Columbia Zambia Zen Short : Ultra Fine and All Mine

I'd been feeling fussy about my shorts this summer. Nothing seemed to fit me right and none of my cotton shorts were thin enough to wear on really hot days. I had resigned myself to wearing cut-off cotton yoga pants or elastic waistband skirts...until I discovered Columbia's Zambia Zen Short.

I liked the look of this Bermuda-style short right away. I could see that the legs where taped ever so slightly and that the shorts had a nice straight cut through the waist and hips, essential features for me in a short. Who wants billowy material that flairs at the hem and makes your thighs look bigger? Not me.

I also liked that the plaid material came in a variety of dark shades. My daily uniform consists of almost entirely black clothing, so finding a slim pair of shorts that would look great with both black or grey tees was a bonus. (If you like color, the shorts also come in blue.) I think dark colors are more stylish that bright colors, so I feel fine wearing these shorts out at night to BBQ parties or the movies.

When I tried on the Zambia Zen short for the first time, I couldn't believe how well it fit . I love the low-rise cut, which is a bit higher in the back of the shorts (where I'd like a bit more coverage) and still plenty modest in the front. I can wear the shorts at my hips, which is the most comfortable place to wear pants and shorts. I love the wide waistband on these shorts--it sits flat against my body so I never feel any binding. Very nice.

Most of all, I love how the Zambia Zen short fits around my bum. Because the material is ultra-thin (61% polyester and 39% cotton) and has some give in it, it's both body-conforming and loose enough that I don't think of my shorts at all once they're on. I get a trim, fitted look without feeling packed into my shorts (and I can spend hours sitting, working at my computer, and they never feel tight).

I normally want to wear baggy shorts in hot weather, but the Zambia Zen short is actually ideal for the most unpleasant spikes in temperature because the material wicks away moisture and dries so quickly. The shorts have mesh vents above the back button-enclosure pockets, and both back and front pockets are made of mesh, too. The first time I washed them and hung them on my drying rack they were dry enough to wear in a little more than an hour and almost completely dry a couple of hours later. So, they're ideal for travel because I can wash them at night and have clean, dry shorts in the a.m. They're ideal for outdoor use, too, because I can stop on a hike to cool of in a river or lake and still finish my hike dry.

Columbia did an incredible job designing The Zambia Zen short. I can't remember having a pair of shorts that fit me as well. I usually only wear all-cotton or all-wool clothing, but I have to admit I love the blend they use for these shorts. It's soft, it's super thin, and it still looks great after several washings. The material also provides UPF 15 sun protection.

Available in women's sizes 2-14, in four different plaid colors.

Bottom Line: Hands down my new favorite shorts. They fit great, they look great, I get all the coverage I want, and they dry so quickly I can wear them as often as I want.-- E.D. (July 2010)

BUY ONLINE : $45, on sale for less at Amazon, 15% off at Backcountry.

Manufacturer's Site: www.columbia.com

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