What Our Gearhead(R) Experts Are Saying:"The Columbia BlueVista Hill 3in Short has been in my regular rotation since the first warm weekend of the season, both on trail and off. The lightweight polyester keeps things cool and breezy on hot afternoon hikes, and the UPF 50 coverage means I'm not scrambling for sunscreen every time the trail opens up into an exposed meadow."The best hiking shorts disappear into the background of a good day outside, and the Columbia BlueVista Hill 3in Short has that quality in abundance. Lightweight and breezy, these shorts are built for the kind of summer days where the trail starts before breakfast and the patio ends after dinner, moving easily between both without missing a step. Columbia kept the design practical and the fabric honest, letting the performance speak for itself. Omni-Shade UPF 50 construction protects skin from UVA and UVB exposure on open sunny stretches of trail without adding any weight or stiffness to the fabric. The elastic drawcord waist adjusts for a secure fit that stays comfortable across a full day of movement, and hand pockets plus a back pocket give you enough storage to carry the essentials without overloading the shorts. A utility loop adds a practical clip point for a carabiner, a bandana, or whatever the trail calls for, rounding out a short that earns its place in the pack every single time.