There’s nothing like a great pair of hiking pants. And I had the chance to test out the KÜHL Radikl pants to see how they performed.
Where to buy KÜHL Radikl Pants
First Impressions of the KÜHL Radikl pants
Looking for a pair of hiking pants can be a tiresome affair. There are just so many options! Not only are there an abundance of options, but some are far more comfortable than others, just depending on your choice of fabric.
I was pleasantly shocked when I first tried these pants on. They look more like casual khaki pants than hiking pants. With that being said, I was a little skeptical of the mobility and breathability of the pants. Nonetheless, I found the pants to be incredibly comfortable due to them being a majority cotton blend pant. Mobility-wise, it was much better than I expected. There is a seam along the pant leg from the waist to the knee that is made of a spandex material. This gives the pant much more mobility than normal cotton pants, giving them some stretchiness. I’d never seen a design like this before- quite smart to have this mobility built into the pant. It almost gives it more of a hybrid feel of around-town cotton pants that could also be used for hiking.
Features
While I already mentioned the spandex seam in the middle of the pants, I do think this is one of the best features of the pant. The standard pockets on the side and rear are your regular size, wallet, and phone pockets. There is also a smaller pocket on the right leg, big enough for a phone, and a more hidden cell pocket on the left side of the pant. I wasn’t too huge of a fan of these “hidden” pockets, but they might be useful for others. I just felt like my phone was going to fall out of these smaller pockets, vs the standard pockets on the side.
So far in their use, I’ve also found these pants to be quite abrasion-resistant. They feel like a cross between work pants, causal around-town pants, and hiking pants. Breathability, on the other hand, I wasn’t too confident. I felt like I would be quite warm if I used these pants on a warmer hiking day.
Another great feature of these pants is their UPF 50+ rating. This is fantastic for hiking all season long. That way I’m not worried about my lower body getting burned while hiking with these pants.
Lastly, another feature is the additional interior button to the left of the zipper. The interior button allows for a secondary point to ensure your pants are secure for hikes.
Application and Key Benefits
This is a fantastic all-around hiking pant. I would recommend using these for shorter hikes that do not include rocky sections, or for cooler hikes that you would not get sweaty on. While the fabric has some mobility to it for mostly cotton pants, I still would not recommend it for hikes that you need full mobility on, say class 3-4 hikes. I find that any sort of cotton where I really need to stretch my legs is an inhibitor to my hiking! In addition, hiking in cotton in incredibly hot temperatures will be quite uncomfortable, the cotton will clump to your skin when you sweat!
That being said, these pants have become one of my favorite pairs that I own. They are the perfect option for a short hike and then keeping them on for traveling or around town. They are incredibly comfortable and versatile for many different activities. I don’t own another pair of hiking pants that I would wear for a long hike in the day, and then wear the same pair out to dinner that night!
Fabric choice is a huge consideration when looking at hiking pants. At the end of the day, people have their preferences. If you don’t mind cotton while getting sweaty and warm, this pant is the perfect hike for you in any condition. Another option to consider to improve breathability would be to try the Radikal shorts. The same product, just a shorts version! This would be a great option for those warmer hiking conditions.
Before these pants, I was convinced to only wear synthetic fabrics while hiking. But these pants are making me reconsider that! However, if you’ve sworn to polyester hiking pants there is another option. If you are looking for hiking pants that look like and are just as lightweight as the Radikal, consider the Silencr pant from Kühl.
These pants from Kuhl are available in several different online retailers. Happy hiking!