Introduction to KÜHL
KÜHL is an outdoor sportswear company whose name literally means “cool”. They have a wide range of outdoor sports gear, and even have wine and chocolate! We recently got the opportunity to test their amazing (spoilers!) hiking pants. They have a wide range of styles and really prioritize comfort, flexibility and style.
Now, these are technically hiking pants. HOWEVER, most of the hiking pants KÜHL makes can be worn for almost any occasion. We’re huge fans of this versatility, which helps a ton when trying to pack light while backpacking! We could’ve gotten away with not packing hiking pants in Southeast Asia, but if you’re going to South America, grab yourself a pair or two of KÜHL hiking pants!
Anyways let’s get into our reviews of these hiking pants!
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KÜHL Trekr™ Straight Pants (Women’s)
Maddie loves her KÜHL Trekr™ Straight Pants which were crafted with great precision to provide comfort, versatility, and durability for women engaging in a wide range of activities. They look great, feel great, and don’t hold you back on your adventures!
Here are a few things we like:
- Super Comfy and Stretchable Fabric: The lightweight yet durable woven fabric gives these pants great flexibility without being baggy
- Quick-Drying and Moisture-Wicking: The material is quick-drying and effectively wicks moisture, keeping you comfortable even when you’re sweating or dealing with some rain!
- High Rise, Straight/Customizable Fit: Featuring a high-rise design with a straight fit, these pants can be adjusted to fit you, not the other way around. You can also easily wear a pair of tights under this in colder climates.
- Ample Storage: Equipped with two back pockets and two thigh pockets secured with hidden snaps, these pants provide convenient storage options. (We try to avoid side pockets when possible!)
- Adjustable Hem: The bottom hem features a bungee cord, providing versatility in style and allowing you to adjust the fit according to your preference:
These features make the KÜHL Trekr™ Straight Pants a practical choice for women seeking functional and stylish attire for activities such as hiking, travel, or casual wear. We waited way too long into our backpacking voyage before investing in some quality hiking pants–don’t make the same mistake we did!
The KÜHL Renegade Pants (Men’s)
The KÜHL Renegade™ Pants are designed to offer durability, comfort, and versatility for various activities. I can’t get over how good these pants look and really fit into the “Smart Casual” vibe. They’re super comfortable, look like something you’d wear into the office, but then you can also somehow wear them rock climbing? It really doesn’t get much better than this! Here are some of my favorite things about the pants:
- Durable and Stretchy Fabric: Constructed from DURALUX™ fabric—a blend of 95% nylon and 5% spandex—these pants provide a lightweight yet robust feel. The material is abrasion-resistant, which means you won’t see those rips and small tears you would normally see in other lightweight hiking pants.
- Water Resistance and Quick Drying: The fabric features a water-resistant finish, helping to repel light rain and moisture. Additionally, it dries quickly, enhancing comfort during wet conditions.
- Sun Protection: With a UPF 50+ rating, the pants offer excellent protection against harmful UV rays, making them suitable longer hikes with higher sun exposure.
- Articulated Design for Mobility: The pants include articulated knees and a gusseted crotch, promoting freedom of movement and flexibility, allowing for a full range of motion and really no limits.
- Multiple Pockets for Storage: Featuring an eight-pocket design—including two front hand pockets, two back pockets, two zippered side pockets, and two drop-in cellphone pockets—the pants provide ample storage for essentials. The two zippered side pockets are closer to the backside than the front which I really really like!
- Comfortable Fit: The Klassik fit offers a full seat and thigh with a slight taper from knee to leg opening, providing a comfortable and stylish appearance suitable for both outdoor activities and casual wear.
These features make the KÜHL Renegade™ Pants a great choice for those seeking outdoor and casual wear! I can’t emphasize enough how great it is to have my hiking pants also be my “wear to a nice dinner” pants!
Cons of the KÜHL Hiking Pants
We heard a few things online regarding the cons of the KÜHL hiking pants. The first thing is that they’re pricey. Now, $100+ for a pair of pants might seem like overkill, but what you pay for is what you get. These are long-lasting, versatile, and overall high-quality pants, so the price is 100% worth it.
The second thing is the length of the pants. A few customers on Reddit complained that the pants are always too long, no matter what size you get. So when Maddie’s pants came and they were as long as my legs, I feared the reddit users were correct. However, they ended up fitting her just right! The pants fit so well to match any body type. In addition to this, most pants provide the option to further customize the fit with adjustable hems at the ankle and waist.
Overall, we are huge fans of the hiking pants, and have 0 complaints thus far!
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
