Hiko Gambit Combo Shorts

Chess has been back in vogue since the Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit". These two-layer shorts in a cool chessboard look are therefore an absolute must-have in the warm season.

The Inner Short

Inside, the Hiko Gambit Combo Shorts consist of quick-drying neoprene material. Thanks to the 4-way stretch, it's particularly flexible, ensuring full freedom of movement. The inner short rises higher at the back, so no gap forms between neoprene and shirt or paddle jacket when seated. It also extends past the knees — an advantage because the contact with the kayak is comfortably padded and your knees are much better protected when swimming. Since this is a unisex short, it fits slightly tighter on women. For Anne with a hip circumference of about 96 cm, the S is a bit too tight. If in doubt, go one size up :)

The Outer Short

The outer short is made from very durable polyamide. This fabric is particularly abrasion-resistant and dries extremely fast. A large zip pocket sits on the right leg. The neoprene waistband can be tightened with a drawcord. A casual chessboard design and a white Hiko logo complete the cool look. The connection to the inner short is made from extremely stretchy Lycra, also supporting freedom of movement.

Five reasons we think these shorts are cool:

1. 3/4 length neoprene inner: warms and protects legs/knees
2. The board shorts have a proper large pocket with a zip closure
3. Ultra comfortable to wear
4. Style! They simply look mega cool
5. Made in the EU (Czech Republic)

I've got the shorts now — but which jacket do you recommend?

We generally think the combination of neoprene shorts and a dry jacket is ideal. The dry jacket has the advantage that the gaskets seal so well that — at least while you stay in the boat — your upper body stays pretty dry. This makes paddling comfortable even at cooler temperatures. We'd recommend either the Sandiline ExtremeDry 4L dry jacket or the Hiko Paladin (men's) or Nimue (women's) dry jacket. For fair-weather or occasional paddlers, we'd rather suggest the Sandiline Advanced jacket or the IR Rival SemiDry jacket. Thanks to the neoprene cuffs, it's very comfortable to wear.

Size Chart