Gear Review: KUHL Radikl Outsider Heavy Pant
I was looking for a rough and tumble style pant that had more endurance than your standard cotton camping pant. Something that was hard wearing but versatile for all of the bumps and scrapes that a backcountry camping trip would throw at you. As soon as I saw the KUHL Radikl Outsider Heavy Pant it looked both unique enough while checking off all the boxes that I thought I should give them a try.
It’s made from a lightweight Dynawax wax-coated ripstop canvas fabric (270 GSM) that had a bit of both wind and water resistance, and seriously stands up to everything from brambles to pitching your tent while on your knees. Heavy but breathable isn’t normally what I’d look for in a pant and the stretch really seals the deal. I was surprised at how comfortable they felt equally around the campfire to making your way across a portage.
An entire pant made from this material might be a little heavy and warm, so there is plenty of stretch panels strategically placed to offer both flex points and lots of breathability. To top it off there are large mesh vents along the thigh that you can unzip and let a breeze flow in.
They are well suited as hiking pants and are quiet enough that they don’t swish when you walk, or bunch up when bending down to grab a snack out of your pack.
The Radikl Outsider Heavy Pants are very well thought out and I’m impressed with the attention to detail…
These pants are made for the long-haul and can be re-waxed as you need to and the stretch panels are coated in PFC-free DWR
I’m a sucker for articulated knees
There are adjustable cuffs which I used in the wintertime when snowshoeing
Eight pockets!
KUHL has the perfect placement for the cell-phone pocket along the side of the leg. It’s just in the perfect place in my KUHL jeans and this pant is no different.
Although the zipper tabs are small, they all include a zipper pull to make them easy to grab.
The front thigh and rear pockets have Hypalon (a highly durable synthetic rubber) protective covers to both keep out rain and debris.
I highly recommend the KUHL Radikl Outsider Heavy Pant, especially if you’re looking for something more resilient than your average camping pant. While I haven’t had a chance to try them out through the summer, they have been outstanding from last autumn (when they were first announced) through the winter and now into the spring while still looking brand new despite all I’ve thrown at them.
