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Path Projects Shorts Review

Path Projects is a new direct to consumer (DTC) running apparel company. They are starting with the short. The concept is pretty simple. The founder Scott Bailey wasn’t satisfied with what was on the market and decided to create his perfect running short. The main features are, a better fit, premium fabrics, lots of storage, separate baseliners so you can adjust the comfort for different weather.

I tried two of the shorts and one baseliner.

The first pair I tried out was the Sykes PX short with a 7″ inseam. My initial thoughts with any gear are made with my eyes and hands. The Toray Prime Flex fabric feels smooth and light, almost silky. Some of the silkiness may come from a coating of DWR, which helps fabrics repel water.

The fit of the shorts is modern and similar to what you would expect from Lulu Lemon. The shorts are tailored and contour the hips, butt, and legs without being too tight. The 7″ inseams are 3″ too long for my running preference, but is well suited for trail running and casual wear. I am a universal medium in shorts, weighing 165 lbs at 5’11” and the Path Project shorts fit well. The waistband was comfortable, and without having to sinch the drawcords, I had the right fit on my hips while running.

The multiple pockets built into these shorts is a story in itself. There are four! Here is the map: lower back center has a zippered pocket big enough for an iPhone, on each side of the center pocket are two more zippered pocket with enough storage to carry four to five energy gels or some energy gels and some credit cards, and finally a key pocket on the front of the hip. I did one of my runs with an iPhone in the center pocket and pocket works. The phone did not flop around and felt comfortable.

The main things I like about the shorts are the amount of storage and the fit. The one drawback can be easily fixed, the 7″ inseam is way too long for my preference. Path has let me know that a 5″ inseam is in the works.

The Graves DA short fits very similar to the Sykes PX and has the same pocket configuration. The real difference is the fabric. “Toray Dot Air fabric has thousands of micro perforations for exceptional flow-thru ventilation.” If you need a way to get the heat out, you may want these over the Sykes PX.

Both shorts are an excellent choice for transitioning between sport and errands. The cut is flattering enough to be a good choice for grabbing coffee after the run.

The Sykes PX is $45 while the Graves DA is $48

Now for the Baseliner. I tried out the Tahoe CL 5. It is super comfy and breathes well. I get the philosophy of being able to switch out your baseliner, thin ones for warm climates, thicker for cold environments, but I am simple. I prefer a liner built into the shorts. Additionally, having to pay extra for a liner doesn’t make sense to me. The least expensive liner is $27! The lowest price you are getting away with for a short/liner combo is $72. That doesn’t qualify you for the free shipping that starts at orders over $80. Ouch. I can justify spending more on shorts because they last so long. I have a tough time getting rid of old gear and have shorts that have been with me for at least 6 years. Think about how many $100+ running shoes you have had around that long.

The quality of the shorts and liner isn’t in question. These short pairings cater more to the trail. If you are out on the trail and you want the utility of the pockets and the ability to switch out liners instead of switching out shorts, the Path Project shorts are worth looking into the Path Project gear.. Check out Path Projects.

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  1. Ruben says:

    How are these shorts holding up since you got them? I’m wondering about the quality on the long run…

    1. Robbe Reddinger says:

      So good. I wore these almost every day last summer as lifestyle shorts and they just get better and better. Fantastic products all around.

  2. Tom says:

    I know this review is old, but it is still helpful. Thanks. I have been looking for shorts without liners and these seem to fit the bill.

    Unlike you, I really prefer shorts without liners. I feel like the outer shorts last forever and can be worn several times without washing, but once you add a liner the overall item wears out faster and, well, I mostly wash them every time.

    Also, I find that some shorts have a great fit for the outer and bad fit for the inner. I recently bought a pair of Patagonia Nine Trails for a whopping $85 once you count the tax. They outers are great, but the liner has a basic flaw – a seam that folds right where I don’t want it and leads to horrible chafing. I would rather be able to take the awesome high-tech Saxx or Puma underwear I have (which I can wear under my XC ski clothes and use many places other than running) and pair that with just the outer short so I don’t get weird looks or possibly a citation for running around in my underwear 😉

    Okay… off to check out Path Projects stuff. I also found, before I came here, that Runderwear sells separates as well. Haven’t tried either, but I’m glad somebody makes them – I went to REI and could not find a single running short that didn’t have liners.

    1. Robbe Reddinger says:

      Dude, check out our Best Path Projects Gear that we just posted a couple weeks ago!

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