The North Face Paramount Cargo Short - Men's

I have always been partial to TNF shorts, and these are no exception. I guess that there have been some design changes (based upon other reviews), so this review is based upon the ones with the gray label (which I purchased from BC.com in 4/09). The material is fairly lightweight, yet seems sturdy. The hand pockets are roomy, as are the cargo pockets. The back pockets are kinda strange, in that you access them from the side, but they are large, unobtrusive, and have a velcro closure. The gusseted crotch does indeed allow good range of motion (so these shorts are good for hiking/climbing) but the shorts are comfortable enough for everyday use.

I travel a lot in Mexico,hot and muggy!These pants are the best.They are feather lite,if you swim ,you just snap them and they are dry in a minute!,lots of deep pockets and a nice loose fit.Can't say enough,have 3 pairs.Well worth your money

If you have bought these shorts in the past and love them, take good care of the ones you have. I've got four pairs and I just bought two more. The two new ones have smaller front pockets( that I have trouble fitting my hands into), new belt design (that pops open) and are cut smaller (which means they don't fit). Why change a good thing? I can only hope they'll go back to the old style next season.

I had a pair of these bought for me for this deployment. I never liked nylon gear, because it's like wearing garbage bags, so I never tried 'em. (it's VERY hot and humid where I am in africa, and nylon doesn't absorb)
One day I was desperate, and decided to try them out. Great choice. Not only do they do a good job resisting the abuse from salt water, but they don't stain as easily either. They dry quicker too. Perfect for a work short in our enviroment. After that, I searched for more. I got a pair in every colour. They arrived here VERY fast. How, I've no clue. I was a bit disappointed when I found out their integral belt's buckle had changed style, and the nylon used in the belt had changed as well. I MUCH prefer the older style, as there is less to break. The newer buckle relies on some little plastic spring clip, and I don't trust it. Nor do I like the material used, in lieu of the cordura nylon used in the older shorts' belt. I'm just nitpicking here, but I wanted to share it nonetheless. Are they worth 45 dollars a pair? No. No shorts should cost that much. But they were the best thing going for my rough conditions, so I bought them. They truly are durable, very high quality shorts for any condition. If the price doesn't sway you, I highly recommend them.

I have 4 pair now and would buy one more if I could find them in any darker shade of blue.

I bought a pair of these shorts in spring 08, and they were awesome, fit great, looked great, definitely five star. So I bought two more pair in mid summer, but in the meantime, TNF had changed them! The new ones, the red TNF label is the tipoff to the new cut, are cut smaller, don't fit as well, and generally aren't as good. Bummer. They still are keepers, but barely so. If you can find the original cut, (gray & white TNF label) by as many as you can.

My husband really liked the shorts, so much so that we immediately ordered a second pair. However, after wearing the first pair only 3 times, the snap came off. We are now returning them for an exchange. Hopefully, the replacement pair and the recently ordered pair will not have the same problem.

The new NF Paramount shorts (red label) are not like the old ones (Grey label). The belt closure, fly snap and pocket mesh have all changed, and not for the better. The fly snap pops open almost each time I open the fly zipper. Upon inspection, it does not have the same firm closure capability as the old one. The side pockets are now entirely mesh, rather than having the bottom and one side nylon cloth, which makes it more susceptible to damage from keys, etc. I have worn these shorts for years, but am very disappointed in these new changes. Not sure if i will stay with them.

These shorts can be used for basically all outdoor activities. They are prime for hiking. Also, they dry quickly for paddling. Durable for climbing. All around a great short. I usually wear a 32 waist. The medium fit when when the belt was fairly tight. And they are just plain old comfortable!