KUHL Travel Pants: Functional Gear that Delivers On and Off the Trail

We tested both women's and men's travel pants from KUHL over 2 weeks of travel in October on the trail and the road. Get the full details of our pants reviews below!

When KUHL sent us both a pair of travel pants to test out, we couldn't wait to try them as part of our travel lifestyle.  Living in a van for the past 3 months requires us to have versatile clothing options that can go from a day on the trail to a night out in town for a nice dinner. We need clothes that perform well in our day-to-day adventures because we have limited space in our van to carry one-off pieces of clothing. With that being said, we have very different criteria and style preferences for what we each thinks makes a great travel pant, so we chose different styles of KUHL travel pants to try as part of this review. We wore these pants while hiking in Glacier National Park, wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park, and scrambling up and down boulders in Arches National Park. Here is our full review after a few weeks of rugged outdoor use and vanlife travel.

KUHL Haven Jogger (Women’s)

The KUHL Haven Jogger (MSRP $109, www.kuhl.com) is an ultra-soft jogger pant made with ripstop fabric that provides some sun protection and durability for wear and tear on the trail. It's been designed for hiking, travel and casual wear. Available in sizes XS-XL, I tested a size medium in Metal Blue.

PROS: Comfy fabric, flattering fit, lots of pockets, dedicated cell phone pocket

CONS: None!

Durability: The first time I wore these pants, it was for a moderate hike on a sunny 60-degree day in Glacier.  Since then, I have also worn them on cold 30-degree mornings watching for wolves in Yellowstone as well as climbing up and down boulders in the Fiery Furnace in Arches.  These pants handled the temperature extremes comfortably and held up very well to scraping against rocks and boulders. They also wash up nicely, which is important since we have to do laundry on the road and I need something that can wear well for several days.

Fit: I usually am NOT a fan of drawstring pants, but I found the waistband to fit comfortably and true to size (for me).  I AM a fan of jogger cuffs and liked the fit and the length of the bottom cuffs (I am 5'10 for reference). The pants were lightweight but had enough fabric heft to regulate temperature well and remain soft and comfy.

Functionality: Zipper pockets can be hit or miss for me, but I found these zippered front and back pockets useful while still offering a flattering fit.  My favorite feature was the drop in cell phone pocket!  Having a dedicated phone pocket while leaving my other pockets free to carry other items was awesome --- and not have my cell phone accidentally slide out with my other go-to hiking/travel pant, the Patagonia Happy Hike Pant. The Haven Jogger has a thicker fabric weight but is all around more durable and offers more pocket options.  I also really liked that I could head into Whitefish for dinner and still look fantastic after a day of hiking!

KUHL RADIKL Outsider Pant (Men’s)

My husband chose the KUHL RADIKL Outsider Pant (MSRP $199, www.kuhl.com) to test out, selecting the Driftwood color in size 32X30.  The RADIKL Outsider Pant is a versatile, high performance hiking pant that blends durability, protection and comfort. These pants are ideal for men who want something a little heavier duty while also designed for trail to town transitions.

PROS: Stretchy waistband, stretchy pant panels, heavy-duty fabric, bottom cuffs

CONS: May still need a belt, especially after multi-day wear and tear

Durability: The RADIKL Outsider Pant is sewn from a wax-coated canvas fabric, which aids in its durability and toughness.  Whether my husband was hiking or climbing under our van to adjust the shocks, these pants looked good day after day with no obvious wear or tear. We had great weather over the weeks of testing, so he couldn't really test out the waterproofing aspects of these pants. But similar to the Haven Jogger, the fabric offers good sun and wind protection, which we got lots of both while out hiking in Glacier NP!

Fit: The elastic waistband has just enough stretch to be comfortable while not necessarily requiring a belt. This was a departure from his usual style preference of pants with an integrated belt. We do tend to re-wear pants over multiple days, and so my husband did have to resort to a belt eventually as the pants tended to have more give in the waistband after several days of wear.  My husband REALLY liked the stretch panels around the knees, offering additional comfort when wearing. On really cold mornings in Yellowstone, these pants layered well with an underlayer of merino wool bottoms for added warmth.

Functionality: Highlights for these pants are the zippered pockets (seven total!) and the adjustable leg cuffs.  My husband switches up his footwear between hiking shoes and boots, and so he really liked the ability to adjust the leg cuff fit and length when he wore boots. This provided a better fit at the bottom of the pant leg instead of being all bunched up at the ankle. The RADIKL Outsider pants are quite a bit heavier duty and have a more rugged look than my husband's usual go-to pants, but the added features of stretch panels, cuff bottoms, and layering for cooler weather conditions made these pants stand out on their own.

Final Thoughts

These were the first time either of us have tried KUHL pants. We spend a lot of time traveling and are efficient packers, so we really think through each piece carefully as we pack into our travel bags. We need items that are multifunctional and will go the distance in terms of wear and tear. While we both have very different style preferences when choosing travel/hiking pants, we both agree the KUHL pants we tested are great choices for hikers and/or travelers who are seeking pants that are comfortable, functional and look great anywhere you wear them!

Have you tried these KUHL pants or other styles of KUHL pants? Let us know your thoughts!

Disclosure: We received these travel pants for free from KUHL in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are our own!