As we bid a fond farewell to this year’s extended summer season, I’m reminded of two things: it hasn’t snowed yet, and I wore shorts a lot during the past several months. Alas, there is nothing to be done about the first item. At least I had a good pair of shorts to help ease the pain of our prolonged summer calendar. White Sierra sent me a pair of their Camp 4 shorts back in April, and they have not had many days off since that time. The Camp 4 shorts have been used, abused, washed, rinsed and repeated…and they are still going strong as the leaves finally turn colors.
My initial impression of the shorts was positive; perhaps my favorite feature is the material. The breathable, quick dry fabric is very soft against the skin, and the shorts are lightweight enough that you hardly notice you are wearing them. This was much appreciated during 90 degree days in July and August. Add to the plus column the fit of the Camp 4 shorts: a technical cut falls just above the knee, and the fixed waist sat just under my hip bones. No falling down, and no riding up no matter what I was up to in them.
And what did I do in the Camp 4 shorts? Just about everything under the sun. Their first few stops were desert jaunts back in April and May, where they got a heavy dose of sand and rock. Wiggling around canyons and parking my behind in gravel proved no problem for the White Sierra shorts. They also stood tall against heavy doses of scrub oak and other mountain flora during Wasatch day hikes. I wore them for long stretches without a wash (I’m saving the earth one pair of dirty shorts at a time) and they did an amiable job of remaining funk-free. Mowing the lawn, walking the dogs, hiking and biking…you name it, and the Camp 4 shorts have done it.
The defining moment for the White Sierra shorts came in mid-September during the annual Bike and Beer tour. Tradition holds that the participants must bike to every open brewery in the Salt Lake Valley. This year’s ride went down on a Sunday that featured temps in the high 80s. Pure sunshine, and lots of pedaling. I can report that as the day wore on, the Camp 4 shorts looked fresh despite the copious amounts of beer sweat they had soaked up during the ride. Disgusting, you say? Perhaps, but it’s a small price to pay for tradition and tasty hops. From morning until night, the Camp 4 shorts never got uncomfortable, and the convenient stash pockets kept all my personal effects safe despite my heightened inebriation. If they can survive the Bike and Beer tour, they can roll with me anywhere.
Now that cold weather has arrived, the Camp 4 shorts have been stashed in the back of my closet. Am I sad to see them enter hibernation? No…no, I am not. I’m a winter lover, like many of us here in Utah. But when the spring and summer return, you can bet I’ll be pulling these shorts out first. I just hope I don’t have cause to wear them quite as much as I did this year.
The Good: Lightweight, quick drying, and sharp enough to wear anywhere in the summer.
The Bad: Nothing, these are plain old great shorts!
The Verdict: The White Sierra Camp 4 shorts are fit for any hot weather adventures, from canyoneering to boozy bike rides.