GEAR REVIEW: KUHL FREEFLEX WOMEN’S SHORTS

Saguaros. Tacos. Sunshine. Everything about the Sonoran Desert in Tucson, Arizona, was calling us for more than just a vacation. Ever since Mark and I visited Tucson last year, we found ourselves often talking about how much we loved the outdoor offerings, delicious food, and weekend-trip potential. Ready for a change and deciding to do something about it, I applied for a job at the University of Arizona and received a job offer shortly thereafter!

To get ready for the move, Mark and I took a short flight from Salt Lake City to Tucson over Labor Day weekend to find a new place to live, while squeezing in some sightseeing and Mexican food in between. Since the weather was in the 100s over the weekend, I was sure to pack my hot weather clothes, including my new KUHL Freeflex women’s shorts. These shorts were awesome and I wore them all weekend during my various activities.

STYLISH FOR ANY ACTIVITY

I had been looking for an all-black short that I could wear while hiking that didn’t look too sporty or techy so I could wear them casually around town too. A lot of black sporty shorts had a large company logo on it, while other black casual sports were not the right material to wear for outdoor activities. The KUHL Freeflex women’s shorts were the perfect fit with breathable polyester fabric for hiking and a very subtle logo on the design for casual wear. I wore them while touring apartments in Tucson, visiting restaurants and shops in the downtown area, and walking along the Oro Valley river trail in the same day.

FUNCTIONAL WITH ZIPPED POCKETS

The shorts feature two large zipped pockets, which surprisingly fit my iPhone 12 and my small wallet. The zippers were nice to have to make sure nothing fell out of my pockets. The shorts feature a slightly stretchy waistband without any buttons or zippers. The waistband wasn’t super stretchy like gym shorts so it took a bit of a tug to pull them up over my hips. But once on my waist, they felt comfortably snug on me. There is also an internal drawcord to pull them tighter if needed. 

ALL-DAY WEAR IN COMFORT

I wore these shorts everywhere! I wore them while exploring the Gem and Mineral Museum and out to dinner at El Charro Cafe. On another hot day, I wore them in Sabino Canyon and was able to easily hike in them and not feel too sweaty, and then go out to eat in town at Seis Kitchen immediately afterwards and not feel underdressed. Overall, I love the versatility and comfort of the KUHL Freeflex women’s shorts with its stylish design and being able to wear them any where. They also look good with any top whether its sporty or casual. Overall, our trip was successful in finding a new place to live and getting ready for the new job come this fall. I can already tell that these will be my go-to shorts year-round in our new home in Tucson. 

QUICK FACTS

Unique Feature: Zippered pockets that fit an iPhone

Pros: Lightweight, breathable, non-tech style, zippered pockets, UPF 50+ sun protection

Sizing: I’m 5’4 and the small size fits just right. A medium short might also work if I wanted a looser waist fit.

Colors: Many colors are available from rainstorm blue, koal gray, sage green, and black.

Cost: $65 at KUHL.com (as of Sept. 2022)