LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts Review: They’re Great for Warmer Fall Days, Too!

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The Lowdown

I wore the LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts this summer when we went out to Sonoma County, CA. While most of the days were pretty warm and we were going nonstop, I stayed cool and comfortable thanks to them. Sure, they are pricey, but the fabric’s quality, the design’s thoughtfulness, and the durability I’ve thus far seen make these shorts you’ll not just wear every day the temperature reaches shorts weather, but for months, and I daresay years, to come.

Overall
5

Pros

Comfortable; Durable

Breathable

Stretchable gusset

Thick waistband with a drawstring

Deep front pockets with phone pouch

Zippered rear pockets

Cons

LIVSN Designs is a relatively small company, but their products are great, and I’ve become a huge fan. I reviewed their Flex Canvas Pants and Flex Canvas Shorts, and they have become two of my favorite garments. They are tough, comfortable and, I think, look great. Now, the LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts have also earned a place in my closet.

Man wearing LIVSN Design Reflex Shorts

The LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts are available in your choice of Insignia Blue, Charcoal, or Olive. Made from recycled polyester, the company’s Reflex fabric looks and feels quite refined but is tough as nails and ready for anything. The company describes them this way:

Think if your favorite yoga shorts met your favorite outdoor shorts and they had a love child.

I think that’s a rather apt way to describe the shorts that, once my review sample arrived, became my staple for the summer of 2022.

Front of LIVSN Design Reflex Shorts

I’m partial to clothing made from merino wool, but I must admit that I like the company’s Reflex fabric just fine. It is light, dries quickly, has just the right amount of stretch, and is water-resistant. That makes it great for outdoor summer activities, regardless of the weather.

Plus, the Reflex fabric has some of the qualities that I love about merino wool, such as its ability to wick moisture and its breathability. Oh, and after wearing the shorts for a few weeks, I can also attest that they are durable. My review sample still looks brand new.

The LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts have a surprisingly wide, 2 1/2″ waistband made from the company’s Movement fabric. This fabric combines 89% recycled nylon and 11% spandex.

By including the “right” amount of spandex in the fabric, the company ensured the waistband had enough stretch to keep them in place. And it does. In addition, the generous waistband spreads out the pressure of the elastic, so the shorts are incredibly comfortable for hours of wear.

The shorts also have a drawstring, but you probably won’t need it.

One of the features that make LIVSN pants and shorts as comfortable as they are is the generous gusseted crotch. The gusset is made from the same Movement fabric as the waistband. That means it has a 4-way stretch AND is breathable.

Inner gusset on LIVSN Design Reflex Shorts

At first, I felt mixed about using a black gusset against the blue; it’s pretty noticeable.

Then again, the LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts aren’t the type of shorts you will wear out to a nice dinner. These are the shorts you put on when you have a free day and don’t know whether you will go for a hike, a bike ride, or just hang out and read in the backyard. For those purposes, the look is just fine in its own right and is great when you factor in the added comfort.

I never worried I might split the Reflex Shorts when I bent down to pick something up, thanks entirely to the design of the gusset and the generous amount of stretch in the fabric.

Two side pockets have generous openings and are deep enough that items placed inside aren’t likely to fall out. Internal phone sleeves in the pockets let you slide your communication device into a more secure location without zippers or snaps. I’ve found these internal phone sleeves to be a huge benefit when riding my bike and didn’t bring a backpack or sling since they keep my phone from flopping around. I especially appreciate the inclusion of this pocket on both sides to accommodate individual carry styles. I also appreciate the use of ventilated material to help keep sweating to a minimum.

There is also a pocket on each hip. These are smaller and have YKK lockdown zippers, so items inside stay securely in place. You won’t want to stuff much in the hip pockets when you are riding or running, but I find them to be great when I’m running errands and am constantly pulling out and then stowing my wallet.

Finally, the LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts have a snap button front fly. Sure, it’s easy enough to pull shorts down when you need to make a pitstop, but I guess it’s always nice to have a functional fly. 🙂

Snap fly on the LIVSN Design Reflex Shorts

Finally, I truly appreciate the fact that LIVSN Designs takes the issue of consumer waste seriously. Their products come wrapped in a simple paper twine rather than being packaged like one of those Russian nesting dolls where there is a package, inside of a box, inside of a plastic bag, inside of a… you get the idea. LIVSN goes minimalist in its packaging, and I love it.

LIVSN’s products have never failed to impress me; the pants I reviewed over a year ago as still in heavy rotation, and the canvas shorts are too. The LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts hit an even more casual note, and for that, they are fantastic. I wore them this summer when we went out to Sonoma County, CA. While most of the days were pretty warm and we were going nonstop, I stayed cool and comfortable thanks to them.

Sure, they are pricey, but the fabric’s quality, the design’s thoughtfulness, and the durability I’ve thus far seen make these shorts you’ll not just wear every day the temperature reaches shorts weather, but for months, and I daresay years, to come.

The LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts sell for $79; they are available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Comfortable; Durable; Breathable; Stretchable gusset; Thick waistband with a drawstring; Deep front pockets with phone pouch; Zippered rear pockets

What Needs Improvement: Nothing

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.

7 Comments on "LIVSN Designs Reflex Shorts Review: They’re Great for Warmer Fall Days, Too!"

  1. Nice all-around shorts with great features but hard to justify the price.

  2. Phyllis Huebbe | September 23, 2022 at 4:46 pm |

    These shorts seem quite sturdy for active men.

  3. I like short’s like this, when you wear them for hour’s daily, you really love them more for the comfort and the sweat factor. Well worth it..

  4. Good overall features making these quality shorts. The zippered back pockets are a great idea for keeping items, including your wallet, safe and secure.

  5. They sound like very comfortable all around shorts that would be a staple in my wardrobe

  6. My husband if very active and I think he would benefit from the flexibility and breathability of the fabric.

  7. Liz Armstrong | January 28, 2023 at 10:50 am |

    My husband would love these shorts; great pockets and stretch.

Comments are closed.