Why We Chose Sasta’s Taival Women’s Hiking Trousers: Rugged build, Nikwax treatment, plus-size options

Sasta are a Finnish brand that began way back in 1969. Their initial aim was to provide durable and lightweight clothing for activities like hunting and fishing, but they’ve since gone on to produce hiking and trekking gear too. There’s still that authentic, heritage feel though, with sustainability, longevity and straightforward performance at its core. 

Sasta trousers have actually made it onto our past Outdoor 100s three times now, including the Anton, the Kaarana, and the Asla trousers. Suffice to say, we liked what we saw. 

This year, however, we’ve gone for the Taival women’s trekking trousers, a lightweight and durable pair that have multipurpose adventuring in mind. Guided by the old Finnish philosophy of respecting nature, there’s some great eco features here, including a durable finishing treatment from Nikwax, organic, recycled materials, and a PFC-free build. 

Here’s a breakdown of what the Taivals have to offer, including the materials, the main features, and what our reviewers had to say out in the field. 

Who Are The Sasta Taivals For?

The primary use here will be trekking, hiking, and long-distance walking.  Sasta do say, however, that with the right baselayers, these trousers could also work on a ski trip. We’ll have to wait until winter to test that one out, but in terms of seasons here in the UK, we reckon these would work well all-year-round. 

With Sasta’s links with the boreal forests of Finland, these types of trousers would be perfect for the demands of bushcraft adventuring too. Think: rugged snow forests full of pines and spruces, and a whole lot of untouched wilderness. 

Materials and Construction

The Taival trousers are made from 65% recycled polyester and 35% organic cotton. Both materials are PFC-free, whilst the polyester’s raw material is created using discarded plastic bottles. 

This type of blend gives you the toughness and abrasion-resistance of polyester fibres, but with the added softness and breathability of cotton. Cotton also generally absorbs moisture well, whilst – more specifically – organic cotton is produced without harmful fertilisers, and with minimal effect on the environment. 

During the construction process, these trousers are also infused with both wax and Nikwax Cotton Proof finishing. Whilst adding to the quick-drying abilities and overall water resistance of the garment, this should also add to the toughness of the trousers, creating a durable and long-lasting product. 

If, however, you’re in need of a repair, Sasta have been providing a repair-service since 1969 and have plenty to offer on that front to this day.

Features

The Taivals have been cut with technical trekking in mind, including shaped knees, an elasticated waistband and velcro adjustments at the bottom of the legs. You’ll also find two large thigh pockets – one is zipped while the other has a buttoned flap – for items such as maps and phones, as well as two smaller pockets below the front waistband and belt loops throughout. 

While Sasta include sizes starting at 34 (25”waist, 31” length), they also include plus size options ranging from an EU size 38 (33” waist, 32” length) to 54 (50” waist, 33” length). It’s worth noting that while the ‘regular’ Taival W trousers also have a size 38, the Taival W+ size 38 has been built specifically to accommodate larger builds. 

Though it’s still pretty rare to see this kind of size inclusivity in the outdoor retail world, it’s nice to see it here from Sasta, with hopefully more to come across the industry. 

Colour options include black, forest green, khaki brown and curry yellow.