Sara Baird tries out Kuhl Travel Pants
I live in outdoor pants. I found some that pass for work and I have them in several different colors so I can wear them daily to my high school teaching job. I also wear them on weekends and vacations well, pretty much everywhere I go. I love how they fit, that they allow you to move, and of course that they actually have working pockets. It is also handy that the fabrics will dry quickly if you get wet or work up a sweat. When Kuhl asked if I would like to try out a pair of their Women’s Travel Pants I could not wait to try them out.
Kuhl
Kuhl is a privately owned company that strives to provide people with high-quality outdoor wear. They aspire to inspire you to follow your true calling, true passions, and support independence in all walks of life. They use only materials from environmentally conscious and ethically minded patterns. They make clothing for both men and women and sell pants, shorts, jackets, shirts, hats, and backpacks.
Travel Pants
I had the choice of one of the items from the Women’s Travel pants category. I was excited as I saw 25 different choices for pants including jeans, cargos, and leggings. I was worried about selecting a pair though when I looked at their size guide. Like most people, I gain weight in the winter and I realized I would barely fit into any of their clothing. I was at the very top of the measurements in the biggest size. I decided my best bet would be to pick the Transcender Leggings since they would likely have more stretch than the other options.
The Transcender leggings are made of softshell fabric fused with knitch stretch panels. They are made to be tough to avoid snagging as you wear them on outdoor adventures. These are yoga-style leggings with a high-rise stretch waistband. They have an envelope pocked in the right thigh big enough for your phone. They have a water-repellant finish and 50+ UPF sun protection. They also come in a fleece-lined winter version.
The Fit & Comfort – First Impressions
The pants arrived within a few days of making my selection. I threw them on right away. Overall they were pretty snug but they felt good. They felt flattering and stayed in place when I moved around. These pants have a good amount of horizontal stretch but they have almost no vertical stretch. This felt a little uncomfortable at first but I did get used to it.
Wearing Them
I was on my way to head out for dinner when they arrived so I just wore them out with a long sweater. I found them comfortable on this first night. I put them on the following day for a walk in the rain. It was about 40F and a bit windy. My legs were a bit cold but felt pretty protected. I was impressed that after walking for an hour I was able to simply brush the water off the leggings. Any other leggings would have been waterlogged.
I threw them on for a workout later that week but found that they lacked vertical stretch and just felt uncomfortable for sweaty squats and lunges and I stopped and changed pants after 5 minutes. Of course, I rarely wear long pants to workout in anyway so I was not completely surprised that I did not enjoy them for this activity.
As the snow melted and the ground dried up I finally had a chance to put them to use doing what they were designed for. I wore them while we went on a hike on some undeveloped trails near home. I had worn another pair of outdoor pants previously and came back covered in burs. I was happy to find that as we cut through brush the pants hardly picked up a thing. The sturdy fabric also protected my legs much better than a regular pair of leggings would have. The pants stayed in place while walking and climbing over fallen logs and up hills.
My Review
Overall I was impressed with the Transcender Leggings. These pants have become my go-to pants for most things outside in the short time I’ve had them. I love wearing them outside in the rain when walking, hiking, or training my dog.
I love the way they repel water and even when they are wet they are comfortable and they dry quickly. They are built well and comfortable. I did need to get used to the lack of vertical stretch but once I wore them a bit I didn’t notice it that much. It is also fantastic that they hold up to walking through the brush with no burs or snags.
While I did not enjoy wearing them during a workout I will definitely enjoy them for outdoor experiences. I do wish they came in more inclusive sizing. I barely fit into the largest size offered and I ordered a size up from what I wear in most pants. If you are able to fit into the sizes offered these travel pants are high quality and will hold up for years to come.
You can check out Kuhl travel pants at their website.
Your thoughts?
What is your impression of these Kuhl Travel Pants (Transcender Leggings)? Would you like to pack this on your adventures? Perhaps you have had your own experiences you would like to share in the comments below.
We would love to hear from you and head over to our dedicated page for more reviews from Sara Baird and other outdoor product and experiences reviewers.
Sara Baird
I am an adventurer at heart, always looking for the next opportunity to learn something new. I spend my winter days working with high school students to explore their interests and develop passions.
I spend my evenings and summers developing new hobbies and being outdoors as much as possible. I enjoy camping, hiking, cross country skiing, and biking.
I definitely can’t say that I live in outdoor pants, but sometimes I wish I did. I want to make sure I try these Kuhl travel pants for my next adventure.
I will look into these for the fall on the boat. It will nice to have a new pair of waterproof pants when fishing.
The perfect leggings for rainy seasons. I’m always out and about during the rainy seasons and I always get soaked. It would be great to have these leggings in my drawers ready to go.
I just wore leggings for a day at Sequoia National Park. They were comfortable but they were certainly not water resistant like your Kuhl pants. Sounds like they’d make a great addition to my outdoors wardrobe.
I travel with leggings very often and I do find it the best option to pack while on the trip! Always SO cute and above all comfortable. It’s essential for me to have pockets though
These look so comfy. I’ve never heard of this brand before, and would love to give these a try. Sounds like my kind of pants!
I wear these sorts of leggings everyday when i go jogging in my local park.
Camping is the best Summer activity for us. We usually go on two to three camping trips a year. Love the reviews, thanks a lot.
I used to wear leggings all the time. Now I only wear them for working out. These look great quality for a workout!
Wow! This travel pant looks so good and cool. Plus it’s very comfortable to wear. Perfect for any outdoor activity. Loved it!
I have not heard of these pants before but my gosh, it sounds like I am missing out! I love pants similar to this because it really does make everyday life so much easier. I will definitely check out and find a pair!
I can’t live without leggings but I honestly just have cheap ones. I’d love to try a pair of really nice ones like these!
These Kuhl travel pants sound like they are rugged and well-made. With a little one, it would be so great to throw on a pair of these with all of our outdoor adventures. I have to try these.
They sound so comfortable! I could use a pair for when we go out camping and maybe even hiking. Thanks for sharing about this brand.
Comfy, pass for teaching attire, AND functional pockets?!? That sounds like a dream!
I have been a fan of Kuhl clothing for several years. I have a few pairs of shorts and a warm fleece jacket. They are all high quality and very comfortable. I don’t have the pants you describe. But I need to buy a new pair of pants for the upcoming trip. So I gladly read your opinion. I will consider these transcender leggings as they are made of softshell fabric fused with knitch stretch panels. It seems to be great for travel, and hiking as well. It’s great to know that brushing the water off the leggings is easy. These are the pants I’m probably looking for.
The transcender leggings look like the most practical and perfect pair for outdoors, indoors, and any weather – especially since they repel water. Thanks for introducing these Kuhl pants. These can go with any loose or not-so-loose tops, T-shirts and pullovers. I would love to tuck my phone into the envelope pocket and walk freely. 🙂
These sound brilliant, I need some now! Adventuring with kids, we’re always getting wet and messy. The fact that these are water resistant as well as being super comfy and durable is awesome! Seriously, I need these!
I love the idea of the Transcender leggings with enough stretch to handle up and down weights. But no vertical stretch might take a bit of getting used to. And with ones lined with fleece, they might take me through all seasons. I am always looking for good wet weather pants so it seems these might fit the bill.
I could see myself wearing these on hikes, walking the dog or even on colder, rainy days for a run. Thanks for introducing this brand to me.
I usually wear long pants to work out at the gym, and I love to tuck my phone into the envelope pocket so I can walk briskly, hands-free. I think these Transcender travel pants by Kuhl would be perfect for me. But, I would also want to wear them traveling. They look comfortable, neat, and again – the envelope pocket is so handy. Thanks for bringing these to my attention. I like them!
The Transcender Leggings were a great option among all the choices for pants because, in my opinion, they may be worn for everyday walking, jogging, or even trekking. Additionally, it is simple to coordinate with any top, such as a pullover, tee, or blouse. The fabric appears to be tough and of great quality. I appreciate its features as well, particularly the pocket and water resistance.
That’s good to know! I need to stock up on outdoor gear, and I’ll definitely give these a try. They look great!
Love your review! The material looks strong, and I love that it seems quite comfy.
These sound amazing! Perfect for hiking, especially here where the weather turns so quickly!
From your review it seems like Kuhl pants are good investment. They are must haves while traveling. The photographs indicate that they look smart too. These can be used as casual wear in the city as well.
Wow! I would really like to invest in these pants especially because they repel water and even when they are wet they are comfortable and they dry quickly.
Hhhhmmm….I think they are cool. Given the fact that they dry quickly, they will be ideal for me and my ways.
Oh, nice. I’m looking for some good quality travel pants that I could use during my trips.
I love the outdoor and these can be my go-to pants too. They look comfortable and I would love to try them.
They look good and probably perfect for outdoor activity and I’m sure good support and maybe compression to the lower body legs and other support? I’ve just started with compression socks so I think this looks like it would work similar to the entire leg as well as being comfortable for outdoor hiking and other activity.
These sound great! I love that they can resist the rain like that. That’s usually my biggest gripe about most leggings.