Who doesn’t like stretchy, active shorts that also manage to be halfway stylish? The Toad&Co Drop In Shorts have been my adventure buddies for the last month, enjoying everything from adventures in downtown Hood River to rafting the Wenatchee. They’re comfortable and look good, but do they hold up to testing?
Toad&Co Drop In Shorts Features:
- UPF Rated excellent 40+
- bluesign® approved fabric
- Front hand slash pockets
- Zipper secure leg pocket
- 10.5” inseam
- Weight: 5.4 oz.
- MSRP: $79
The Drop In Shorts in Juniper.
The go-anywhere short
One of the fun things about the Drop In shorts is that they are so versatile. Toad&Co designed them with mesh-lined pockets and a rapidly drying fabric. This, combined with the incredible inherent stretch of the fabric, makes them suitable for a wide range of activities. They are fine for everything from playing at the lake to paddling, hiking and enjoying the town.
The layout is simple. Two mesh-lined hand pockets and two rear pockets with button closures. The rear pockets are cut in such a way as to scoot your wallet out to the side, so you won’t get scoliosis in these shorts. The pockets are roomy enough and the mesh lining certainly helps them dry quickly, but mesh pockets are also more prone to tearing and failure over time
A little mesh never hurt anybody.
The fabric itself is wonderful. It’s UPF 40+, so only your lower legs will get UV damage. It’s also bluesign approved, which means that it adheres to international sustainability standards for more environmentally friendly, ethical textiles. You can feel good about that. More to the point, it’s also incredibly stretchy and it feels like you can do anything in these shorts; I spent quite a bit of time bike commuting in these shorts and I appreciated the total freedom of movement. It also dries very quickly and feels light and breezy.
Perhaps the one shortcoming of the Drop In shorts is durability. I’ve had quite a few loose threads throughout the shorts during my time using them, which usually suggests to me a product that was not manufactured as carefully as possible. It hasn’t resulted in any stitching failures yet and the fabric is so stretchy that I doubt you’d ever possibly rip a seam, but the potential exists.
Pulled threads were a little too often of an occurrence.
The fabric is also incredibly light, so don’t try to do something highly abrasive like rock climbing in it. That said, durability won’t be an issue if you stick to more urban or water-based pursuits, which is really where the Drop Ins are meant to thrive.
For reference, I’m 5’11” and weigh 185lbs. I tested waist 34″ and they fit a bit loose. Overall, I like the style of the shorts – they’re clean and simple, and don’t try to appear outdoorsy or technical. The 10.5″ length sits nicely above my knee.
Cool logo, but unfortunately, more ugly, fuzzy threads.
The Good
- Very comfortable fit, stylish and simple lines are a great combination
- Fabric is sustainably sourced, lightweight and incredibly stretchy
- Mesh pockets dry quickly, rear pockets shift wallet to the side
The Bad
- Between pulled threads, mesh pockets and lightweight fabric, I’m not getting good vibes
The Bottom Line: Toad&Co Drop In Shorts
In terms of summer shorts that can do it all, the Toad&Co Drop Ins are hard to beat. They’re so comfortable and they look great, and the speed at which they dry has made them perfect for the water sports that I enjoy. I do wonder how well they’ll last, but for our one-month test no issues beyond pulled threads emerged. Overall, they’re a very comfortable short to add to the shelf.
Buy now: Available from Toad&Co
