Alright, so today I tackled that age-old summer problem: finding decent crosshatch shorts that don’t feel like cardboard or fall apart after three washes. Total mission, honestly. Everyone talks ’em up, but who’s actually good? Here’s how my hunt went down.
First Stop: The Big Names
Started simple. Wandered into the mall – yeah, actual walking – aiming for those usual suspects everyone knows. Grabbed a pair from Brand A. Looked fine on the hanger, right? Tried ’em on. Big oof. Felt stiff as heck, like wearing paper towels. And the waistband? Pinched weird. Like, sat down and immediately thought “nope”. Didn’t even bother with the fitting room mirror. Straight back on the rack.
Moved to Brand B. Better vibes upfront. Fabric felt softer, almost cozy. But then… the fit. Swear I got the right size, but they ballooned out around my thighs like I was smuggling pumpkins. Looked ridiculous. Felt kinda defeated. Why’s this so hard?
Venturing Online & Smaller Shops
Struck out at the mall, so switched to scrolling. Found Brand C buzzing on some forums. Ordered two sizes ’cause reviews warned it ran small. Smart move. Got ’em, tried on. Surprise! Actually comfy! The crosshatch weave was breathable, not scratchy. Waist sat nice, didn’t ride up walking around the apartment. Only downside? Pricey. Real pricey. Like, “do I really need groceries?” pricey. Still, kept the right size.
Heard whispers about Brand D – smaller company, focused on recycled stuff. Took a punt. Ordered online. Waited…and waited. Finally arrived. First impression? Fabric felt thin. Like, might-see-through thin? Nervously tried ’em. Okay, not see-through. Phew. Fit was actually spot-on! Snug waist but stretchy, shorts hit right above the knee. Felt light. Major plus! But…stitching looked a bit wonky near the pocket. For the price? Expected cleaner work.
Brand E: The Wildcard
My buddy swore by Brand E. “Trust me, they’re comfy,” he said. Fine, ordered. Got ’em yesterday. Colors were cool – nice faded look. Put ’em on. Mixed bag. Super soft, like broken-in immediately. Loved that. But length? Weirdly long for shorts. Like, almost knee-length when I prefer a little higher. Felt like wearing capris. Might hem ’em later? Maybe.
My Final Rundown (After Sore Feet & Many Packages)
- Brand A: Avoid. Cardboard vibes, weird fit. Felt cheap.
- Brand B: Comfy fabric, terrible balloon legs. Good if you skip leg day?
- Brand C: Clear winner for feel & fit, but $$$. Buy on sale or accept ramen diet.
- Brand D: Great fit & good for Earth-lovers, check stitching when yours arrive.
- Brand E: Super soft, but length messed up my vibe.
So yeah. Ended up keeping Brand C (the pricey comfy ones) and Brand D (the recycled underdogs). Rotating them this summer. Learned the hard way: never trust a hanger view, and always check that return policy before clicking buy. Hope this saves you some fitting room drama!