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Warranty Warranted?: Slightly-Deceptive Board Shorts / Swim Shorts From Mountain Warehouse

By The Adventurer

 

The Adventurer here. You've seen a lot of reviews from the Treasure-Seeker, and I figured, what the heck -- why not try doing a standalone review myself? I figured it might be refreshing to the audience to not only have a change of voice, but also to hear directly from a guy. So here goes. 

 

Since the "cerveza sickness" back in 2020 (the thing that forced everyone to isolate and change their routines and habits), I hadn't felt the need to shop for new clothes, partly 'cause I had a lot of clothes already, but also because I wanted to save as much money as possible for necessities, because I had been anticipating hard times, prior to 2020. 

 

I also wanted to be in a position where I could either help myself or someone I care about if either of us ended up in a health crisis, or even if I or a family member went jobless for an extended period of time. Thankfully, there were no serious health issues for any of us during that time, but we did feel a financial pinch (which I'm not going to go into at this time), but because of my savings, I was able to fill the holes, and keep us financially floating. 

 

More recently, I've been feeling the need to spice up my wardrobe -- mainly out of necessity, but also because quite a few of my clothes don't fit anymore, and some are just not my vibe anymore. In the past five years, I've actually found myself wearing a lot of black, which is actually quite odd for me, because in prior years, I had worn a variety of colors, but black seemed to have been my theme the past few years. Perhaps I was unconsciously reflecting the dark times we were all enduring. 

 

That season has changed as of late, so I'm reintroducing not just color, but also some pieces that haven't been in my wardrobe for a long time -- starting with board shorts. I found an interesting pair of cool board shorts for guys at a store called Mountain Warehouse, which I came across by chance. The pair of men's board shorts I found immediately caught my attention because of its floral print, that was in coral and shades of sea green -- both colors I haven't really played with much in the past.

 

See below for some promo shots of the board shorts taken from the Mountain Warehouse website, showing the shorts from the front and back, as well as some showing off the pockets on the sides and back.

 

 

I was also lucky, 'cause the price tag said that the retail price for the shorts was normally $29.99, but I had gotten them for $9.99 because Mountain Warehouse was having a final sale of 70% off on the rack I found it on. From what I can see, the Mountain Warehouse website appears to be having a 50% off sale at the moment, if you'd like to check it out. Perhaps you, too, can find some sweet deals. 

 

After looking on the website, however, I did see that the price they put as the original is actually the comparable price of a similar item of similar quality, rather than the actual retail price, so I think it's a little deceiving, as there is no mention of this practice on the tags for the items that sell at physical Mountain Warehouse stores (or, at least, not on the price tag that came with the Mountain Warehouse board shorts I bought), and you have to click a button that says "Read how our pricing works" that opens a pop-up window, to get an explanation of how the pricing actually works. Apparently, Mountain Warehouse makes its products in the same facilities that more expensive brands make their products in, but is able to sell its products for a lower price, thanks to getting rid of the middle man in distributing its products.

 

See the image below to read the company's description of how its pricing works, taken from its American website: 

 

It doesn't offer the option to read this description by its product prices on its UK site, which is ironic, as it is apparently a British retailer.

 

One of the perks that came with the Mountain Warehouse board shorts I bought was the fact that they are UV shorts -- meaning they have UV protection, for those who care. Because UV protective shorts can only cover a certain part of my body, I don't really see how they're protecting me from UV rays, and I'm not really trying to hide from the sun, so, for me, I don't really care all that much about this feature. A tag that came with the board shorts also says that the UV protection decreases the more you use the item, so I don't know long the UV protection even lasts. See the photo to the side for the tag explaining the UV protection, as well as showing the deceptively-large price drop in the sale price of the UV shorts.

 

Another benefit of the shorts is that the internal mesh actually feels quite comfortable compared to other board shorts I've tried in the past.

 

The waist is stretchy and comfortable as well. I don't find it to be too tight, or too loose. It's almost as if it was designed to fit perfectly on my waist.

 

See below for front, back, and side photos of me wearing the Aruba-printed men's swim shorts / board shorts. Note that the shorts look a bit blue, due to the lighting.

 

 

The Aruba shorts also come with a medium-sized drawcord that matches the colors of the shorts, which can be adjusted to your liking. At this time, I'm not sure how the drawcord will fare under water. I am a bit skeptical of the durability and longevity of the drawcord, 'cause I've had shorts with a lot stronger, thicker, and durable drawcords in the past, but I won't be able to know for sure how long it will last 'til it's run its course. Perhaps I will be pleasantly surprised by its performance. 

 

Although I am aware that these board shorts are mainly for swimming or being on the beach (with the tag that came with them even calling them "aruba printed swim short" -- which you can see on the photo of the tag I included earlier), I sometimes like to wear them casually on a hot day, or sometimes even to go for a run. Yes, I am aware that they aren't typically used for running, but I don't currently have a pair of running shorts, so this, in the meantime, will have to do. I like using them for running because they're light and more aerodynamic compared to other shorts I've worn. I did find that one side of the shorts tends to ride up a bit at the inner left thigh while I'm running, so that I have to widen my legs a little to let the cloth readjust and fall back into place sometimes. See to the side for a photo of the front of the board shorts by themselves.

 

I do intend to get a pair of running shorts in the foreseeable future. If you guys have any recommendations for a good pair, I'd be happy to hear any suggestions. I might even end up reviewing them. You can email your suggestions to gemtester@gemorjunk.com, or send us a message via our contact page.

 

The board shorts also have pockets, which are handy, but I wouldn't recommend putting anything too heavy in them, as I have a feeling that doing so might eventually loosen the band holding the waist up, and make it lose its elasticity over time, so that the shorts might not fit as well as they initially may have, anymore. I'd say that a few pieces of tissue or a key (though not an entire ring of keys) would probably be light enough to not do any damage, although I wouldn't put anything valuable in the pockets when wearing the shorts to go running, as I wouldn't trust things to necessarily stay in the pockets, as there are no zippers or other closures for the pockets. 

 

Overall, I'd say that I'm generally quite happy with the purchase, partly 'cause I got the board shorts for a good price, but also because of what I like to use them for. 

 

By comparison, in the photo below, you can see another pair of board shorts I got a month prior for $5, that has a different drawcord and mesh.

 

 

The mesh on the older pair of board shorts I got feels rougher, and the holes are bigger, whereas the board shorts I recently got feel softer, and the holes are a lot smaller.

 

See below to see the difference in mesh between my older and newer board shorts, with the new shorts on the left.

 

I actually found that the shorts I got prior sometimes give me problems with my package, whereas the new pair of board shorts I got hasn't given me that problem yet. That being said, I like the drawcord more on the prior pair of board shorts than on the newer pair of aruba board shorts. Also, aesthetically, I like the prior board shorts I got because they're shorter and more fitted, whereas the newer board shorts are slightly longer and wider -- but I suppose that's why I have less of an issue with my package. That's the tradeoff. However, I like the colors and floral print on the new pair of board shorts more. In the foreseeable future, I hope to get a few more board shorts. I'm even thinking about getting a pair that also comes with a paired top.

 

The Mountain Warehouse board shorts I got come with a two-year warranty (which is supposed to protect you for two years against manufacturing faults related to the components, materials, and workmanship of the product). I was initially impressed by this, since I had never seen that before with shorts, or with clothes of any kind. (See to the side for a photo of the two-year warranty sticker on the board shorts tag.) Apparently, most Mountain Warehouse products are supposed to be backed by a 12-month guarantee, but products that come with a "two-year guarantee" tag are protected for two years, provided that you retain the receipt, and are able to show proof of purchase. However, the Mountain Warehouse Guarantee explanation page says "*All our product guarantees operate on the condition that products have not been damaged by accident, neglect or by reasonable wear and tear." 

 

The Treasure-Sharer did some investigating, because she was curious about whether the Mountain Warehouse warranties were legit or bogus, and found some reviews where people complained that they were not able to return items that fell apart after only a few wears, due to customer service attributing this to normal wear and tear, so I'm not sure what I would be able to use the warranty for, two years later.

 

Below are two examples of reviews that the Treasure-Sharer sent me, showing the Mountain Warehouse warranty not being honored. The first, taken from reviews.io, shows "wear and tear" being cited as a reason that "nothing could be done." The second is an example of a review from a Mountain Warehouse customer from Great Britain, where a three-year warranty wasn't honored, asking for proof that the product was faulty when it was bought, taken from the Mountain Warehouse Trustpilot review page:

 

 

(Note that you may have to click back to older reviews to find the reviews we screenshot on the pages we linked to, because we just discovered that, because the customer review sites we linked to above are updated all the time with new incoming reviews, the pages we linked to for the reviews can change over time, as new reviews push older reviews to pages further back.)

 

The two examples we screenshot above, as well as other reviews we haven't included, make us feel like the Mountain Warehouse warranty is a little deceptive, and maybe even useless, in most cases, depending on what Mountain Warehouse's customer service staff allow to be classified as a "fault."

 

Mountain Warehouse refers to the shorts as "men's swim shorts" on its price tag and website, but I think that the shorts can be worn for other activities, and can even be worn by women, if they need to borrow their guy's shorts or something. The store does also sell board shorts made specifically for women, that are probably designed to better suit women's needs and specifications, though, if women were looking to buy a pair of women's board shorts for themselves.

The big perk of buying board shorts over swim shorts designed to be worn only for swimming is that you get the quick-drying material of swimming shorts, and the ability to jump into a pool or the ocean without having to change into and out of swim trunks -- without needing to pay for a separate pair of swim shorts.

 

If you're a competitive swimmer and need something specifically made for swimming, then swim shorts are probably a good idea, but I don't swim often, and prefer my multipurpose board shorts. It's like I'm getting two shorts for the price of one -- getting the casual summer shorts and running shorts I was looking for, as well as swim shorts to use for emergencies and spontaneous beach days, where I can hop into the water without having to worry about walking around in soggy shorts afterward.

 

I'm generally happy with the quality of the Mountain Warehouse board shorts I got, but I don't like the deceptiveness with how Mountain Warehouse presents its pricing and some of its features, like its warranty and such. While I like the particular pair of board shorts I got, I can't comment on the company or any of the other clothing it sells, as this is the first piece I have bought from Mountain Warehouse.  

 

----

 

 

Aruba Printed Men's Swim Shorts From Mountain Warehouse

 

 

Review: 

Pros:

 

-really good fit
-bargain price
-very comfortable
-UV-protected -- tested up to UPF 50+
-nice design and colors 
-mesh more comfortable than previous pair of shorts I bought
-feel very breathable; don't feel heavy or hot -- quite light and airy
-great for wearing in the summer
-useful for casual wear and beachwear 
-technically made for swimming, but don't have to be used only for swimming
-can wear for running, as they are light-weight and aerodynamic
-stick out in a good way 
-relatively good quality
-easy to wash -- don't get smaller, and color doesn't run or bleed in the wash
-have two pockets on the side, and one in the back

-multifunctional
-quick-drying
-drawstring closure for convenience and adjustable waist
-can be worn by men and women, though made for men
-two-year warranty against defects

 

Cons:

 

-made of 100% polyester
-not sure if drawstring will fall apart with more wear
-aesthetically a bit baggy around the legs (don't hug legs as much as other board shorts I got)
-pricing is a little deceptive, as sale prices are shown in relation to comparable prices of items of similar type and quality, rather than in relation to the original retail price of the product  

-pricing is not transparent -- have to go on the American or Canadian websites and click a question mark icon beside the advertised price, by the label "Read how our pricing works," to find out how the pricing works; otherwise, you'd probably be led to believe that the crossed-out price is the regular price for the item when it is not on sale 

-the savings you get appear bigger than what they actually are, due to what is presented as the original price being inflated to start with, since it reflects the price that higher-end brands might sell a comparable product for, rather than the price that the shorts would really sell for when not on sale
-the two-year warranty is a little deceptive, as it only covers manufacturing defects, and "wear-and-tear" can be cited as a reason not to honor the warranty

-pockets of shorts have no zippers or anything to keep them closed or ensure that things don't fall out 

 

 

Gem or Junk?

 

For Us: Gem (3.7-3.8 stars out of 5)

 

At one point, I actually felt like I should have given these Mountain Warehouse board shorts 4 stars, because I wondered if I was being too critical. There's not a lot of negatives to say, 'cause it's too early for me to comment on some features (but that's part of my reason for giving it a lower rating). The deception in the marketing, pricing, and warranty would be another reason why I wouldn't give them a 4.

 

I've worn these board shorts around 15 times now (in less than a month), and what I can say is that they are very comfortable. Not only do they fit like they were made for me, but they also feel very breathable, and quite light and airy, and the mesh is more comfortable than other shorts I have bought, which have let me use them for running without having them weigh me down or slow me down, or make me sweat.

 

I haven't tested the board shorts in water yet, as my purpose for getting them was not to swim with, but to have summer shorts -- and for that, they're perfect. I have washed them, and found that they wash very well, and that they didn't shrink, and that the color didn't run or bleed. I do like that, should I ever want to swim, I can use them for that.

 

While I think that the warranty is a cool feature that I've never seen before, because it only applies to manufacturing defects -- not normal wear and tear -- I don't know how much use people can make of the warranty, with these restrictions. 

 

The UV protection aspect is also pretty cool, but I don't know if people would be more likely to get a sunburn while wearing regular board shorts than these ones.

 

If I had to critique something, it would be the drawstring that I'm still not sure will hold up with longer wear, and the fact that the leg areas of my new board shorts are a little wider, so that they don't hug my legs as much as the other board shorts I bought earlier do.

 

 

Gems For Who?

 

1) Swimmers.
2) Bodybuilders.
3) Fit people (might not be flattering on someone who is not fit).
4) Trendy and fashionable people.
5) Surfers.
6) People who like clothes with unique, but tasteful, designs.
7) People who like clothes that stand out in a good way.
8) People who want shorts they can use for multiple purposes.
9) People who like getting pretty-good-quality clothes at bargain prices.
10) People who want to add more color to their wardrobe.

11) People who want shorts that can dry quickly.

12) Budget-conscious people.

 

 

Conclusion:

 

For the deep discount I got these cool men's board shorts for, I think they were definitely a steal.

While they're sold as board shorts, I like that they can be worn for things like running as well, on top of for swimming and casual wear.

 

Not only were these cool shorts at a discount, but they were also still on-trend, making them a bargain item for those who care about fashion, since most discounted items are usually dated. These board shorts are also available in other designs, so you can see if some match your style more, if the design I got doesn't work for you.
 

The Treasure-Seeker looked more into Mountain Warehouse to make sure it was okay, since it was our first time encountering it. She discovered that it's considered "the Old Navy of the outdoors," where you can get outdoor goods for a fraction of what you would pay for better-known and higher-quality items. For those who do outdoor activities once in a while, casually, or as a one-off thing, who don't want to spend so much on items they don't plan to use more than a few times, they're a bargain, but if you're looking for long-lasting wear, we can't say, but the reviews on their items are very mixed, with some people like me being very happy with their purchases, and their items appearing to hold up well over multiple uses, while others have had them fall apart after only a few uses. 

 

The Treasure-Seeker also discovered that the customer service received really varies by location.

Mountain Warehouse has separate websites for each of the regions it sells its items in. We checked Mountain Warehouse's various websites, and are sorry to report that it doesn't look like the board shorts are available on the versions of the website in America, Germany, Poland, or Spain. We suspect that they have sold out in some areas, as we saw that the United States website did carry one style at one point, but now doesn't have the shorts listed at all, anymore.

It appears that, at the time of writing this article, the board shorts are now only available in Australia, Canada, France, and the UK. Note that there are different styles of the board shorts available, and that, because the particular style I bought seems to be pretty popular, in some cases, only other designs are left.

 

The board shorts appear to be on clearance, so it's probably a good idea to get them as soon as possible, if you like them, since there's no guarantee that they'll be available again after they sell out.

 

See below for links to each of the websites for the board shorts from the countries that still appear to be carrying some, if you want to see if your country has any left, and are interested in buying some:

 

Mountain Warehouse Australia board shorts

Mountain Warehouse Canada board shorts

Mountain Warehouse France board shorts

Mountain Warehouse UK board shorts

 

We don't have any affiliate links to provide for this review, so if you want to help us directly, and know a thing or two about crypto, you can donate some to us at https://ud.me/gemorjunk.unstoppable.   

 

Also, if you want another suggestion for an item particularly useful for the summer, then you can read our review on handy sweat-absorbing hat-liners.

 

'Til next time!