I've purchased 3 pairs of these shorts over the past 6 years, and they are my go-to for hiking and backpacking. I am 5'7" 130 lbs, rectangle body shape, and wear a size small for a slightly loose fit. The waistband is a fairly soft, stretchy fabric and is good for wearing with a backpack hip-belt (no buttons/snaps/belt loops to rub). During thru-hikes and long days of wearing a backpack, the ribbed texture of the waistband does rub a little uncomfortably on my hip bones (easily solved with a bit of Leukotape). The water-repellent shorts fabric is very lightweight, breathes well, and packs down well. 4-star rating accounts for sizing inconsistencies between years and colors. This seems to be a problem with many companies that manufacturing products in multiple locations, as may be the case with North Face. Otherwise, I LOVE these shorts!
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