Outdoor Research Ferrosi 5″ Shorts

Review by Kate Agathon

This season, I was on the hunt for a new pair of pull-on shorts.

Being middle aged with fluctuating weight means that I purposely seek out pull-on bottoms; they’re just more comfortable to wear and I know there won’t be any unwelcome surprises when I try to button the waist.

Therefore, I was excited to discover the Outdoor Research Ferrosi 5” Shorts.

Not only did they meet my first criteria (pull-on), but they also are part of the award-winning Ferrosi collection. Introduced in 2009, Ferrosi is well known for its superior 4-way stretch, durability without weight, and is Outdoor Research’s premiere collection.

Look and Fit

I liked the look of the Ferrosi 5” shorts because they hung nicely and the built-in belt wasn’t too bulky underneath a shirt.

I usually avoid wearing shorts that have a 5” inseam because I prefer longer shorts, but they weren’t too wide and thankfully didn’t ride up when I sat down.

For doing stuff around the house, walking the dogs and doing quick errands, the 5” length was fine. Most importantly, the pull-on waist band remained comfortable and didn’t chafe.The shorts also feature a webbing belt and a low-profile buckle to dial in a more exact fit.

Although the belt had access webbing and was a bit too long, it wasn’t overly problematic.

From a style perspective, the webbing belt is on trend this season. The belt is a nice touch and made them more versatile and appropriate in a variety of settings.

Both Patagonia and REI have similar offerings this season, but the Outdoor Research Ferrosi 5” Short’s amazingly breathable and stretchy bluesign® approved material (46% Recycled Nylon 40% Nylon 14% Spandex) construction and sleeked down appearance put them on top.

Performance

The Outdoor Research Ferrosi 5” Shorts offered maximum mobility with stretch that moved with me and not against me. Despite the softness of the fabric, the shorts breathed well and didn’t cling.

The shorts have four pockets- two wonderfully deep ones in the front and two in the back (one has a zipper to keep items secure).

I appreciated that the fabric is rated UPF 50+; the maximum-rated sun protection for extended sun exposure and ideal for mountain living.

Finally, the Outdoor Research Ferrosi 5″ Shorts are guaranteed to perform throughout the lifetime of the product.

The Outdoor Research Ferrosi 5” Shorts are all that I needed for this season- deep pockets, pull-on waist, stretchy material and UPF protection all in one, do-it-all short.

They are available in six sizes (XS to XL) and five colors (Malachite, Skyline, Pro Khaki, Ranger Green, Black).

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, and mom to her furbabies, Sansa and Benjen.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment to her writing.

Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers. She and her husband, Paul, live in Summit County with their dogs, Benjen and Sansa.

Kate earned a BA in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving two terms on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

The Dr. of Stoke has been part of the Engearment team since 2016.