Had a previous pair, were pretty good. Quality slipped considerably. After a one week vacation, they looked like they were about 3 years old. stiching on waistband started coming loose first week. material was so thin after 4th month they literally shredded.
I bought these, and the 8" shorts, because so many of the ladies shorts are so very short. These are just long enough, and dry almost immediately. I cut out the 'pantie' #sorry guys#, as I didn't need the liner.
My experience EXACTLY mirrors the review from April 29, 2013. I've been wearing mediums for many years for running (including a marathon) , occasional swimming, or all-day weekend wear. Love the roominess, closeable back pocket for my wallet, and fast dry. I purchased mediums in October, 2014 and they were too big for me. I wear 31" waist pants, sometimes 32". In trying to cinch them up, it didn't work well with puckered material (imagine a burlap bag with a rope around it) . I compared them to my previous pair from 2012 and they were bigger - a 1" longer waist flat on the ground which translates to a 2" bigger waist. LL Bean customer service is surprised because the supplier has not changed in that time - but something has. My guess is that sizing is bigger at least on the medium, and possibly the draw string mechanism has been cheapened. If you are on the high end of the size range of the mediums, you probably won't have a problem. LL Bean- I hope you can figure out what has changed.
I have purchased many items of LLB apparel over the years and have most always been very satisfied. Not so with these shorts, which are disappointing. Yes there is a drawstring but the elastic in the waist is almost non existent and provides no support. The so-called liner is flimsy and baggy, serving no purpose. Overall the shorts are premium priced but of a quality you would expect to find at your local big discounter. I will keep the pair I have but will not buy another.
