For context… I am 5’10” 140lbs and I am trial runner averaging 65 miles per week right now. This is my first base layer/short purchase from Path Projects. I really was intrigued by the idea of the integrated belt at the waist. I have done two runs in the shorts – an easy one and a quarter hour effort, and one longer two-hour hill focused effort.

The good: The construction, fit, and quality are excellent. The fabric is super lightweight, and despite the near triple digit temps and uncomfortable humidity, the shorts did a good job of staying comfortable and they seemed to stay a bit drier than other shorts I’ve been using this summer. The waist belt is deep enough and will hold a bunch of stuff and there are enough thoughtfully placed tabs on the belt to make accessing the stuff in it super easy. As a trial in my kitchen, I was able to load the belt up with half a dozen gels, two 500ml soft flasks, and a couple Maurten bars. I also think that if I was more diligent in my stuffing, there was likely more space. On the shorter of the two runs, there were no issues. I had two gels stuck in the belt, in the area I would call the small of my back, and they were not noticeable and stayed put. Perfect. And the shorts performed just like I would have wanted them to! Very happy…

The bad: I feel like I want to caveat this by acknowledging that everyone’s stride and gait are different and your experience may be vastly different. But for me, on the longer run, the larger items in the belt…