21 Camo Shorts Outfits for Men That Look Grown-Up: No Dad Vibes

Camo cargo shorts with a white tee and white sneakers is the outfit to start with. White on top and on your feet frames the camo cleanly, so the shorts look like a choice rather than old weekend gear.

Length matters more with shorts than with any other piece. The menswear site Effortless Gent notes that most shorts come in 5, 7 and 9-inch inseams, and suggests the hem end a couple of inches above the middle of the kneecap, adding that a bit shorter is better than too long.

Here’s how the common camo shorts lengths and cuts compare.

If you’re between two lengths, Effortless Gent suggests choosing the longer one and cuffing the hem. A single cuff also shows off a little more of the pattern.

Camo shorts with a black shirt look tougher than the white tee version. The black pulls out the darkest parts of the pattern and gives the outfit a more urban feel.

Black holds heat in direct sun, so choose a breathable cotton tee. It’s a better pick for evenings and shaded city streets than a beach day.

A silver chain or simple watch works well here. Keep it to one or two accessories so it doesn’t look busy.

Camo shorts with a red tee is a bold, warm pairing. Red sits opposite green on the colour wheel, so it makes the green in woodland camo stand out.

A deep red or burgundy looks easier to wear than bright fire-engine red. The darker shade feels warmer and works on most skin tones.

Keep the red to one piece and let the shoes stay neutral. A red tee and red sneakers together quickly gets too much.

Camo shorts with red and black high-top sneakers lets the shoes do the talking. The red picks up warm tones in the camo, and the black ties in with a dark tee.

High-tops look best with shorts that end just above the knee. That leaves a gap of leg between the hem and the shoe, which keeps the outfit from looking squashed.

White crew socks pulled up a little look right with high-tops. No-show socks with high-tops can look odd, since part of the sock line shows anyway.

Camo shorts with wheat work boots is a bold streetwear combination. The warm tan of the boots matches the sand and brown tones in woodland camo.

Boots with shorts look best when the boots are loosely laced and the shorts are a little wider. The extra width balances the chunky boot.

Wearing Tight Shorts With Big Boots:

Slim shorts with heavy boots make the legs look skinny and the boots look huge. Choose a relaxed cargo cut, and keep the hem just above the knee.

Short socks hidden in the boot or a slight scrunch of crew socks both work. Tall socks pulled straight up look too much like hiking gear.

Camo shorts with loafers and a knit polo is the smartest way to wear camo in summer. Flat-front, tailored shorts without cargo pockets look sharp enough for a nice lunch or a summer party.

Cargo shorts in general get mocked a lot. An NPR segment about a Wall Street Journal story joked that some wives were throwing their husbands’ cargo shorts away, and quoted a fashion source saying “James Bond would never wear them.”

Baggy camo jorts with an oversized tee recreate the 2000s skate look. The shorts are long and wide, ending at or just below the knee, so they need a loose tee to match.

Camo denim is heavier than cotton camo, so it holds its shape and looks fuller. Chunky skate shoes and tube socks finish the throwback.

For a cleaner take on the same idea, a lighter-wash camo jort with a fitted black tee looks a little less costume-like.

Skip It If You Want a Clean, Above-the-Knee Look

Jorts sit long and wide on purpose, so they never look neat or tailored. For a sharper summer outfit, choose a 7 or 9-inch camo short instead.

Camo cargo shorts with a plain tank top is a simple hot-weather outfit. A ribbed white tank keeps it clean, and leather sandals feel more grown-up than rubber flip-flops.

Cargo pockets are genuinely handy in summer, when there are no jacket pockets. On the Early Retirement forum, one poster who wears cargo shorts daily said they’re “great for holding keys, wallet, camera, phone,” while another said the only downside is remembering to empty every pocket before washing.

Camo shorts with a linen camp-collar shirt is a relaxed holiday outfit. The loose linen shirt is cool in heat, and its relaxed collar matches the casual feel of camo.

Light desert camo works especially well with linen. The sandy tones look softer than dark woodland next to off-white.

A camo shorts festival outfit with an open overshirt is practical for long days outside. The overshirt can come off when it’s hot, and cargo pockets plus a crossbody bag hold everything you need.

Chunky sneakers protect your feet in crowds and on grass better than sandals. A bucket hat keeps the sun off for hours.

Choose dark sneakers for festivals, since mud and dust ruin white ones fast. Black or olive hides dirt best.

Camo shorts with a lightweight hoodie work well when the sun goes down. A thin zip-up hoodie adds warmth without looking like winter gear.

Grey is the easiest hoodie colour with camo. It matches almost any camo pattern without competing.

Grey works just as well with full-length camo pants on cooler days.

Camo shorts with slides and crew socks is a deliberately relaxed weekend outfit. Socks with slides started as a gym-and-locker-room habit, but white crew socks now look intentional in casual streetwear.

Keep the socks bright white and clean, since grey, dingy socks spoil the look. The rest of the outfit should be simple, like a plain tee.

This is an errands and weekend outfit, not one for dinner or dates. For those, switch to clean sneakers or loafers.

Camo shorts for short guys should be shorter and slimmer. A 5 or 7-inch inseam shows more leg, which makes the legs look longer.

Long, baggy cargo shorts cut short men off at the knee and make them look shorter. A fitted tee helps too, since a huge oversized top swallows a smaller frame.

Low-top sneakers in white or a colour close to your skin tone keep the leg line long. Chunky high-tops cut the leg short.

Alt streetwear camo shorts with a layered long-sleeve mix summer shorts with grunge layers. A short-sleeve tee over a long-sleeve thermal is the signature alt layer.

Black or grey camo fits the darker alt look better than green woodland. Black socks and canvas high-tops keep everything moody.

Camo shorts with a chambray shirt is a relaxed, grown-up weekend outfit. The light blue chambray softens the camo and looks a little smarter than a tee.

Roll the sleeves to the elbow and leave the top button open. Tan suede sneakers keep it rugged but clean.

This is a good choice for men who want camo but find streetwear looks too young. It works for barbecues, cabin weekends and casual Fridays out.

Black camo shorts with an all-black outfit is the subtlest camo shorts look. The black and charcoal pattern reads as texture, so the outfit looks sleek rather than loud.

Black fabric fades fast in summer sun and in the wash. A faded black tee next to dark camo shorts makes the whole outfit look tired.

Keeping Black Camo Shorts Dark Longer

A few simple washing habits stop black camo from fading to grey. They work for black tees too.

Grey camo shorts with a navy polo is a clean, cool-toned outfit. Grey and white camo looks lighter and more modern than green woodland.

A navy polo adds structure with its collar. It’s a smart choice for rooftop bars and summer lunches.

Desert camo shorts with leather sandals is a light outfit for hot travel days. The sandy tones look natural in bright sun and match white, cream and tan.

Leather sandals look more put-together than rubber flip-flops. Brown leather matches the tan in desert camo.

Camo training shorts with a tank top is a sporty outfit for the gym or a run. Lightweight athletic shorts with stretch move far better than cotton cargo shorts.

A 5-inch inseam gives the most freedom for squats, sprints and stretching. A fitted tank stays out of the way during lifts.

Look for shorts with a built-in liner and a zip pocket for keys. They’re far more practical for training than loose cargo pockets.

A teen camo shorts outfit for school keeps things simple. Camo cargo shorts with a plain tee and white sneakers are comfortable for a full school day.

Cargo pockets are useful for a phone or bus pass. Keep them light so the shorts don’t sag during the day.

A boys’ camo shorts outfit for summer camp is all about comfort and play. Elastic-waist camo shorts are easy for kids to manage, and the pattern hides grass and mud.

A bright orange, yellow or red tee makes kids easy to spot outdoors. That matters at camps, parks and beaches.