Palm Angels Capri Shorts Review: $3.73 Five-Point Polyester Shorts Put to the Tape Measure

These Palm Angels shorts arrived at our Manchester testing desk as an inexpensive add-on: a five-point, drawstring, mid-rise short listed at $3.73 USD (down from $4.40) and shown as in stock. We bought two pairs — one M and one 2XL — so we could compare how a loose cut scales across the size run rather than guess from a single sample.

What we ordered and how it was checked

We placed the order through a shopping agent and asked for flat waist and outseam before shipment, then photographed the parcel before opening and logged its weight. On arrival we taped the waistband relaxed and stretched, the outseam, the inseam and the hem opening on both pairs, then turned them inside out to inspect seams, print edges and the drawstring channel. Electronics-style checks do not apply here, so the work was fabric, stitching and measurement against the listing text.

Fabric and construction

The shell is a thin polyester with the stated non-iron finish and no fleece backing, which is the right build for a summer short and the main reason the price looks odd in a good way. It has no stretch, so the elastic-and-drawstring waist carries all the adjustment. Under a bright lamp the lighter colourway showed a faint greyish cast when held against the light, though not enough to be visible when worn.

• Split seams and the drawstring channel were clean on both pairs, with no loose thread ends at the hem.
• Print edges sat flat with no lifting after two wash cycles at low temperature, ironed inside out as brand care guidance recommends.
• The waistband elastic recovered well after being stretched over a chair back for a day.

Measurements we logged

Check	Size M (flat)	Size 2XL (flat)
Waist, relaxed	36 cm	46 cm
Waist, stretched	47 cm	58 cm
Outseam	52 cm	58 cm
Inseam	24 cm	27 cm
Hem opening	30 cm	34 cm

The listing flags a 1–3 cm tolerance, which matches what we saw between the two pairs. Nothing here suggests a tailored cut: the leg is straight and generous, and the 2XL gains length as well as width, which is worth knowing if you are between sizes.

The colourway problem nobody should ignore

This is the part of the listing we could not resolve from our own parcels. The catalogue field lists two colourways, Cool K344 Yellow and Cool K344 Blue-Black, while the product title and the search keywords attached to this SKU lean on a black finish. The description also talks about an allover illustrated face motif with solid colour showing beneath the print, while the specification sheet describes the pattern as solid with printing as a detail. That is three different descriptions of one product.

Treat the colour as unconfirmed until your agent sends you photographs of the actual variant you are buying.

On our pairs the print sat where the reference photos placed it, but the shade read slightly duller than the images in the listing — consistent with QC threads on budget Palm Angels shorts that question colour tone and stripe placement rather than overall build.

Sizing, fit and who this suits

Palm Angels sizing guidance describes a deliberately loose, skatewear-derived cut, so your normal letter size gives the baggy look and one size down sits closer to the body. Buyer reports split on length: some say their usual size fits perfectly, others find the leg runs long even in a five-point cut. Our 2XL sample supports the second camp. With no fabric stretch, the fit you get is the fit the drawstring gives you, so ask for flat waist and outseam every time.

Value and what would change our score

At $3.73 the shorts are cheap in the literal sense, and the wrinkle-free polyester and tidy seams are better than that price implies. The score is held back by the unresolved colourway, the untested brand-level reputation for quality against price, and the fact that independent evidence on this exact SKU is thin. Verification steps before you commit:

1. Ask your agent to photograph the specific variant, including any print, against a plain background.
2. Request flat waist and outseam measurements for your size in centimetres.
3. Confirm the final colourway in writing, since the field and the title disagree.
4. Reconfirm item price and service fees on the agent page — the reference figure is not the delivered cost.

If a verified photograph comes back matching the reference images, this is a straightforward summer pickup. If the reply is vague, buy something else.