REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights Review

This is my review of the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights for hiking and trail running.

These short tights are designed for hiking and trail running. This review is for the men’s version of these shorts. There was a women’s version, but that product has been discontinued for the women’s line.

In this review, I’ll share my experience using the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights for hiking and trail running, so that you can decide if these shorts are for you or not.

REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights Best For

The REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights are best for trail running and day hiking.

I’ve used these shorts tights for a few years, primarily for hiking, but I have also used them for trail running, as well. I mainly wear them during the warmer months on singletrack hiking trails. I wear these shorts alone without anything on underneath them or over them, as they’re made to be worn alone.

These shorts are made for the warmer months and should not be used during the colder months unless being used as a base layer under warmer clothing.

REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights Features

The REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights have a lot of really good features, including:

• Very stretchable with its Nylon and Spandex fabric. It gives you a comfortable amount of stretch but still sits against the skin enough to wick moisture from your body and keep you dry.
• There is an internal drawcord to help you have the right waist fit. Make sure you tie the drawcord ends up before you wash them.
• There is a crotch gusset made for men’s wear that makes that area comfortable with freedom of movement.
• There are deep drop-in pockets on each side of the thigh. They are large enough to carry a smartphone in a large case.
• There are also smaller pockets in the internal waistband that you could put credit cards, keys, or gels in.
• The shorts have reflective details on them for better visibility in low light.
• The waist is very comfortable. The entire material of the shorts is very soft, comfortable, and not so tight that it’s too tight, but still form-fitting.
• You can wash these shorts in cold water. Tumble them on low dry and do not use any sort of bleach.

REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights really offer a lot of great features that you would want to have in short tights for hiking and trail running.

Fit and Sizing of the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights

The REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights fit true to size and are very comfortable.

I typically wear an XL in compression or cycling shorts. I bought these in an XL, and they fit me very well. The waistband is soft and comfortable and doesn’t dig into my skin or roll down during heavy use.

The inseam is about 9 inches. I’m about 6’5” tall, and the inseam of these shorts stops about two inches from my knees. I find that these are an acceptable length for me to wear alone.

The REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights are available in XS to XXXL.

Performance of the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights

The REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights are very comfortable to wear and perform in.

While hiking and trail running, the material stays next to your skin and doesn’t move around. The material is soft and form-fitting. The shorts never sag, slide down, or does the waistband ever move around or fold down.

The short tights are very breathable. They do a great job in wicking sweat from my body and keeping my skin dry. I’ve worn them on days when the humidity feels like 110 degrees, and they did a great job in keeping that area very dry.

The REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights are very lightweight. They could easily be a good choice for ultralight hiking, especially with all the extra cargo pockets they offer. You would also not notice the weight of these shorts if you were packing them while backpacking.

There is no inner liner in these shorts. However, I found that the shorts do not reveal too much, and they are great to wear without anything underneath them. These are a really great choice if you prefer short tights for hiking or trail running.

Durability of the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights

The REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights are made with 71% nylon and 29% spandex.

They are Bluesign approved. The shorts were made to help reduce carbon footprint and help with climate change reduction.

The material is moisture-wicking. The material is quick-drying. While I would not recommend them for swimming, they do dry quickly when they become wet.

The material is very strong and durable. I’ve discovered no issues with the seams. I’ve been using these half tights for a few years in rugged off-trail hiking, and they have never had any abrasion issues or visible wear.

Price & Value

You can get the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights from REI.

There are $54.95. If you purchase them using my link, I will earn a commission, but it will not have any impact on your price.

I bought the black and gray editions of these short tights. It appears they only offer the black edition at this time. I find these short tights to be very valuable, and they’re some of my favorite hiking shorts to wear in the summer.

Pros and Cons of the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights

These are the pros and cons of the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights based on my use of them for hiking and trail running.

Pros of the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights

• Comfortable, soft, and durable material that isn’t see -through
• Many pockets to store all my stuff in
• Very breathable and wicks sweat from my body quickly.
• These shorts have a great fit, good inseam, and they look good on me when I wear them.
• I love using them the most when I’m hiking or backpacking during the summer months.

Cons of the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights

• The price is kind of high (but the value makes them worth it)
• I wish there were more color options (like navy, royal, red, green, and gray)
• They don’t offer enough compression to make them best for trail running (but they’re a top choice for hiking)
• There are no leg grippers, and they sometimes ride up in the leg.
• The pockets are full of fabric. If they were mesh, they would be more breathable for whatever you put in them.

Out of all the pros and cons, I still find the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights to be a great choice for hiking.

Final Verdict

I think the REI Swiftland 9 Running Short Tights would be best for hikers, ultralight hikers, and backpackers. If you don’t need a lot of compression, they’d also be good for running and trail running, too. I’ve been using these heavy-duty ones for a few years, and they still look and feel like they’re brand new.

With the women’s pair being discontinued, the men’s might be on their way out as well. You can use this link to buy them before that happens. My link will earn me a commission but not impact your price.

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