Greg always says that golf fashion follows the current men’s fashion trends….but golf tends to lag a few years behind. If you have left your house this summer, you’ve clearly noticed that men’s shorts are inching upward. In fact, in golf I would say that a 9″ inseam is the new 10″ when it comes to what we are seeing on the course these days. For those of you that want to get ahead of the curve, here are some golf specific shorts that come in an inseam less than nine inches. And if you think you’re too tall for an inseam <9″, remember Larry Bird is 6’9″ and his shorts were (much) shorter than what you’ll find below…
Bonobos
The Bonobos Highland Tour Golf Shorts have been my go-to shorts the past few years. Coming in at 8″ they fit my long legs perfectly. The waist fits true to size and they tend to be on the slimmer side (with exceptional stretch) which fits my preference perfectly. The best part? They come in 17 colors! Features include: shirt gripper gel waistband, zipper back pocket, secure interior cell phone pocket, scorecard saver pocket, coin pocket, and embroidered eyelets at inseam for added breathability.
Bonobos also offers a 7″ option, in the Performance Link Shorts. These come in 16 colors, including some great “heathered” options and all have geo print pocketing details. I found them to have a little less stretch than their Highland Tour counterpart but were made of a lighter material. Features include: silicone shirt gripper, zipper pocket, and extreme quick dry.
Vineyard Vines
The Vineyard Vines 7 Inch On-The-Go Shorts were S-T-R-E-T-C-H-Y. As a result they had the most generous fit, especially given their stretch waistband. I could have sized down from 34 to 33 (yes, they offer 31, 33, and 35 inch waist options!). My only complaint is the that there are just three colors and most sizes are already sold out online. Features include: water resistant fabric, hidden zippered media pocket, and stretch pocket bags.
Lululemon
Have you ever experienced Lululemon’s ABC technology and Warpstreme fabric in their trousers? (The legend is real!) If you have, these 7″ shorts offer all the same benefits! And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?? Lululemon’s Warpstreme fabric offers amazing stretch and recovery. ABC technology uses an ergonomic gusset to remove tension from the crotch, giving you the freedom to read putts from any angle. The Commission shorts fit me true to size and they had a slightly wider leg opening to accommodate those of you who never skip leg day. Features include: 4-way stretch, zippered side pocket, and wrinkle resistance.
Black Quail
Black Quail were the longest of the short shorts I tested, coming in just under the 9″ threshold at 8.5 inches. They were also the softest and most lightweight. The Black Quail Performance Shorts combine the classic look of dress trousers with the performance qualities that make them perfect for the course. Elevated details, such as the off-centered double button front closure on the waistband allows you to wear these shorts sans belt, if you wish. These come in six classic colorways. Features include: topographical course pocket bags, quick-dry material, and breathability.
Adidas
As the result of a shipping issue, I did not get to test the adidas Ultimate365 Core 8.5 Inch Shorts. They come in nine diverse colorways and are made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials.
Wow, those are superb looking shorts. Great selection.