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Patagonia Baggies – “One good pair of shorts”

It’s rare for a style of clothing to remain popular and virtually unchanged for almost 40 years. Patagonia Baggies have been with us since 1982 and are growing ever more popular. Kids who grew up wearing baggies, still do. Others are discovering them for the first time as adults. Why are they so popular? As one longtime wearer put it, “I wear baggies because I don’t want too much fabric between me and the experience.”

Perhaps the heart of the matter is their comfort, durability, and the Patagonia name.

Baggies are shorts that give your legs almost complete freedom of movement. They rarely bind or hinder. The brushed elastic waistband with a drawstring doesn’t compress but does keep the shorts up and on under sometimes challenging conditions.

Baggies are durable. Made of a long-lasting 100% recycled nylon, they’re ready for the wear and tear of workouts, running, climbing, swimming, working in the yard, running errands, or just having fun! The nylon fabric has a DWR (durable water repellent) finish to shed moisture, so you’ll be soon be dry after spending time in the water.

And then there’s the Patagonia name. Today, when people think of Patagonia, the first word that usually comes to mind is quality. But we’d like to add corporate responsibility and championing the environment to the list. Patagonia is a responsible manufacturer of clothing and gear using strict environmental standards that include the humane treatment of animals and the safety of workers. They also support grassroots organizations working to preserve and protect our land for future generations.

So for those of you who have not yet experienced Baggies, what exactly are they?

Patagonia describes them as rugged, multifunctional shorts designed for use in and out of the water. They have a quick-drying mesh liner and deep side seam pockets with mesh tips that drain quickly and a rear pocket with a flap that closes with a low-profile snap for security.

The inseam length is the chief way to distinguish between Baggies. At Whole Earth you’ll find Men’s Baggies with 5, 6.5 and 7 inch inseams. Women’s Baggies are available in 5 inch and 2.5 inch Barely Baggies. For Boys, we have 5, 7 and 9 inch Baggies. And for Girls, 4 inch Baggies.

Patagonia has been offering some variations on the traditional Baggie.

Patagonia Men's Baggies Lights Shorts - 6.5in

The Men’s 6.5 inch Baggies Lights are made with recycled polyester ripstock for extra toughness and lighter weight. They’re also slim fit, so there’s not as much freedom of movement as in a traditional Baggie. You can also stuff these shorts into their right pocket for to save space when traveling, and there’s a key loop.

Patagonia Women's Island Hemp Baggies Shorts

Another variation is the Patagonia Women's Island Hemp Baggies Shorts. These Baggies are made with a 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton blend so they’re soft and comfortable. With their 3 inch inseam, there’s plenty of freedom of movement, but they don’t have the water repellant qualities of traditional Baggies.

Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, once said, “You don’t need a different pair of shorts for every activity in your life. Why not have just one good pair?” The traditional Baggie may be just the pair of all-purpose shorts you’ve been looking for.  We have Baggies galore in lots of colors and prints for you to choose from at our Whole Earth stores and online. Here are just a few!