Owner Review (Kuhl Renegade Pants)

Kuhl Renegade Pants
  
 Name:                 David Franke
 Age:                    20
 Gender:               Male
 Height:                 5’10” 1.778 m)
 Weight:                160 (72.57 kg)
 Email:                  [email protected] mailto:[email protected]            
 City, State:           Mankato, MN, USA
 Date:                    3/10/16
  
 Backpacking Background:             The lifestyle of backpacking was born in my life about 6 years ago. I’ve done day trips, weekend trips, and multi-day trips throughout those 6 years. My philosophy is to have affordable gear that will get the job done so you can get the most of your trip without your gear holding you back or making you miserable. 
  
 Product Information
                 Manufacturer:                 Kuhl
                 Year of Manufacture:      2016
                 URL:                              www.kuhl.com http://www.kuhl.com/
                 Listed Weight:                4.9 oz per square foot
                 Size:                             32x32 
                 Fit:                                True to size, maybe even a little extra in the length
                 Color:                            Carbon (dark grey)
                 Product Description:       Hiking & everyday outdoor pants
  
 The Test(s)
                 I’ve had these pants for 4 years and have put them through basically everything. From long hot days in the desert to hours in rainy wet conditions and everywhere in-between.  These pants have been to Red Rock Canyon (NV), Ozarks (AK), Boundary Waters (MN), Ice Age Trail (WI), North Shore (MN), Banff (Canada), Yosemite (CA) and many other day hikes all around the USA and Canada. The terrain and conditions they were tested in were almost everything expected in North America (besides a hurricane and a tornado, though I wouldn’t doubt their performance in those conditions either). As you can see, these pants are very highly regarded in my opinion. I have tested them in many ways and they never failed to disappoint me. Each trip, I made sure these were the pants I had with because they are the best pants I’ve ever owned. Every aspect of the pants are note-worthy, from the comfort to the function to the durability. 
  
 The Break-Down
                 Comfort:              Very comfortable – with a combination of Stretch technology and Free Ryde Waist design, these pants feel wonderful on your legs whether you are going for a day hike or have a pack on with multiple things in your pockets. The Tufflex technology to me makes these pants why they are so amazing, the pants stretch around your knees and thighs and have a comfortable material that is not abrasive on your skin. The Tufflex slogan is “tough on abrasion, soft on skin, flexible like you” and this slogan could not describe it any better. 
                 Mobility:              With the Stretch technology, these pants allow you to move with ease. There is no snagging or resistance when going up steep terrain or scrambling around. The pants allow free motion in every direction.
  
                 Durability:           With the combination of Tufflex and DWR in these pants, they can go through the roughest conditions and come out unaltered. It is absolutely amazing how many times I’ve rubbed against sharp rock or stabbed with sticks and these pants block it like armor. Nothing can wreck them.
  
                 Breathability:     They aren’t the lightest and most breathable item on the market, but definitely have breathability. Since they aren’t super thin, they don’t breathe like crazy but get the job one. I’ve worn them in 90 degree sun and been warm but not uncomfortable. They have Quick-Dry technology implemented that works great. They dry extremely fast.
  
                 Cost:                      Not the cheapest pants out there, but totally worth the money. I’ve worn these on basically every outdoor experience in the past 4 years and are still going strong. 
  
  
 The Devil’s Advocate:
  
                 These pants are amazing, however there are two things that are wrong with them that I would change and have had an issue with. The first complaint is the color, but this is only in hot conditions. Since the pair I own is Carbon (dark grey) color on a hot summer day with the sun beating down, these pants can get really hot. Therefore, if you know you are going to use them a lot in summer I would suggest getting a lighter color so your legs don’t sweat too much in hot sunny conditions. But for fall, spring, and winter trips these are a great color because they don’t show dirt and grim that much. The second change I would make is on the side zipper. This is a very tiny complaint that should not be a deal breaker at all, but if I were a pant designer I would try and fix this issue. The side zipper can raddle around a make kind of an annoying noise if not fully zipped. Again not a huge issue but a little annoyance I picked up on after years of wear. 
  
  
 The Summary:
  
                 In general, the best way to explain these pants is this: best purchase I have ever made. The cost to effectiveness ratio is off the charts. I’ve had them for 4 years and worn them in almost every condition and terrain a backpacker will encounter and they have stood the test. I would recommend these pants to anyone who is looking for a pair of pants that is going to spend 10 minutes or 10 years in the backcountry.