山と道の店頭やオンラインショップには、同じような形の製品がいくつも並んでいます。種類が増えるほど、「で、どれを選べばいいの？」と迷いますよね。でも、スタッフに製品ごとに「どんな時に快適だと感じたか」「どう使っているか」を聞いてみたら、答えは人それぞれ。正解はひとつじゃなく、みんな自分の体質と道具の癖をわかったうえで、その日の自分に合うものを選んでいました。

山と道が大切にしているのは自分で選び、自分で背負うこと。何を持つかを自分で決めるほど歩きは軽やかに、自由になっていく。スタッフの話が、あなたの選び方を見つけるヒントになれば嬉しいです。

山と道 夏目彰

夏目｜山と道 代表
前原｜山と道HLCアンバサダー／グループリーダー
おーじ｜山と道鎌倉店長／山と道HLCアンバサダー
角ちゃん｜山と道鎌倉スタッフ
上杉｜山と道鎌倉スタッフ／修理部
ジョージ｜京都から鎌倉に出向中
おでん君｜山と道鎌倉スタッフ
ビヨンセ｜山と道鎌倉スタッフ

ーLet’s start with a simple question: what makes a good pair of shorts for you?

George　To me, shorts are what you get when you strip long pants down to the essentials. You gain airflow, faster drying and freedom of movement.

Rather than obsessing over every small difference in fabric or features, I think the appeal is simply committing to shorts and freeing up your legs.

ーSo it’s about that sense of freedom?

George　Exactly. Less restriction around the lower body.

It’s similar to what I like about the MINI: keeping the load on the upper body so the lower body can move freely. With shorts, you’re removing as much stress from the legs as possible.

Oji　For my ideal shorts, imagine an Edo-period courier. What is he wearing? A fundoshi. (laughs)

Honestly, I’d walk in one if I could. I move pretty fast and sweat a lot, so I want as little restriction as possible.

For me, good shorts are short, light, thin and fast-drying. Ideally, they should almost feel like I’m not wearing anything.

Yuhi　For me, good shorts are simply shorts that don’t feel hot.

I also really notice what’s in my pockets. Anything below the knee feels too warm, so above-the-knee length is a must. And if the contents of my pockets move around, it really bothers me.

I used to wear shorts from other brands, but after trying ours I couldn’t really go back. For me, those two things—short length and stable pockets—are what make a good pair of shorts.

Ayumi　I’m in charge of the gyaru side of things, so for me the shorter the better. (laughs)

I just think shorter shorts look cuter. They’re also much easier to move in, especially when lifting your legs. I also prefer a slightly wider cut because the fabric moves around less against my thighs.

So for me, good shorts are short and a little roomy.

ーWhat do you mean by the fabric moving around?

Ayumi　If the opening is too narrow, the fabric brushes against my thighs every time I lift my legs, and I really notice it.

With a wider cut, that happens less. And honestly, I also think a slightly wider shape makes my legs look slimmer.

Hidenori　For me, good shorts are shorts that don’t interfere with movement.

I really dislike anything catching when I lift my legs. A shorter inseam helps, smoother fabric helps, and lighter fabric helps. More than anything, I want to walk without thinking about what I’m wearing.

The phone pocket on the 5-Pocket Shorts is a good example. Because it sits at the side of the hip, the phone doesn’t move very far. In a front pocket, it swings much more and bounces with every step, which becomes surprisingly stressful.

ーSo good shorts are shorts that don’t get in the way of your body?

Hidenori　Exactly. I want walking to feel completely instinctive.

For me, being able to move through nature without thinking about what I’m wearing is one of the best parts of hiking.

Yuko　I want shorts that feel completely stress-free.

With pants, I sometimes notice the fabric catching on my legs. I’ve even tried zip-off pants before, but the zipper rubbing against my skin bothered me enough that I stopped wearing them.

After trying different things, I’ve found that lightweight fabric that doesn’t cling to my legs works best for me.

And like Ayumi said, length really matters for how your legs look. I don’t think, “It’s the mountains, so anything is fine.” If a pair makes my legs look bad, I won’t wear it no matter how functional it is.

ーSo you want your legs to look good too.

Yuko　Of course. (laughs) That matters.

Beyoncé　For me, good shorts are ones with as few drawbacks as possible.

I carry a lot in my pockets—my phone, eye drops, all sorts of things. With regular shorts or loose running shorts, I really notice the weight bouncing around, and it just doesn’t suit the way I use them.

So when I find a pair where I can imagine using them without those little stresses, that’s what makes them good shorts for me.

ーSo by “few drawbacks,” you basically mean less stress?

Beyoncé　Exactly. Other people might look for extra advantages, but for me, having fewer negatives is what matters most.

ーWhich Yamatomichi shorts do you wear most, and when do you switch to something else?

Daishi　The shorts I wear most are the Light 5-Pocket Short Shorts.

Honestly, I’d rather not even wear underwear. When I run, I wear the Short Shorts with nothing underneath, and that feels best. I just want as little restriction as possible.

I don’t really wear the DW 5-Pocket Shorts because the textured inner fabric catches on my leg hair. It pulls at the hairs and can actually hurt, so that alone is enough to put me off them.

I suppose I could shave my legs like a lot of trail runners do. (laughs)

The 5-Pocket Shorts are more for everyday wear. In the mountains, I tend to choose them when I’m moving at a slower pace, like during an HLC program.

Ayumi　I’m the gyaru representative, so the shorter the better. The Light 5-Pocket Short Shorts are definitely the pair I wear most.

When I switch, it’s usually to the 5-Pocket Shorts. For canyoning, climbing or alpine routes, they’re my first choice because the fabric is simply much tougher against rock and abrasion.

Yuhi　I’m the complete opposite of Daishi—I love the DW 5-Pocket Shorts.

I run hot and sweat a lot, but they dry quickly, don’t cling much, and have just enough stretch to stay comfortable. They’re also durable enough that I feel confident wearing them somewhere unfamiliar, so I use them almost year-round.

If it gets really hot, I’ll switch to the Light 5-Pocket Shorts. All of our shorts are cool compared with pants, but for someone like me, the Light is noticeably cooler.

The Short Shorts don’t really work for me because my legs are quite big and the fit gets too tight. The 5-Pocket Shorts can also feel restrictive around my thighs, so I don’t choose them as often.

Ayumi　Women tend to have more volume around the hips too. I sometimes feel the 5-Pocket Shorts pulling when I lift my legs, whereas the DW feels much less restrictive.

George　I wear the 5-Pocket Shorts most. In the mountains or around town, they’re basically my default.

I already wear the 5-Pocket Pants when it’s cooler, so once it gets hot, switching to shorts in the same fabric just feels natural.

ーConsistent.

George　If comfort alone were the priority, the Light 5-Pocket Shorts would probably win.

But like Ayumi said, the fabric is so thin that if I sit on rock or gravel, I can feel everything underneath me. That makes me a little cautious.

The Taslan nylon of the 5-Pocket Shorts is tough and durable, and turning that fabric into shorts solves the lower breathability you might notice in the pants. For me, that balance works really well.

For running or anything with bigger leg movement, I switch to the Light 5-Pocket Short Shorts.

I don’t use the DW much because, like Daishi, the fabric tends to catch on my leg hair.

Beyoncé　I hardly ever wear the Light 5-Pocket Shorts.

I used to wear the DW almost exclusively, and lately the 5-Pocket Shorts have been catching up.

What really sold me on the DW was wearing them all the way through the PCT without any problems. With the Light, I’d worry about the fabric being too thin in strong sun or the pockets sagging when I carry things.

For me, the DW has just the right balance of airflow, durability and stability. I don’t have much trouble with the fabric catching on my leg hair either, and I still haven’t worn a pair out, so I’m happy running in them too.

Recently, though, I’ve started wearing the 5-Pocket Shorts more. I simply like the thicker Taslan nylon, and now that I hike with my kids, I appreciate having something that works well in the high mountains outside the hottest part of summer.

Last year I wore them on a training trip in the Southern Alps and realized how versatile they are in conditions where the Light might feel a little too cool.

So these days, I tend to wear the DW in midsummer and the 5-Pocket Shorts through the rest of the warmer season.

ーThe Light 5-Pocket Shorts can still let a phone bounce because the fabric is so light, even after this year’s update. The DW holds it more securely and stays off the skin well, while the 5-Pocket Shorts offer more durability. The Light, though, gives you that almost-naked feeling that really feels like summer.

Yuko　It’s close, but I prefer the Light 5-Pocket Shorts to the DW simply because I love the fabric so much.

They feel almost like wearing nothing, and I really like how light and stress-free they are. I was already ordering them before I joined Yamatomichi.

I choose the Light 5-Pocket Shorts rather than the Short Shorts because the length suits my legs better. The difference is only about 1.5 cm, but the Short Shorts feel a little too short for me now.

I also like the DW shorts. The fabric stays off the skin really well, even when I’m sweating, and I don’t have to be quite as careful around rocks or when sitting down.

I used to wear the 5-Pocket Shorts on the Camino. It was very dry there, but they were completely stress-free. I could hand-wash them, dry them, treat them roughly, and they never seemed to wear out.

These days, I’m more likely to wear them when I’m hiking at a slower pace or walking with other people.

Hidenori　For me, it’s the 5-Pocket Shorts. I trust their durability, and I wear shorts a lot in everyday life too.

I used to play rugby, so my thighs are quite big, and I cycle every day. With the 5-Pocket Shorts I never have to worry much about friction or wear.

I like the Light 5-Pocket Short Shorts too, but after wearing them for a full season I tend to get some pilling around the seat and inner thighs. That’s probably a combination of my build and cycling.

I don’t wear the DW much because the fabric can catch on my leg hair. Some customers never have that problem, so I think it depends on the person.

ーSo if you want to fully enjoy the DW, maybe shave your legs first. (laughs)

Hidenori　Women probably don’t have to worry about it as much.

Daishi　Beyoncé doesn’t seem bothered either.

Beyoncé　Not at all.

ーAnything else we haven’t covered about the shorts?

Yuhi　This applies to the pants too, but the five-pocket layout and key loop are incredibly useful. I can carry what I need without much in my hands, even when I’m wearing a backpack.

ーHonestly, for a short hike I sometimes feel like the shorts alone are enough. You can even put a bottle in the pocket and still run.

Hidenori　What stood out to me today is how differently everyone responds to the same piece of gear. Body type, personal style and what you value all change the way you see it.

Yuhi　I realized that our gear actually helps me think less and hesitate less. That was a new discovery for me.

Ayumi　I’m going to keep choosing what feels cute and fun.

Beyoncé　Hearing everyone else’s perspective is fun. It pulls me out of my own way of thinking and gives me new ideas.

George　Since these roundtables started, I’ve noticed everyone’s comments coming back to me when I’m talking with customers. Having more perspectives gives me more ways to approach those conversations.

Yuko　Everyone notices completely different things about their gear. Hearing those perspectives gave me a lot to learn from.

Daishi　What I took from today is that it’s okay to choose freely. Function and performance matter, but so does knowing what you personally care about most.

ーHearing all of this also gives me confidence in the gear we’re working on next. Thanks, everyone.

Everyone　Thanks. Let’s have a beer.

There is no single right way to choose your gear. That is what makes it interesting to ask questions and hear how other people make their choices.

At Yamatomichi Kamakura, these conversations continue through Product Focus displays and STORE PROGRAMS. We hope to see you in Kamakura or Kyoto.