In America, men really have only two pragmatic options for leggings — pants or shorts — yet most of us are blessed with four solid seasons. In my backyard (in Idaho), a good amount of high desert scrub is also in the mix. So, sometimes I’m looking to split the difference.
Enter the knicker. The below-the-knee style that is the knicker shines when the sun doesn’t — cold, wet, and windy weather can bite at the thighs. Bashing through brush on a hike only rubs salt in the wound. Knickers offer protection while freeing your calves to the wind.
A longtime fan of Patagonia’s Nine Trails short, this year I was excited to see the brand release a Nine Trails Knicker. I’ve put a few hundred miles in a pair running and mountain biking in the Boise foothills this spring.
The fit is great, materials are durable, and the design is simple. Overall, I found them a great match for shorter distance training runs during the ‘tween seasons. See below for a break-down of these great “short pants.” —Steve Graepel
