Rab Torque Shorts Review UK | Tested in a Heatwave

Name: Rab Men's Torque 8in Mountain Shorts
Brand: Rab

I bought the Rab Men's Torque 8in Mountain Shorts as my summer walking short, and the first proper test was about as brutal as a test gets: a Rhodes heatwave. Long days on the trails and shorelines around Kiotari, the kind of dry, relentless heat where most kit starts to feel like a punishment by mid-morning. These did not. They came home as my favourite pair of shorts, hiking or otherwise, and I have worn them constantly since.

This is a genuinely tested review. Not a spec sheet rewrite. Everything below comes from wearing the Rab Torque shorts hard in the exact conditions they are built for, plus the everyday summer walking I have done in them back home in Dorset since.

The short version: lightweight, seriously stretchy, and cool in heat that had no business feeling comfortable. If you want a summer hiking short that disappears on your legs and keeps your phone secure when you sit down, these are worth a look.

Who the Rab Torque shorts are for

These shorts are for: hot-weather hikers who want freedom of movement and a fabric that breathes. Anyone doing summer walking, coastal paths, dry rocky trails or a bit of scrambling where you need to lift a leg high and not feel the fabric fight you. People who want zipped pockets so nothing escapes when they sit down for a view. Travellers who want one pair of shorts that works for hiking, everyday wear and a beach walk without looking out of place.

These shorts are less ideal for: hikers who want a lot of dedicated cargo storage, or anyone who prefers a longer inseam. At 8 inches these sit above the knee, which is exactly what you want in heat but is a personal preference. If you want the same fabric and features in full-length form, Rab makes the Torque trousers too.

Specs

Fabric: Matrix double-weave stretch nylon (182gsm)
Stretch: Four-way stretch, articulated for movement
Weight: ~226g (size M)
Water repellency: Fluorocarbon-free DWR treatment
Pockets: 4 x YKK zipped: 2 hand, 1 thigh, 1 rear
Waistband: Part-elasticated with double-snap closure and YKK zip fly
Belt loops: Low-profile bonded loops
Inseam: 8 inches (above the knee)
Fit: Regular
Sizes: 30, 32, 34, 36, 38
UK price: ~£80

The fabric is the story here. Rab's Matrix double-weave is a lightweight stretch nylon with a fast-drying finish and a fluorocarbon-free DWR, and it is the same fabric family used across the Torque range. It is built for summer mountain days: hiking, scrambling and moving fast when it is hot.

The stretch and comfort: you feel it when you walk

The first thing you notice with these is the stretch, and I mean you actually notice it. Most shorts you put on and forget the fabric exists. With the Torque you feel the give when you take a big step up onto a rock or lengthen your stride on a climb. The fabric moves with you rather than pulling against you.

On Rhodes there was a fair bit of clambering over rock and uneven ground down towards the shoreline, and the four-way stretch earns its place there. High steps, wide steps, dropping down off a ledge. The shorts never once caught me out or restricted the movement. Paired with the articulated cut, they just get out of the way.

That freedom is the single biggest reason I keep reaching for them. A lot of walking shorts are fine on the flat and awkward the moment the ground gets interesting. These are the opposite. The rougher and steeper the terrain, the more you appreciate them.

Heat and breathability: not sweaty in a heatwave

This is the part that surprised me most. Rhodes in a heatwave is not a gentle test. It is the sort of dry, oppressive heat where you expect any fabric on your body to become a problem. The Torque shorts did not become a problem.

Even in that heat I did not feel sweaty in them. The Matrix fabric is light enough and breathes well enough that it never turned clammy, never clung, never gave me that damp-waistband feeling you get from heavier shorts on a hot day. For a nylon short that is a real result. The fast-drying finish helps too: any sweat that does build moves through and dries rather than sitting there.

Back in Dorset on warm summer walks the same holds true. These are a hot-weather short first and foremost, and heat is where they are at their best. If your summer hiking involves a lot of sun and exposed ground, breathability is the thing that actually matters, and these deliver it.

Pockets and waist: zipped storage, no belt needed

Every pocket on these shorts zips. Two hand pockets, a thigh pocket and a rear pocket, all with YKK zips. That sounds like a small thing until you spend a day stopping to sit down and take in views.

On the trails around Kiotari I lost count of the times I dropped down onto a rock to enjoy the sea view with my phone, keys and a few bits in my pockets. Nothing fell out. Nothing needed checking. That security is the practical difference between a walking short and a lifestyle short: when you sit, crouch or scramble, zipped pockets keep everything exactly where you left it. I never once had that stomach-drop moment of wondering whether my phone had slid out on the walk down.

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Prices pulled live from Blacks, updated daily. Links are affiliate links.

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The waist is the other detail I did not expect to care about and now would not go without. It is part-elasticated with a double-snap popper closure and a zip fly, and the upshot is you do not need a belt. The elasticated section gives just enough to move with you and settle comfortably after a big lunch, and the poppers hold everything securely. On a hot day the last thing you want is a rigid waistband and a belt digging in. These sit comfortably all day and I have never reached for a belt with them.

Durability and everyday use

I have worn these a lot. Hot travel days, coastal scrambles, everyday summer walking, and general wear when it is too warm for trousers. They have taken it without complaint. The double-weave fabric feels more robust than the low weight suggests, and there is no sign of the seams, poppers or zips loosening off with regular use.

They also pass the test that a lot of technical hiking kit fails: they do not scream hiking kit. In a plain grey they look like a normal pair of shorts, so they work for a cafe stop, a beach walk or wandering round a town in the evening just as well as they work on the trail. For travelling that versatility is worth a lot. One pair covers the walk and everything either side of it.

At around £80 they are not a budget short, and that is the honest trade-off to weigh. This is Rab pricing for Rab fabric and Rab detailing. What you get for it is a short that performs in genuine heat, moves with you on real terrain and has lasted through hard use without a wobble. For a piece of kit I now wear this often, the cost-per-wear is already looking very good.

Reasons to buy and reasons to look elsewhere

Four-way stretch you actually feel: brilliant on steps, rock and scrambles
Very lightweight and breathable, cool even in extreme heat
Did not feel sweaty through a Rhodes heatwave
Four zipped pockets keep phone and keys secure when you sit down
Comfortable part-elasticated popper waist: no belt needed
Fast-drying fabric and a plain look that works off the trail too

~£80 is a premium price for a pair of shorts
8in inseam sits above the knee, which is a personal preference
No large open cargo pockets if you like to carry a lot on your legs
Water repellent, not waterproof (as expected for a summer short)

Should you buy the Rab Torque shorts?

Yes, if you want a hot-weather hiking short that performs when the heat is genuinely testing. That is the situation these are built for and it is where they shine. After wearing them through a Rhodes heatwave and a Dorset summer, they are the first thing I pack when the forecast is warm.

The combination is hard to fault: real, noticeable stretch, low weight, breathability that held up in extreme heat, and zipped pockets that keep your kit secure when you stop. Add a comfortable belt-free waist and a look plain enough for everyday wear, and you have a short that does far more than just the walk.

The only real question is price. At around £80 they cost more than a basic pair of walking shorts. If you hike often in warm weather, or you want one versatile pair for a hot holiday, they are easy to justify and I would buy them again without hesitating. If you only wear shorts a handful of days a year, a cheaper pair will do. For everyone else, these are a summer kit-bag staple. They earn a 4.6 from me, held off a perfect score only by the price.

Buy the Rab Torque 8in Mountain Shorts on Amazon Or buy at Blacks

Rab Torque shorts FAQ

Are the Rab Torque shorts good for hiking?

Yes. They are a strong hot-weather hiking short. The lightweight Matrix stretch fabric moves with you on steps and scrambles, breathes well in heat and dries fast, and the four zipped pockets keep your phone and keys secure when you sit or crouch. I wore mine hard on rocky coastal trails in a Rhodes heatwave and they were excellent.

Are the Rab Torque shorts stretchy?

Very. The Matrix double-weave fabric has four-way stretch that you actually feel when you walk, especially on high steps, wide strides and rock. Combined with the articulated cut, the fabric moves with you rather than restricting you, which is the main reason I keep reaching for them.

Do the Rab Torque shorts have zipped pockets?

Yes. All four pockets are YKK zipped: two hand pockets, one thigh pocket and one rear pocket. That means nothing falls out when you sit down, scramble or crouch, which is the practical difference between a walking short and a casual one.

How do the Rab Torque shorts fit and should I size up?

They are a regular fit with an 8in inseam that sits above the knee, and they come in numbered waist sizes (30 to 38). The part-elasticated popper waistband gives some flexibility, so most people can take their normal waist size and skip a belt. If you are between sizes or prefer a roomier fit, size up.

Are the Rab Torque shorts good in hot weather?

They are excellent in hot weather. The fabric is light and breathable enough that I did not feel sweaty even through an extreme Rhodes heatwave, and the fast-drying finish means any sweat moves through rather than sitting against your skin. Heat is exactly where these are at their best.

Brand guide: for the full Rab story, the technology behind the kit and where the range fits, read our Rab brand review.

Heading somewhere hot? Pair these with the right layering and hydration in my guide to how to stay cool on the trail, and see the full best hiking trousers UK 2026 guide for full-length options. More clothing reviews are in the hiking clothing hub.

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