As a woman, the perfect hiking/adventure pant is hard to find, especially when you’re short. They are either not stretchy, uncomfortable, don’t fit well, or not durable enough. With all the crazy adventures that Dustin and I do, such as hiking, canyoneering, backpacking, etc., I want my adventure pants to be as comfortable, versatile, yet stretchy, and as durable as possible. Therefore, when the outreach team from Kuhl reached out to offer us some free hiking pants, I was skeptical. In my quest for the perfect hiking pant, I decided to take their offer under the condition that we would be honest about our reviews. Dustin’s pant of choice was the Renegade Cargo Convertible while I chose the Kuhl Trekr. I have to say, both of us are pleasantly surprised at the performance of these hiking pants.
Kuhl Trekr Overall Review
Quick Specs
These pants are so comfortable and stretchy! I wish I can wear them everyday! Oh wait, I do. 😅
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Super comfortable
- Stylish
- Durable and well-made
- Stretchy, perfect for ease of movement
- The pants keep their form over time
- Breathable
- Water repellent
- UPF 50+ sun protection
- Adjustable inseam, which can turn into Capri
- Decently quick drying
- Hidden drawstrings, which help eliminate dangling strings
CONS
- The drawstring is only on the outside of the leg, which makes the bottom hem uneven when the drawstring is pulled.
- Not enough pockets
- Not a lot of color options (only 4)
- The waist drawcord is too stretchy and seems to stretch too much over time.
Style & Features of the Kuhl Trekr Pants
Style
I love the way the Kuhl Trekr pants look. It is perfect to go on an adventure, yet stylish enough to use as everyday pants. These pants come in 4 different colors at the time of this article. All the colors are quite pleasing and easy to match clothes with. I ended up going with the Charcoal color because I prefer something a bit darker. It is actually a nice color, quite a few shades lighter than black.
These pants shine the best after you put them on. Since it is a straight fit, I was expecting it to be baggy. However, the Kuhl Trekr pant fits perfectly, not too tight, not too loose. It shows off the backside wonderfully, yet it is roomy enough for activity. The cut on the legs is also just wide enough to lay over hiking shoes nicely.
Another thing that I love about the Kuhl Trekr is the way they design the drawstrings, which are used to turn the pants into capris. The other pant-to-Capri-style pants have drawstrings dangling at the bottom. It is not only distracting but could get in the way of the dangerous activities that we do. Kuhl hides the drawstrings inside the zipper pockets along the side. This helps the pant looks clean and sleek.
Features
Fabric – Kuhl Trekr Women’s Hiking Pant is made from Kuhl’s exclusive Rekoil fabric. It is super stretchy, yet rebounds to keep the pants from losing their shape over time. So far, I have to agree with their claims. My Kuhl Trekr pant is very stretchy, it is perfect for our canyoneering trips where we have to scramble, boulder, or climb over obstacles. I also put it through many washes and the pants still look and fit the same as the first day I put them on.
Pockets – There are 6 pockets, 2 normal pockets in front, 2 snap-back pockets on the back, and two “hidden” zipper pockets on the side of the thighs, running down the seams. The hidden pockets are where you can find the drawstrings to cinch up the pants into capris. Even though it is nice to have the zipper pockets to keep things from falling out, they are kind of small. They fit maybe a snack bar or two. That’s about it. Also, being on top of your thighs, it could be uncomfortable for moving around when you have stuff in there.
Adjustable Inseam – With the Trekr pants, you can adjust the inseam of the pant using the drawstrings that are hidden along the side seams. You can actually turn the long pants into capri pants. The adjustable inseam is one of the main reasons why I chose these pants. Since I am short (5 ft), most hiking pants are too long for me. I always ended up having to either roll the legs up or hem them. Therefore, it is nice to have the option to adjust the inseam. As mentioned above, I love the way Trekr designs the drawstrings. They are tucked away and hidden to make the pants look clean and polished. Without the dangling strings, I don’t have to worry about extra things that will get caught while climbing or rappelling down a cliff.
Internal Drawcord – Besides the zipper and snap button to secure the waist, there is also an internal drawcord to help tighten the waist. I do use it a lot and have a love/hate relationship with this string. It is super stretchy, which makes it quite comfortable. However, it seems a bit too stretchy and flimsy. I’m afraid that it will stretch too much soon enough.
Sizing and Fit of the Kuhl Trekr Pants
Sizing
Kuhl Trek Pants run from size 0 to 16, with an increment of 2. They also offer different inseam lengths, from 28 – 34, also with an increment of 2. This is the first that I have seen this on hiking pants. Most other brands don’t do this. The sizing for the Kuhl Trekr Pants is spot on, at least if you’re using the size chart. I picked my size (size 2 with a 28” inseam) using the size chart and the pant fit very well. The length is about an inch too long without shoes, but with shoes on, it is fine. Also, the adjustable inseam helps. For the record, I am 5ft and weigh between 105 – 110 lbs.
Fit
As far as I know, the Kuhl Trekr pants fit true to size. The waist has some stretch to it for comfort but it’s not too stretchy that you’ll need to go down a size. For me, the pant fits nicely around my butt area and is slim enough so I don’t look frumpy. Yet, it has enough room for me to wear my thermal underneath or to move around easily. The pant legs are a straight fit. They are the perfect width, enough to lay nicely over hiking shoes, yet still, tapered enough so it looks like I have longer legs than I do.
The Kuhl Trekr pants are mid-rise. They sit right at the belly buttons. Usually, I prefer lower-rise because I don’t like the feeling of the pants around my waist when sitting down. It is usually quite uncomfortable. However, since the Trekr pant stretch, it is really comfortable, sitting or standing.
Comfort
I love how comfortable the Kuhl Trekr Pants are. It feels like butter as soon as you slide it on. The fabric is very soft and smooth to the touch. It’s funny because, after all the rugged activities that we do, I actually prefer soft, comfy clothes. This pant makes me feel like I’m wearing my pajamas while hiking or canyoneering. It’s that comfortable!
Kuhl Trekr Pants are also stretchy so you won’t feel restricted from moving around. On our canyoneering trips, we usually don’t know what conditions we could get ourselves into. So it is nice to be able to adapt with the Trekr pant, from rock scrambling, climbing over boulders or falling trees, or stemming across narrow canyons. With all that, the pants not only stay comfortable but also stay in place.
Durability & Stretch
Stretch
As I mentioned above, the Trekr pants are super flexible. Kuhl claims that these pants are stretchy enough in any challenge. After putting it through vigorous tests over the past 4 months, I have to agree with Kuhl. The Trekr pant is as flexible as my yoga pants. I brought it on our trips to Zion National Park, Red Rock Canyon, and hidden hot springs hikes in Nevada, as well as tons of canyoneering trips. We tend to explore the off-the-beaten-path places. This means we have no idea what conditions we could get ourselves into. So, there is a lot of bouldering, rock scrambling, and climbing over obstacles. It is very important that my adventure pant has enough stretch. And the Trekr pant definitely lives up to my expectations.
Durability
Now let’s talk about the important part, durability. There is no point in having hiking pants if it is not tough enough to handle the elements. After 4 months, I am very pleased with the Trekr durability. I wear it on all of our adventures. On these trips, there is a lot of sliding on our butts, climbing over boulders or stemming using our bodies against the gritty sandstone. For example, on our last trip through Mystery Canyon in Zion, we had to slide down a very steep 1300ft hill full of shale, or down waterfalls. Besides a couple of scrubs here and there, my pant looks brand new. We will see the long-term durability of these pants, but for not, it passes my test.
Breathability and Water Resistant
Although Kuhl doesn’t advertise this, the Trekr pant is water-resistant and breathable. On some of our trips, the weather has reached 90 degrees. While my upper part was sweating, my legs stayed nice and cool. It also doesn’t get smelly, even after multiple days of wearing or hiking. Dirt, salt, sand, and grime seem to fall off or rinse out easily. My Trekr pants looked and felt clean the entire week. It is also water-resistant. When I ran water over it, the water just slid off the surface.
Value
At $89, the Kuhl Trekr pant is about the same price as other popular brands such as Patagonia, Prana, or REI Co-ops. I definitely 100% recommend them. They are not only fit well but super comfortable and durable. They are worth spending that $89.
What We Don’t Like About the Pants
As much as I love the Kuhl Trekr pant, there are a few minor things that I wish could change.
- The cinch legs: I wish the drawstrings were on both the inside and outside of the legs, instead of just the outside. As it is right now, every time I pulled the drawstrings, the bottom hem is uneven. Also, the little tab to keep the strap from slide down doesn’t work very well. So, my pant’s legs keep wanting to slide down.
- The internal drawcord can be a bit more sturdy and less stretchy. While it is comfortable, it feels like it won’t last too long, especially since I keep having to pull on it to tie my pants.
- More pockets! Besides the back pockets, I feel like the other 4 don’t do much. You can’t put much in them without restricting the movement. Maybe some cargo pockets?
The Verdict
I love the Kuhl Trekr pant! For the past 4 months, I’ve been taking it on all of our adventures. I still can’t get over how comfortable it is. I also love the fact that I can wear this for days and still feel and look clean. It is a big selling point for me, especially on long trips that required minimal packing. Also, these pants are super tough! I’m still amazed at how it is still intact and looks brand new after all of our strenuous canyoneering trips. I can’t wait to stock up on more of the Kuhl Trekr pants! To purchase this pant, click here. For other hiking pants options, check out Kuhl’s website.
Video
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our Youtube channel, and sign up for our newsletter!
Related Posts
Share the love
If you haven’t gotten it already throughout our review, I can tell you again, that Dustin LOVES his Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible. I swear he packs it on every single one of our adventures. Besides the convertible feature, which is the biggest sell for us, this pant is also super comfortable, durable, and versatile. It is ideal for most outdoor activities including hiking, climbing, kayaking, backpacking, and canyoneering. To purchase this pant, click here. For other hiking pants options, check out Kuhl’s website.
