Merrell Resister Short

Merrell’s Resister Short’s outer layer is made up of light, breathable, and rugged material that makes it a go-to for multi-day, warm weather adventures. The M-Select WICK fabric was great at combating moisture, staying cool under pressure, and, in the candid words of our Lake Tahoe tester, “Wow, does it dry quick!” He was a fan of the overall fit of the outer short, though he did have some serious issues with the inner lining. “It was way too tight,” he said. So tight, in fact, that he ended up removing the liner mid run.

The tight fit was effective in keeping the brief liner in place and not creeping up during the run, but our tester couldn’t get over the “aggressive” amount of support. Our tester wasn’t digging the loose pockets, either - his energy bar fell out after two steps. That said, he admired the reflective detailing, reporting that the reflective material lit him up during headlamp-illuminated night runs.

On the plus side, our tester loved how tough the shorts were. After dozens of miles and countless encounters with rough trailside brush, the shorts still looked pristine. “Without the liner, they’ve been great,” he said. “The overall fit and stretch are great for runs and hikes.”