Trutex Boys Grey School Shorts Review: solid, low-fuss uniform shorts that actually survive school

I picked up these Trutex Boys Grey School Shorts (slim leg, elasticated waist, 2-pack, size 10) because I was fed up with supermarket shorts going baggy, fading, or ripping at the crotch halfway through the term. I wanted something I could just throw in the wash, stick back in the drawer, and not think about every Sunday night. I’ve used Trutex shirts before and they held up well, so I figured I’d test their shorts properly.

My son’s 9, pretty skinny, and rough with his clothes – football at break, sliding on the floor, sitting on concrete, the usual. I’ve had these shorts in rotation for a few weeks now, washed them multiple times, and he’s worn them for school days plus a couple of weekend outings when I couldn’t be bothered to argue. So this isn’t a one-day first impression; they’ve had a decent real-life run.

The short version: they’re practical, decent quality, and low maintenance. Nothing fancy, no fashion statement, but they do the job better than the cheaper ones I’ve tried. There are a couple of small things I’d tweak – mainly around the cut and how warm the fabric feels on hot days – but nothing that makes them a bad buy.

If you’re after rock-bottom budget, you’ll probably still go for supermarket own-brand. But if you want something that lasts longer and doesn’t need ironing every time, these sit in that sweet spot: not cheap-cheap, but not silly money either, and they feel like they’ll last more than one school year if your kid doesn’t shoot up in height overnight.

Price-wise, these Trutex shorts sit above the absolute bargain-bin supermarket ones, but they’re not in some silly premium bracket either. You’re paying for a 2-pack, which helps soften the hit a bit. When I compare what I’ve paid before for single pairs that fall apart or go out of shape, this feels like decent value for money, especially if they last the whole school year or more.

Here’s how I look at it: the supermarket shorts are cheaper upfront, but I’ve had to replace them mid-year because of ripped seams, saggy waistbands, or fabric going shiny and scruffy. With these, the quality of the fabric and stitching is clearly a step up, and that usually means fewer emergency uniform runs in the middle of term. If you’ve got more than one kid, that adds up. Also, the fact they barely need ironing out of the wash saves time, which I count as value too, even if it’s not a cash thing.

On the flip side, if your child grows like a weed and jumps sizes every term, you might not fully benefit from the extra durability. In that case, the cheaper shorts that just about last a term might be enough. And if your school is very relaxed and you can send them in casual shorts in summer, you might find cheaper cotton ones that are comfier in hot weather.

Overall, though, for a standard UK school with a clear uniform policy, I’d say these Trutex shorts hit a good balance between price and reliability. You’re not buying luxury, you’re buying less hassle: fewer replacements, fewer ironing sessions, and a better chance the shorts still look presentable at the end of term. For me, that justifies the extra few quid over the bottom-end options.

The design is pretty straightforward: slim leg, low-ish rise, pull-on style with an elasticated back and internal adjusters. No fly, no button to fiddle with, which makes mornings easier, especially if your kid is still at that stage where buttons slow everything down. My son can get them on and off quickly for PE, which is one less thing for him to complain about.

The slim leg cut is noticeable compared to supermarket shorts. They sit closer to the leg without being skin-tight. On my slim kid, they look tidy and not baggy, which I liked. They hit just above the knee, which I think is the right length – not too short, not hanging halfway down the calf. If your child has chunkier thighs, I’d be a bit cautious: they might feel snug, especially when sitting cross-legged on the floor. On my son they were fine, but I can see the slim cut being a bit restrictive for broader builds.

From a practical point of view, the pockets are decent but nothing special. Two front pockets, enough for a couple of tissues, a fidget, and some random playground rubbish. No back pocket on the pair I got, which I don’t really care about for school, but if your kid likes a back pocket for a wallet or keys, that’s missing here. The waistband sits comfortably, not super high, not ridiculously low – despite being called low rise, it felt pretty normal on my son.

Overall, the design is simple and functional. No logo on the front, no contrast stitching, no gimmicks. It’s basically: does it look smart and stay up? Yes. Could the leg be a bit more forgiving for stockier kids? Probably. But for a slim or average build, the design works well and looks clean with a polo or a shirt tucked in.

Comfort-wise, I’d call these good but not luxurious. The elasticated back and internal waist adjusters make a big difference. My son has a narrow waist, and with some shorts we’re either cinching a belt too tight or they’re sliding down. With these, I tightened the adjusters a bit and they stayed put all day without digging in. He didn’t complain about them falling down or feeling loose, which is already a win.

The fabric on the inside is smooth enough. He didn’t mention any itching or rubbing, even on the waistband. The seams around the crotch and inner thigh are reasonably flat, so no obvious chafing points. He’s worn them on days with PE and general running around, and he hasn’t come home moaning about them, which is usually how I know something is annoying him. So from his point of view, they pass the all-day wear test.

The only minor downside is that, because of the polyester-heavy fabric, they can feel a bit warm on those rare proper hot UK days. On a cooler or normal day, no issue at all. But when it was really warm, he did say they felt a bit sweaty compared to a lighter cotton pair he has. Not a massive problem, but worth knowing if your kid is sensitive to heat or your classrooms are like ovens.

Mobility-wise, the slim leg hasn’t restricted him. He can sit cross-legged on the floor, climb, and mess about in the playground without the shorts riding up awkwardly. The stretch in the waistband also helps when he bends or squats. So overall, I’d say comfort is solid: they’re not soft lounge shorts, but for a school uniform, they’re easy to wear, and he forgets he’s got them on – which is pretty much what you want.

The shorts are made from a polyester-heavy blend (the listing basically shouts polyester, with some mention of cotton in the materials). In practice, they feel like typical school uniform fabric: smooth, slightly firm, and built more for durability and easy washing than for softness. If you’ve had Trutex trousers before, it’s a similar feel. Not scratchy, but definitely more on the sturdy side than cosy.

After several washes at 40°C, no shrinking, no twisting, and barely any fading. The colour stayed consistent between the two pairs, and they still match the school jumper. I also noticed they come out of the machine looking fairly straight – I could get away with not ironing them if I hang them up straight out of the wash. For me, that’s a big plus. I’m not spending Sunday evening ironing shorts if I can avoid it.

In terms of toughness, my son has already tested them on concrete, grass, and the usual classroom chairs. No frayed knees, no busted seams, and no pilling on the seat area yet. Cheaper shorts we’ve had in the past started bobbling on the bum after a few weeks; these haven’t. The fabric is thick enough that it doesn’t feel flimsy, but not so thick that it feels like winter trousers chopped off. On very hot days, though, the polyester does feel a bit warm – not a dealbreaker, but if your kid runs hot and your school allows lighter cotton shorts, they might prefer those in a heatwave.

Overall, the materials feel built for the long haul. They’re not the softest shorts your kid will own, but for school use, I’d rather have something that can take a beating and still look presentable. For the price point, the fabric and build quality are pretty solid and definitely better than the cheapest supermarket options I’ve tried.

On durability, these shorts are doing a good job so far. We’re a few weeks in, with multiple washes, regular wear, and the usual playground nonsense. I checked the stress points – crotch seam, pocket corners, waistband – and everything still looks tight. No popped stitches, no loose threads, no thinning patches where he slides on the floor or sits on rough ground.

Compared to supermarket shorts we’ve had, the fabric definitely feels more robust. Those cheaper ones often start to look tired quickly: knees get shiny, bum area pills, and the colour fades. These Trutex shorts still look almost new after a run of school weeks. The grey hasn’t washed out, and the shape hasn’t gone saggy. The elastic in the back waistband is still firm too; with some cheaper brands, that starts to loosen and twist inside the band, which is annoying. No sign of that here yet.

Washing is easy: I just chuck them in a standard machine wash, no special care. They come out clean, don’t hold onto smells, and dry relatively fast because of the polyester. I’ve tumble-dried them a couple of times on low when I was in a rush, and they survived fine – no shrinking or weird warping. Officially, I’d probably stick to line drying most of the time to be safe, but they’re clearly not fragile.

Honestly, unless your kid is sliding down gravel every day, I can see these lasting at least a full school year, maybe longer if they don’t outgrow them. That’s the main reason I’d pick these over the cheapest options: you’re paying for shorts that won’t need replacing halfway through the year, which in the long run probably saves both money and hassle.

Just to be clear on what arrives: you get a 2-pack of grey boys’ school shorts, slim fit, pull-on style with an elasticated back. Mine were size 10 years. No belt, no zip, no fancy details – just straightforward uniform shorts. The colour is the usual school grey, not too light, not charcoal. It matches standard grey school jumpers and blazers pretty easily, so no weird mismatch with the rest of the uniform.

Out of the bag, they look neat and pretty tidy. The stitching looked clean, no loose threads hanging off everywhere, and the hems were straight. The leg is on the slimmer side, which gives a more modern look than those wide, boxy shorts you sometimes get. My son is slim and they looked good on him; on a broader kid, the slim description might matter a bit more, so I’d keep that in mind when picking a size.

One thing I noticed straightaway is that the waist has both elastic and adjusters inside, which is a big plus. My kid has a narrow waist, and a lot of pull-on shorts either fall down or bunch up. With these, I could pull the adjusters a couple of notches and they sat properly without sliding. That matches what some Amazon reviewers said – they’re quite forgiving on different waist sizes.

In terms of first impression, they don’t scream premium, but they don’t look cheap either. They sit in that middle ground: solid school shorts that look smart enough for a stricter uniform policy, without any logos or weird design touches that might get you in trouble with the school. If your school just says “grey tailored shorts”, these tick the box without drama.