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Jul 19, 2023

Helly Hansen Vandre and Quick

~ I have close to lived in these shorts since I received them from HH for review, first wearing them on a sunshine trip overseas and then more generally thanks to the recent wonderful UK weather; I’m

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I have close to lived in these shorts since I received them from HH for review, first wearing them on a sunshine trip overseas and then more generally thanks to the recent wonderful UK weather; I’m not a postie so I don’t wear shorts year round!

I have found both shorts types from HH good to wear and very practical. Easy to wash and generally they put up with daily constant use in everything I do; and I have to say I have abused these somewhat. I started off keeping them ‘for best’ but then as I wore them daily they got used for everything. I have to say they coped well as I wore them for general daily use, going for walks, boating, cycling and even gardening, as well as going out socially.

The QD stands for Quick-Dry and these Deep Fjord blue, one of a wide range of colours including two khaki shades, are made from ripstop material. There are two good-sized, press stud secured, side pockets and there are also two open-top slant pockets with mesh inners as well as a zipped back pocket. So the user has plenty of stowage. I prefer the pocket set up on the QD shorts better than those on the Vandre. The QD material is a very pleasant to wear material and good for those warmer days.

The Deep Steel blue Vandre Cargo Shorts have a more robust feel. There are fewer colours in the range for these; mine are Deep Steel (blue) but Spruce (green) and Ebony (black) are also available. These I would suggest are best for hiking and harder use. The rear backside panel is of a stretchy elastane material for added comfort when mobile with more extreme movements. The two side pockets are good sized but not as large as those on the QD shorts. Also these have hook and loop fastening so are perhaps easier to access but may be not as secure. Side slant pockets are here, but there is no rear pocket.

I like the design of both these shorts, though if down to me I would put the features of both together. Horses for courses, I guess, but both pairs are really good.

[images © Mike or Jean Gormley]

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