Banana Republic vs Patagonia: which short wins?
Both land in the mid tier — the Banana Republic Aiden Slim Short at $60, the Patagonia Baggies Short at $69, just $9 apart. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| Banana Republic | Patagonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60 | $69 |
| Material | Lightweight stretch cotton — mostly cotton with a small amount of elastane for give — smooth-faced and on the thinner side for the category. | Quick-drying 100% recycled nylon (made in a Fair Trade Certified factory) with a recycled mesh-brief liner and a DWR finish. |
| Fit | Slim through the seat and thigh, sold in 7- and 10-inch inseams with a mid rise; true to size for lean-to-average builds, snug for athletic legs — consider sizing up one if you're muscular. | Relaxed, boxy cut on an elastic drawstring waist in 5-inch or 7-inch inseams; size down if you want it trimmer, and most people prefer the 7-inch for everyday wear. |
| Quality | Solid mid-tier construction with clean finishing and a crease-holding drape, but the light fabric reads less durable than the price implies and color fades with washing. | Excellent for the price — bartacked seams and tough nylon that routinely lasts years; the DWR water-repellency does wear off over time and the liner is the weak point. |
| Best for | Smart-casual and office-leaning warm-weather wear for lean-to-average builds who want a short that looks dressed-up, not for muscular thighs or anyone wanting rugged, heavyweight cloth. | Beach, river, trail, and travel — anyone who wants one short that swims, hikes, and lounges and holds up for years. |
| Care | Machine wash cold inside-out and hang or tumble low to slow the fading; the thin cotton wrinkles less than heavier twills but loses depth of color over time. | Machine wash cold and hang or tumble low; skip fabric softener, and refresh the DWR with a wash-in treatment once water stops beading. |
These two shorts share almost nothing except a similar price point: one is a slim cotton chino built for looking presentable at a summer lunch, the other is a boxy recycled-nylon short built to survive years of swimming, hiking, and travel. The $9 gap is nearly irrelevant — the real question is whether the buyer needs a short that looks dressed-up or one that genuinely performs.
- The case for Banana Republic
- The Banana Republic Aiden wins on polish — the slim cut, crease-holding drape, and smooth cotton face make it the only one of the two that reads as smart-casual or office-adjacent rather than athletic or beachy.
- The case for Patagonia
- The Patagonia Baggies wins on durability and versatility — bartacked seams, tough recycled nylon, and genuine swim-to-trail range mean owners routinely keep them for years, something the thinner, fade-prone cotton of the Aiden cannot match.
The bottom lineWhich should you buy?
Buy the Banana Republic if the primary use case is warm-weather smart-casual or office-light wear and the buyer has a lean-to-average build — and wait for the near-guaranteed 30–40% sale, because paying $60 full price for fabric that fades and thins over time is not a strong value proposition. Step up to the Patagonia if the short needs to do more than one thing — swim, hike, travel, or simply outlast multiple seasons — because the $9 premium over a discounted Aiden buys meaningfully better construction and longevity, not just a logo. The gap is fully justified by what you actually get, provided the relaxed fit suits the buyer; if it does not, no amount of bartacking changes that.
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