Review: Patagonia’s DAS Light Shorts

Ever on the lookout to go just a bit more minimalist, last season I scored a pair of synthetic insulation shorts. These are not short shorts. Call the Patagonia DAS Light Shorts surf-trunk length (just above the knee) and made-for-the-alpine. Read as  easy-on-and-off gems. It’s a straightforward concept with a straightforward function.  

Packing for backcountry skiing isn’t like solving a Rubik’s Cube for the 3D puzzle averse. It should be, and is most often, basic. Until it’s not. Then I mentally flex to fit all my gear into a 30L go-to pack without busting the seams. I focus on bringing just the right amount of this or that along—never too much, hopefully, never too little. Which means I’m also zeroing in on what I’ve got for emergency situations (and really cold days). Do I need to keep an injured partner warm? Will I be the getting-too-cold patient? On top of that, I enjoy solo touring. The extra insulation, along with a small section of foam pad, could come in handy in the event that I’m lying in the snow and need to help myself.

Insulated pants are solid. My quiver includes a well-loved pair of Patagonia Das Light Pants and a ¾ length pair of Stellar Equipment Ultralight Down Pants 2.0. The DAS Lights come along on any overnight as they shine for the long haul. They’re synthetic (warm when wet), have full side zips (easy on-off while wearing boots), and are pretty light at ~310g in a men’s M. My only gripe is these sweet pants are designed for alpinists, not those wearing ski boots. The cuff closure is not wide enough to zip tightly over a touring boot. The Down Pants 2.0 fill the gap on some occasions as they offer full side zips and are knicker length and have stretch side panels (they fit easily over ski pants). On really cold days when wetting out the down is a non-issue, I’ll often stash these in my pack for extra warmth as they weigh only 228g in men’s M.

I cannot recall exactly when I noticed it, but certainly it was my skimo friends who introduced me to this sartorial minimalism: scant clothing that afforded maximal insulation. Insulated shorts. They were wearing full-side-zip insulated shorts, and sometimes skirts, but that seemed to be more of a thing on the Nordic trails. I took their devotion to insulated shorts as a means to keep the groin zone warmer on descents. These fast folks were often zipping up and down in Lycra and, hopefully, some form of windproof base leggings. You get my drift?

I have also, over the years, had a friend tell me repeatedly—and this friend is prone to cold nether regions—that he’s begun wearing insulated shorts at ice climbing belays. Why not?

So here we are, the DAS Light Shorts. They feature a 0.8-oz 10-denier Pertex® Quantum Pro face fabric, and 65-g PlumaFill 100% recycled polyester insulation—the same materials used in the DAS Light pants and jacket. As far as insulation is concerned, I’ve found both the jacket and pants excel on multiday traverses. In winter, I’ll bump up to the DAS jacket (it’s got more insulation), but in spring, the DAS Light comes with. I have no complaints with either the fabric’s or the zipper’s durability. I suspect it is the same for the shorts, although I’m only about ½ season into the wear and tear. 

Based on my experience, I’d say the use case for the DAS Light Shorts for touring is broader than that of insulated pants. The simple reason is that I can regulate my temperature more effectively while moving. I don’t wear insulated pants while skinning or descending, and I run pretty cold. However, the shorts add some needed versatility. Meaning, the ability to warm me up just enough, with the ease of use, to zip them off quickly and prevent overheating. It’s like a vest for the lower body: The shorts insulate a core region, and nothing more. I’m starting to think of the insulated shorts as part of an overall layering system on frigid days or when I suspect there may be lots of starting and stopping. 

Hassle factor. I’d say the hassle factor is very low. The DAS Light Shorts feature two full side zips and an elasticized waist, making them easy to put on and remove. There’s no stress getting them over boots. The low hassle factor has been proven, as I experimented with my fashion and function sensibilities. While I suspect most will layer the shorts over their hard/softshell pants, it’s actually comfortable to layer them under, too. The DAS Light Shorts are not bulky, with a fit that is large enough (I’m in a medium—the sizes are unisex) to fit over or under ski/ride pants. If you wear them as an underlayer, removing them is easy if your shell pants have side zips. There’s a bit more wrestling involved in adding them on the fly as an underlayer, but it is doable. And if it’s not too blustery, simply dropping your outer pants down is an option. I have found, although this is unscientific, that the shorts add a bit more insulating power as an underlayer. My guess is that’s not the intended place in the layering system. And for insulated skirt lovers, yes, we have experimented with a DAS Light Skirt. The survey suggests that on blustery days, shorts are more insulating and do not restrict mobility, although the skirt receives a slight nod for better mobility.    

For the climbers out there who shiver at the thought of shivering either at a winter or alpine belay, these insulated shorts pack some surprising punch for their somewhat modest weight.

Lastly, these shorts feature a zip fly (secured with a button snap) for those who need to pee, and a fly makes it easier. For backcountry tourers, I highly doubt the zip fly may come in handy when worn either under or over touring pants—but I can see the merit for rock climbers, with their less bulky layers and need to work around a harness in high-gravity situations. Actually…maybe this is the “lastly,” why not down? I love down pieces, as they often provide better warmth for their weight. However, 80% of the time, I pack synthetic garments solely for the reason of staying warm when wet. The same goes for the shorts, although RAB looks to have some fine-looking down shorts. So I’m glad Patagonia went the synthetic insulation route. 

The DAS Light Shorts are for those who are fine-tuning their layering systems. This will cost you $200 as you tinker around and find what works. What works for me is adding some security regarding emergency situations by stashing shorts in my pack when I forgo insulated pants. And as a vest for my lower body, the DAS Light Shorts provide tons of versatility when I need a warmth boost.

The Basics

Price: $200

Highlights: Full side zips and fist bumps for high function.

Shell Fabric: 0.8-oz 10-denier Pertex® Quantum Pro 100% recycled nylon ripstop with a PU dry coating and a durable water repellent (DWR) finish made without intentionally added PFAS.

Lining: 0.8-oz 10-denier Pertex® Quantum 100% recycled nylon ripstop with a DWR finish made without intentionally added PFAS

Insulation: 65-g PlumaFill 100% recycled polyester.