Well, I vote for Shorts.....Mine are made from a Supplex material, super comfortable and if they should get wet they dry very fast. If it is cold or buggy, I will put the Frogg Toggs pants over top and I am comfortable. I have never had a problem hiking in shorts. I only take the one pair and if I should rinse them out on the 4th or 5th day they dry really fast. Cheers, Marge (the old gal)