Beat the heat without giving up durability. Our lineup of premium military shorts, tactical shorts, cargo shorts, PT shorts, and work shorts keeps you cool, comfortable, and ready to move � all at prices that stay affordable. Whether you're training hard, working outdoors, hiking, camping, traveling, or just handling everyday wear, you'll find rugged shorts engineered for comfort, mobility, and long-lasting performance. Choose from BDU shorts, ripstop tactical shorts, Ranger PT shorts, cargo work shorts, canvas shorts, and performance shorts, all made by trusted names like Rothco, Propper, Carhartt, Tru-Spec, Condor, and Dickies. Order online or stop by our Queens, New York store for dependable shorts built to handle every task and every adventure.
Battle Dress Uniform shorts in poly/cotton ripstop with the classic 6-pocket military layout.
SubcategoryCargo-pocket shorts in military, surplus, and casual cuts including Rothco's Vintage Paratrooper line.
SubcategoryFaded, washed-out, and pre-distressed military shorts in classic surplus colorways.
Cross-SiloOSHA-spec work shorts for trade and industrial use — in the Workwear silo.
Military shorts are built from poly/cotton ripstop, NyCo ripstop, or canvas-weight cotton-polyester blends. Ripstop weave uses reinforcing crosshatch threads that stop small tears from spreading. Poly/cotton blends in the 6.5–7 oz range dominate Rothco and Propper BDU lines. Canvas-weight is standard for Carhartt Rugged Flex and Rigby work-styled cuts.
The classic configuration is two slash front pockets, two rear button-flap pockets, and two large bellows-style cargo pockets on the thighs. Cargo pockets pleat to expand and close with hook-and-loop or button flap. Tactical variants add internal organizer pockets and magazine slots. PT shorts are the exception — they run with minimal pockets to keep weight down.
Military shorts cut to inseams across a 7 to 11-inch range. The longer 11-inch BDU cut sits closer to knee-length. The Tru-Spec 24-7 Series Tactical Shorts cut to 9 inches. The Carhartt Stateline Short runs 9 inches and the Rigby Dungaree Short runs 11 inches. PT shorts run 5–7 inches.
Military shorts use a button fly with adjustable side-tab waist closure, drawstring waist (Rothco PT shorts, some Propper cuts), zipper fly with belt loops (Propper Casual Short F526155 series), or hook-and-loop on Carhartt work-styled cuts. Belt loops are sized for 2-inch military web belts on BDU and tactical cuts.
Military shorts run in a relaxed BDU fit sized to waist measurement in inches; many Rothco surplus-style cuts also offer S/M/L/XL. The Army Navy USA catalog stocks sizes through 7X-Large on select Rothco cuts — broader than most competitors' inventory. Size up one if you carry a duty belt or holster.
| Type | Pattern Origin | Inseam | Pockets | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDU Shorts | Battle Dress Uniform | Knee-length (longer cut) | 6 (slash + rear + cargo) | Field wear, range, warm-weather military duty |
| Cargo Shorts | Loose-fit / vintage paratrooper | Mid-length, varies by brand | 6 (slash + rear + cargo) | Casual military-styled wear, surplus |
| Tactical Shorts | Modern tactical-pant pattern | Mid-thigh to above-knee | 9+ (BDU base + mag slots) | EDC, concealed-carry, range training |
| PT Shorts | U.S. Army Physical Training uniform | Short athletic cut | 0–2 (no cargo) | PT, PT testing, running, gym |
| Work-Styled | Carpenter / canvas work pant | 8"–11" | 4–8 | Casual durability; trades when OSHA not required |
Quick read: BDU for traditional military pattern. Cargo for casual military-styled wear. Tactical for EDC and range. PT for physical training. Work-styled (Carhartt, Dickies) for everyday durability.
| Brand | Flagship Model | Fabric | Inseam | Pockets | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rothco | BDU Shorts 65200 series | Poly/Cotton Ripstop | Standard / Long (7765, 7867) | 6 | Budget military / surplus |
| Propper | BDU Shorts F526138 series | Poly/Cotton Ripstop | ⚠ Verify | 6 | Duty / uniform-spec |
| Tru-Spec | 24-7 Series Rip-Stop 4265 / 4266 | Poly/Cotton Mini-Ripstop | 9" | 9+ | Tactical / EDC / range |
| Carhartt | Rigby Dungaree 103652 / Stateline 107420 | Canvas cotton-polyester | 9" or 11" | 4–6 | Work-styled, durable casual |
| Condor | Running 101159 / Scout 101087 | ⚠ Verify | Short PT cut | 2–4 | Range / PT / training |
| Dickies | Multi-Use 42283 / 15" Work 41283 | Cotton-polyester twill | 15" on 41283 | 6–8 | Work-styled, multi-pocket utility |
⚠ Propper and Condor per-SKU specs flagged for owner verification before publish. Other specs sampled from product titles on the live category page.
Military surplus specialist with the broadest BDU shorts color range, including digital camo, woodland, OD green, khaki, urban camo, tiger stripe, and the Ranger PT line.
Duty and uniform-focused brand carrying BDU shorts, Lightweight Tactical Shorts, EdgeTec Shorts, and Casual Shorts with zipper fly.
Workwear specialist; canvas-weight Rugged Flex, Rigby Dungaree, and Stateline shorts in 8", 9", and 11" inseams.
Tactical apparel manufacturer; the 24-7 Series 9-inch Rip-Stop Tactical Shorts are the line leader for EDC and range wear.
Tactical accessory brand; Running Shorts and Scout Shorts for PT, range, and training use.
Workwear brand; Multi-Use Pocket Shorts and 15-Inch Multi Pocket Work Shorts for trades and casual wear.
Military and tactical tees in OD, black, coyote, and digital camo.
ApparelHot-weather PT and field-layering tanks.
FootwearLightweight, ventilated tactical boots that pair with shorts for warm-weather wear.
Accessories2-inch military web belts sized to BDU shorts belt loops.
Military shorts are warm-weather BDU, cargo, tactical, and PT shorts cut to military patterns from ripstop or poly/cotton fabric. They feature 6-pocket layouts on BDU and cargo cuts, magazine slots and organizer pockets on tactical cuts, and minimal pockets on PT cuts. Originally worn for tropical-climate duty and PT, military shorts are now worn for range, training, and casual wear.
PT shorts are U.S. military Physical Training shorts cut from lightweight poly or poly/cotton fabric with a 5 to 7-inch inseam, minimal pockets, and an elastic or drawstring waist. The Rothco Ranger PT Shorts line is the most recognized civilian-available version. PT shorts are designed for running, calisthenics, the Army Combat Fitness Test, and general physical training.
BDU shorts typically cut to a knee-length inseam, with "Long" variants running a few inches longer (Rothco styles 7765, 7867, and the 7000-series Long cuts). Tactical shorts like the Tru-Spec 24-7 Series and Propper Lightweight Tactical Shorts run shorter at 9 inches. PT shorts run shorter still at 5 to 7 inches.
Military shorts are built from poly/cotton ripstop, NyCo ripstop, or canvas-weight cotton-polyester blends. Rothco and Propper BDU lines use poly/cotton ripstop in the 6.5–7 oz range. Tru-Spec 24-7 Series uses mini-ripstop. Carhartt work-styled cuts use canvas-weight cotton-polyester. PT shorts use lightweight polyester or poly/cotton.
BDU shorts follow the regulation Battle Dress Uniform pattern with a 6-pocket layout. Cargo shorts use the same 6-pocket pattern in casual or vintage cuts. Tactical shorts add magazine slots, internal organizer pockets, and a shorter inseam. PT shorts are minimal-pocket athletic shorts cut for physical training, running, and PT testing.
Army Navy USA carries shorts from Rothco, Propper, Tru-Spec, Condor, Carhartt, and Dickies. Rothco leads the catalog with the broadest BDU color range. Propper covers duty and tactical. Tru-Spec specializes in the 24-7 Series tactical line. Condor covers PT and range. Carhartt and Dickies carry work-styled canvas and twill cuts for trades and casual wear.
Army Navy USA carries casual work-styled shorts from Carhartt and Dickies on this page — durable canvas and twill cuts suited to trades and casual wear. For OSHA-spec, high-visibility, or industrial-grade work shorts with safety ratings, shop the dedicated Work Shorts category in the Workwear silo.
