The BAM Seamless Midi Short gets Kirsty Pallas’ Greener Choice award.
BAM are fairly unique in the outdoor sphere with choosing to use bamboo as a material, which is a fast-growing and sustainable product, and surprisingly can be used to make very soft fabric – as in the BAM Seamless Midi Short.
Kirsty Pallas recommends
They are a nice, close fit but with no pressure points – plus great eco credentials.- price
- seamless
- slow to dry
| Quick specs |
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| Price: $29 / £22 (available from BAM) Weight: 71g for Small Materials: bamboo viscose blend, polyamide Amni Sol Eco, elastane Features: seamless Sizes: S – L Men’s version? A range of boxers, but no direct alternative bambooclothing.co.uk |
They don’t shy away from the fact that there are chemical processes within this, but they are working to become zero waste and appear to be very environmentally conscious. These shorts use bamboo viscose, which is extremely soft and stretchy when you first put it on, and for every other use after. This is mixed with a polyamide synthetic which has been designed to fully biodegrade in five years rather than hundreds in landfill. All in all, it does feel like the Bam Seamless Midi are a greener choice.
They are a nice, close fit but with no pressure points. The waistband is just doubled over and so slightly thicker which does the job with keeping them in place well. They are seamless other than one joining seam in the crotch, which is flatlocked. I’ve not had any chafing and found these to be very comfortable under several layers.
The only thing that I do find feels a little weird when I first put them on is that the legs finish right on my bum cheek, and I would’ve appreciated another centimetre or so of fabric. But you soon get used to the feel of this, and it doesn’t really affect the use. They do also come in a brief style, which avoids this design feature.
The main downside is the drying time, which is considerably longer than either of the merino pairs in this test. Again, I’ve not had it affect use, as I’ve only noticed it when washing, so these may not be the right choice for multi day trips when you are washing them on the trail.
Testing conditions
Kirsty is a size 10 with muscular legs and glutes. Her underwear was tested throughout winter, often under two or three layers including thermal leggings, softshells, or waterproofs. They were worn hillwalking, teaching winter skills, and on winter climbing routes. This review was first published in the June 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.
