, and I think they are true to size. They look a little larger on me than on the model in the pictures, and the lining isn't tight (which I'd hate) but I personally would not size down even though I probably could. The stretchy, adjustable waistband stays put and I never have to tug on them.

The fit of the lining is comfortable for me with a little room to spare, though I am aware some runners just cut these out and can't guarantee you won't have to. They come up to just below my belly button, so not too high-waisted, and the 4" inseam is considered short, but it's not too short. Overall, the fit is quite flattering on and I was happy to wear these around town as well as on the trail.

Comfort and breathability

I was a bit apprehensive about the waistband, because it looks and feels a bit like it might chafe, and if you were to wear these without a shirt tucked in for several hours, perhaps it does. However, against my skin it isn't uncomfortable at all, and I only wear them with my running top tucked in so this hasn't come up.

I wore them on some steep hikes in hot weather and think that between the fabric and the fit, they're nice and breathable and I never felt clammy in them.

Storage and odor control

These shorts don't boast a ton of storage, with just one small zipped pocket on the left hip that is big enough for a running gel and my keys, but not my phone, which is pretty standard for running shorts. This is fine for hiking, when I carry everything in my backpack, but it does mean I have to wear a running vest if I want to bring my phone on a run which I don't always.

As for odor control, I am aware that this may be too much information for some of you, but as I said I hiked, ran and sweated in them over three days in a warm climate after doing several warm runs in them at home. I still haven't washed them and they still don't stink. For me, this is a huge plus since I don't want to wash running clothes after every use, and it means that the fabric will last longer.

Smartwool Women's Active Lined 4" Short: the bottom line

These breathable, airy shorts are comfortable for hiking, training runs and active travel, especially for those who prefer a more flattering and less sporty look. If you want more pockets, check out the Rabbit Run Fuel ’n’ Fly running shorts which we also rated for breathability and are even lighter.

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