Recently, the outreach team from Kuhl reached out to us to see if we were interested in reviewing and testing out their hiking pants. We had actually never heard of them before. However, after researching their company, we were excited to give these hiking pants a try under one condition, and that was that they have no influence whatsoever over our reviews. Dustin chose the men’s Renegade Cargo Convertible while I chose the women’s Trekr. The Renegade Cargo Convertible from Kuhl is the perfect men’s hiking pants: not only it is super comfortable and durable, but it can also switch from pants to shorts. This is so convenient, especially on our hiking or canyoneering trips, where the weather keeps shifting constantly from hot to cold.
Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants Overall Review
Quick Specs
Best adventure pants ever! I feel like I can sleep in it at night and then go rappel down a cliff the next day!
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Super comfortable
- Very durable and well-made
- Water-resistant
- Dry’s fast
- Lightweight
- Well thought out pockets
- Breathable
- Convertible
- Two-way stretch fabric for ease of movement
- UPF 50+ sun protection
CONS
- The main snap button can pop undone when bending over.
- The leg’s pieces don’t have any marking to tell which leg goes where when zipped off.
Design & Features of the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible
General Design
From our first impression, the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible pants seem that they are very well-made. Since it is made from KÜHL’s innovative DURALUX™ fabric, it feels very durable, yet light enough. It also has UPF 50+ sun protection properties. However, since Dustin mostly wears it as shorts, so we can’t attest to the sun protection claims.
It has 6 visible pockets, including the cargo pockets. The right cargo pocket has a smaller pocket inside, both can be secured with a pair of poppers on a fabric flap. The left cargo pocket also has a smaller pocket, however, this one has a zipper, to help keep your important items safe. Both of the cargo pockets are quite roomy, enough to store your phone, gloves, snacks, etc.
The rear and side pockets are mesh-lined. This is to help with ventilation, keeping you cooler or “Kuhler”. All of these pockets are also a pretty decent size. The rear pockets also are secured by a decent-strength velcro, to keep everything in place.
Convertible
Since Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible is a convertible pant, you can easily zip off the pant legs and turn them into a pair of shorts. The short is a 10” short, which is the perfect length in our opinion. It falls right at the knees. Kuhl also uses their patented STEALTH™ zip-off system, which eliminates the fabric flap while keeping the zipper running smoothly and also comfortably.
At the bottom of the pant legs, there are zippers on the side, as well as two snap buttons. With the side zippers, you can take the pants legs off mid-hike, without having to take off your shoes. This makes it so much easier to convert these pants into shorts or vice versa if you get too hot or too cold during your adventures.
Fit & Feel of the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible
Fit
These pants are true to size. Dustin fits a 34” waist in most of his pants and these 34” Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible fit him perfectly. Our friend Chris, whom we gave the extra pants to, fits his 30” pants as well. The length of the pants is also true to size, in our opinion. Dustin is 5’8 and the 30” inseam fits him well.
Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible is a full fit. This means that it fits wider through the seat and thigh, all the way down through the knee and leg opening. Dustin chose this fit because he has child-bearing hips and thicker thighs. We were worried that the pants would look super baggy, however, it actually fits great. It also surprisingly fits our twig-like friend quite nicely too!
Feel
With its full fit, the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible is perfect for all the crazy adventures that we do, from hiking, rock scrambling, bouldering, and climbing, to canyoneering. It also has enough room for you to wear thermals underneath. Dustin actually wore this on a few of our winter hikes. We wouldn’t recommend this for snow and freezing cold weather. However, it was perfect, especially with thermal underneath, for warmer winter days. The pant is also made from two-way stretch fabric, so it gives just enough stretch to give you that ease of movement. It also feels nice to the touch and is super comfortable.
Versatility
We love how versatile the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible is! The fact that you can switch from pants to shorts quickly and easily is awesome. Granted, Kuhl is not the first company to make convertible pants, however, it is the first one we have that has zippers on the side of the pant legs, which provides easy access for putting the pant legs on and off with shoes on. With the other convertible pants that Dustin owns, he has to take off his shoes every time he wants to switch. It was a pain in the butt, especially when we were in the rush to get out of the canyon before dark.
With the convertible feature, you can wear these pants throughout the whole year, from spring to winter. The pants are thick enough to wear on a cooler day, yet it also has great ventilation. This makes it perfect for a warmer day, or you can just zip off the pant legs. Also, as mentioned previously, the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible is roomy enough that you can wear thermals underneath, for colder days.
Venting and Breathability
Let’s talk about venting and the breathability of these pants. Both front and rear pockets have mesh liners, which help with the ventilation. Although the fabric doesn’t seem to be the most breathable fabric, it actually works quite well. In addition, the gusseted crotch and looser fit also help with the airflow.
With the excellent venting and breathability, the pant doesn’t stink after a full day, or multiple days of adventures. It was perfect for our backpacking or trips that required minimal packing. You can wear the same pants for a few days without having that gross feeling of stinky, dirty pants.
Water Resistant and Quick Dry
Another thing that we love about the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible is that it is water-resistant and it dries quickly. This was perfect for when we go canyoneering through wet canyons. Wet canyons are canyons that have water. Most of the time, we will have to either wade or swim through pools of water. The fact that this pant dries quickly keeps Dustin from getting cold from soaking in the water.
With its water-resistant and quick-dry ability, it is also perfect for kayaking or paddle boarding. Dustin loves wearing it when we take our kayaks out. Since it is also comfortable, it is perfect for a long day sitting on the water.
Durability and Care
Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible is really durable! We were surprised at how durable it was. During 4 months of testing out the pants, we put it through many tough situations. Some of which include sliding down a steep 1300 ft hill consisting of shale and rocks, rappeling down the side of a slippery waterfall on our sides, stemming through gritty sandstones as well as swimming through many pools and waterfalls in the canyon. So far, Dustin’s pants are still in perfect shape.
These pants are also easy to care for. All you have to do is wash it with cold water, no bleach. Then, you can either tumble dry or just hang dry it. Since it dries super fast, you really won’t need to use the dryer.
Value
At $109, the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible is on the expensive side of other convertible hiking pants out there. In fact, you can get convertible pants for half the price. Dustin has a few pairs of the cheaper ones. However, they are nowhere near as comfortable and durable as the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible. There is a saying “you pay for what you get.” This is 100% true with the Kuhl Convertible pant. This pant is worth every penny
What We Don’t Like About the Pants
There isn’t much that we don’t like about the Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible. One of the things that could be improved is the main button to fasten the waist. It tends to pop open if you put too much pressure on it. Dustin’s button popped out a few times when he leaned toward the front. Another thing is that there is no label as to which pant leg is on which side of the leg. This can get a bit confusing after zipping them off. It is not a big deal and doesn’t affect the performance of the pants. However, it would be nice to know right away which pant leg goes on which side. This way, it would be more efficient if we need to switch back from shorts to pants.
The Verdict
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.
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