Kuhl Dissipatr Air vs Kuhl Silencr Kargo vs Kuhl Uphift Short – Best Summer 2025 shorts

For Summer 2025, we will review Kuhl’s top three shorts for men—the Kuhl Dissipatr Air, Kuhl Silencr Kargo, and Kuhl Uphift.

First, we have the very lightweight Kuhl Upshift short, available in men’s sizes 34” x 8” inseam.  I am usually 34” in waist, and these fit perfectly.  There is an actual button (instead of a snap), which is beneficial, as the snaps we have tested previously have been known to open up. So this is a nice upgrade. The material is very soft against the skin and has a light and airy feel to it.  I tested the shorts in an hour-long rainstorm while we were at the Outside Music Festival this weekend, and they dried very quickly.

You get the tried-and-true side cell phone pocket that Kuhl is known for. It fits my iPhone 15 Max Pro easily.  There is a zippered rear pocket for a wallet.  Two hand pockets with stretch material as well.

The fit is accurate, and the look is sharp enough for a date night, yet the functionality is good enough for exercise or hiking. These are my favorites of the three.

Next, we will talk about the Kuhl Silencr Kargo Shorts.  These are a thicker material yet still have a degree of mechanical stretch.  They have the same pocket layout as the Upshift, but you also get an additional rear pocket as well as two zippered cargo pockets.  The sizing was accurate, and the 34″ fit me well.  These come in three lengths, too – 8, 10, 12″.

The last pair is the Kuhl Dissipatr shorts. These are more like the Upshift shorts as they are lighter and have the same exact pocket layout.  These differ, though, as they are true slip-on shorts (no button or zipper).  They also only come in small, medium, and large sizes.  I went with the large, but probably could have gone with the medium (I wear Kuhl boxers in size medium).

There are three equal but different options for the best shorts of 2025 from Kuhl.  My favorite overall is the Upshift as they are lightweight, stretchy, dry quickly, and look good.