Ripton is known for a cheeky approach to denim. Founder Elliot Wilkinson-Ray is an avid mountain biker who worked in the outdoor apparel industry for a number of years prior to launching the company and was bored by the general similarity of all the products. When riding, he often used stretchy jeans that he cut into shorts, and in 2019, he decided to make performance denim “jorts” a thing.
Ripton has since been a performance denim innovator, launching MTB pants, overalls, an insulated poncho, jackets, and vests, all made of the fabric. But for the most part, it stayed bike-oriented.
This summer it launched its first-ever performance running jort: the Trail Daemon. At first, like many of its products, it might appear tongue-in-cheek. A ski bib made of denim? A jean running short?
I tested the Daemons on moderate, drizzly runs in Maine, as well as on humid, hot summer runs in Massachusetts, to see if I’d end up chafed and chastised for believing in the possibility of a denim running short, or pleasantly surprised.
In short: The Trail Daemons might be my new favorite running shorts for all-day wear. The incredibly stretchy and lightweight denim, combined with features like a 7-inch inseam and zippered back phone pocket, allows them to transition easily from hanging out to banging out a run. They might not be as lightweight as ultralight synthetic running shorts, and probably won’t be your pick on race day. But for casual runs and casual wear, they might make you a jort believer.
Material
60% cotton, 20% Sobtex, 8% nylon, 12% Lycra
Inseam
4” (women’s), 7” (men’s)
Pros
- Versatile
- Cool design
- Run-specific features
- Breathable and stretchy
Cons
- Susceptible to heaviness when wet
- Requires careful laundering
- No liner
Ripton Trail Daemon Running Short Review
Fit
I’m typically a medium or a 32-inch in men’s bottoms, and the medium on the Trail Daemons fit me just right. There is an elastic waist and a drawstring, and these felt secure when laced up without feeling overly tight.
The 7-inch inseam is on the longer side compared to typical running shorts, and they are designed to have roomy leg openings, aided by side splits, which makes them more flowy and less restrictive. I wouldn’t have minded a slightly narrower fit, as the leg openings revealed a bit too much when I wore them while bike commuting. (Ripton has plenty of other shorts better suited to biking.)
Overall, though, I was pleased with the fit, which was spacious and secure in motion.
The Details
The Trail Daemons are a linerless short. I personally appreciate a lining so that I have somewhere to tuck my phone, but the back zippered pocket takes care of that. My phone did not bounce around or tug down the waist. There are also two front hand pockets, which helped the shorts transition to casual wear when I was not running.
The shorts are made from a blend of 60% cotton, 20% Sobtex, 8% nylon, and 12% Lycra. That’s a mouthful, but the proprietary blend is surprisingly lightweight, clocking in at 5 ounces, which puts it within the range of most running shorts, though on the heavier side of the spectrum.
The faux fly is another feature that makes them suitable for casual wear. The look is sportier than you might associate with typical jean shorts, but it still has an edgy jort vibe.
In the Field
In testing, I ran in these on trail runs between 2.5 and 5 miles in length. I didn’t do any long runs, so it’s worth noting for those who put in big miles that I haven’t vetted them on longer distances. But for short training runs, they worked great.
There was part of me that was hoping the Trail Daemons would be a grand failure, bulky and uncomfortable, leaving my thighs chafed and my opinion on running in denim intact. All the better to write an entertaining review.
Yet these quickly rose to the top of my preferred shorts in my wardrobe for several reasons.
Firstly, the performance was on point. On a drizzly Maine run, they held up just fine and did not become overly weighty when wet, though they dried more slowly than typical performance fabrics. On humid and hot trail runs near Boston, they stayed breathable, and the best compliment I can give them in that regard is that I usually forgot I was wearing them.
Denim Looks, Runnable Performance
But I remembered I was wearing them when my coworker commented on them. She may have been a little startled by the fact that they were performance denim running shorts, but that is the second reason they rose in my ranks: the steez.
The Liquid Night color with patterned black denim is simply unlike any other running shorts or any other jean shorts I’ve encountered. If you are a little sick of the absurdly bright synthetic running shtick, the Daemons will be up your alley.
The final reason the Trail Daemons became favorites is because of their versatility. Unlike running shorts with super-short inseams or ultralight materials, they could stand up to a variety of activities. Though they were a bit too flowy for the bike, I could wear them all day, or on a hike, or out to a bar, without feeling like they were out of place. These shorts are up for all kinds of adventures, runs included.
Room for Improvement
As someone with slim features, the leg openings were a little wide for me, and there seemed to be excess fabric around the fly area. For those with athletic thighs, this will be much more appreciated, but I wouldn’t mind a more streamlined version.
The other factor to watch out for is washing the shorts. The color in the denim can bleed upon first wash, so it is recommended that they be washed separately.
Normally, I don’t wash denim until there is an undeniable reason (i.e., smell or stain). But running shorts need to be washed much more frequently, and so you’ll have to be careful about laundering them properly if you don’t want liquid night spilling out onto your plain white tees.
Conclusion: Who Are the Ripton Trail Daemons For?
The Ripton Trail Daemons are ideal for someone looking for a blend of performance, versatility, and unique style. If you squeeze in your runs when you can, and don’t have the option to change into a full running kit, the zippered back pocket and casual style will be a plus. But if you are looking for ultralight performance details, a shorter, lighter, synthetic option will work better for you.
In the end, the Trail Daemons proved yet again that Ripton’s tongue-in-cheek offerings are actually dead serious. But they maintain a playfulness and a design sense that is hard to find elsewhere. These may not be for everyone, but they definitely put a denim hop in my step.
