Polo Ralph Lauren Multicolor Print Shorts Review: S–5XL, $6.27

We ordered the Polo Ralph Lauren multicolor shorts collection through our shopping agent and tested it at the desk in Manchester, buying two sizes rather than one so we could see how the same straight-leg cut behaves across the size run. What arrived is an all-over 3D-print short in thin, non-stretch polyester, listed at $6.27 against a $6.74 original, marked in stock, and offered in S through 5XL across blue, orange, red, yellow, navy, white and black colourways.

What the listing actually promises

The specification is unusually plain for a brand-adjacent product, which makes it easy to check claims against the pair in your hands. There is no stretch listed, the fabric is named only as polyester, and the fit is described as athletic with a straight hem and a drawstring waist.

Listing detail	Stated
SKU	7720521196
Price at testing	$6.27 USD (was $6.74)
Availability	In stock
Main fabric	Polyester, thin, non-stretch
Pattern	All-over 3D print, multicolour
Leg and waist	Straight hem, drawstring waist
Size run	S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL
Season / use	2026 spring release, beach and summer
Stated tolerance	1–2 cm on measurements

Fit and the measurements we logged

We photographed the parcel before opening it and weighed it first: both pairs together came to 431 g on the kitchen scale, which fits a thin polyester short rather than anything structured. We ordered M and 2XL and measured each pair flat against the listing before trying them on.

• M: waist 76 cm relaxed and 86 cm pulled out, rise 30 cm, inseam 14 cm, leg opening 60 cm.
• 2XL: waist 90 cm relaxed and 100 cm pulled out, rise 33 cm, inseam 15 cm, leg opening 68 cm.

Those differences land inside the 1–2 cm tolerance the listing admits, so treat any single pair as approximate. The waistband is elasticated around the drawstring, which is where the give comes from — the body fabric itself has none, and it does not loosen with wear the way a cotton or blended short would. The athletic, straight-leg shape sits close to a classic beach short: mid-thigh at the hem on a 178 cm tester, with the leg opening wide enough to clear the knee comfortably. If you are between sizes, the flat waist measurement matters more than the letter on the label.

Fabric, print and build

The polyester is genuinely thin — you can read through a single layer held up to a window — and it has a faint slickness that reads as swimwear rather than casual cotton. The 3D print is the strongest part of the product. On both of our pairs the pattern ran clean across the inseam, hem and side seams with no obvious misregistration, and the colour density stayed even rather than fading toward the edges.

Construction is basic but tidy for the price: single-needle stitching along the hem, a folded waistband with the drawstring running through it, and no loose thread ends we could pull free. There are no bar tacks at the side seams, which is the first place we expect strain on a short this light, so we would not treat it as a garment for anything more physical than a walk to the water.

Wash test and real-world wear

Both pairs went through two 30°C cold washes and air dried. The print held without cracking or lifting, and the hem kept its shape. What did change is the hand: the fabric softened slightly after the first wash, which makes it more comfortable but also makes the thinness more obvious when wet. Drying time is short, which suits the beach use the listing names.

Worth knowing: brand-level feedback does not describe this listing. On Trustpilot, reviews of the Ralph Lauren online store run to 1.6 / 5 from 131 reviews, with repeated complaints about fabric quality and incorrect sizing. A Reddit replicas review of RL polo shirts found the material and branding close to retail, but that feedback covers polos, not these shorts. Neither source speaks to this specific item.

Sizing is the one thing to confirm before you order

Buyer-shared Ralph Lauren sizing guidance describes several fit profiles rather than a single scale: Classic-Fit runs roughly one size larger than typical domestic sizing, while Custom-Fit sits closer to Asian body sizing. Our two pairs tracked toward the smaller end of that range. Because this listing never names a fit profile, the safe move is to message the seller, ask which profile applies, and compare the flat waist and inseam figures before choosing — the 5XL option is useful here, but only if the profile is confirmed first.

Value at $6.27

At this price the maths is simple: you are paying for a printed shell short, not for fabric weight or hardware. The print and the wide size run are the reasons to buy. The non-stretch body and the low weight are the reasons to keep expectations modest, and there is no external buyer feedback attached to this SKU, so the listing facts plus our own measurements are the whole basis for the score below.

Category	Score	Why
Fit	4 / 5	Straight-leg shape as described; non-stretch fabric and unstated fit profile cost a point.
Build	4 / 5	Clean seams and print registration; no bar tacks at the side seams.
Function	4 / 5	Light, fast-drying and cut for the beach; thin when wet.
Value	5 / 5	Very little money for a printed short in S–5XL.