My fashion sense has never been one to garner me heaps of compliments. Before I met my wife, my entire wardrobe was based around a t-shirt and cargo shorts, with the occasional zip-off pair of long pants. And while deep down, I still don’t see anything wrong with these super utilitarian clothing choices, I don’t want to embarrass my missis while in town or out on the trail.
As my last set of cargo shorts began to unravel at the seams, I started looking for shorts that would keep me cool on hot summer hikes and look good when heading back into town for that post-hike libation. Literally, days later, fortune came pinging into my inbox. KÜHL reached out to us to see if we would be interested in reviewing some of their shorts. I’m not one to decline another excuse to go hiking, so we gladly accepted the challenge.
KÜHL shorts have never graced my derriere before, but I have been a big fan of their shirts and actually stocked up on some for our recent Greece trip. The shirts had a great fit and excellent style and kept me breezy during a scorching Mediterranean heat wave. With some prior knowledge of KÜHL, I hoped their hiking shorts would be equally as cool. (pun absolutely intended).
What we learned about KÜHL
From KÜHL’s website: “KÜHL is here to inspire you to follow your true calling, and true passions and support independents in all walks of life. We believe this all begins with great staff. Our entire team possesses the desire and passion to produce the best outdoor products on the market. Once in the hands of valued customers, it is our hope that their new purchase will ignite their passion for the Great Outdoors.”
A quick scan of their product reviews on the REI website shows that they deliver what they promise. People love the lightweight material and the fit of their products. They also praise their durability and that most items are very versatile.
The Shorts
KÜHL makes hiking shorts for both Men and Women, so my Wife and I each selected a different pair to try out.
I chose the KÜHL Kruiser as it promises to keep you cool in hot weather and claims it can even lower your skin temperature.
My wife chose the Women’s Freeflex. They were the perfect length, not too short but not too close to the knee. Plus, the chino style appealed to the good-looking outdoorsy woman that she is.
Elastic Waistband
There is rarely a time when I would use the term “comfort” while being off the grid, away from all modern luxuries. But the elastic waistband on the shorts might be my overall favorite feature. Through all the walking, bending, kneeling, and stumbling we did while testing these shorts, they remained ideally situated on the waist without being too tight or poking in all the wrong places. To their credit, I never noticed the shorts riding up, either. I do wish the drawstring was a little longer so my chubby fingers could tie a knot more easily.
My wife had a similar experience. The wide pull-on waistband with internal drawcord allowed the freedom the name “Freeflex” promised.
Beat the Heat
I was skeptical about the claim that Kruiser Shorts could lower my skin temperature. Honestly, I don’t know if they actually did, but it certainly felt like it. Normally while hiking in 100+ degree weather, you’d develop the delightful “swampy” feeling in the crotchal region. I never had a problem on any of the hikes we did this summer. My nether areas remained dry and cool like a cactus modeling sunglasses. That said, I found one negative: these don’t mask your sweaty aroma very well after a long hike. Maybe the technology behind the cooling is the shorts actually absorbing the sweat? I will leave that to the scientists, but this might rule out the shorts for backpacking or lengthy vacations.
Quick Drying
We have bountiful opportunities to mix hiking and fishing here in Idaho. I really enjoy fly fishing. I’m not good at it, but I love the justification to simply stand by a river and watch wildlife. I often bring my rod with me in warmer months but refuse to hike in waders. I also don’t enjoy slugging their extra weight in my backpack. So having a set of shorts that acts almost like swim trunks was a massive plus in my book. They aren’t waterproof but are water resistant. I can partially wade into the river and be dry by the time I arrive back at the trailhead.
Pockets
Coming from cargo shorts to the KÜHL Kruisers, I knew I would have to sacrifice storage space for all the extra widgets I usually carry: lens caps, pocket knives, GPS units, snacks, etc. The Kruisers have a zippered back pocket which is excellent for wallets and keys, so you never worry about them falling out on the trail. It has regular pockets on each side and one additional pocket for your cell phone. The stealth cell phone pocket fits my iPhone 12 perfectly, but bigger phones might not. In that case, you have a designated Clif bar pocket.
My wife’s shorts had a decent amount of pockets too. Two Front zippered pockets plus two in the back. Always a pleasant surprise when women’s pants have functional pockets.
Price
KÜHL shorts seem to be reasonably priced. They aren’t inexpensive but somewhat competitive with other popular outdoor brands like Patagonia, prAna, and Mountain Hardwear. We have been hiking in KÜHL shorts for months, and they still look new, so I believe the price matches the quality.
Are they worth it?
We’ve found that KÜHL shorts are worth your investment. Comfy and almost indestructible, these are perfect shorts for day hikers. Get a pair on KÜHL’s website or at your local gear shop. Happy hiking!
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.