Walking Trousers

Fjӓllrӓven Kaipak Curved W | Review

Loads of pockets, a breathable, eco-friendly fabric and an articulated fit... there's a lot to like here according to our gear tester Nicola Hardy

I

found Fjällräven’s Abisko Trail Tights really comfortable when I tested them for Outdoors Magic last year so I had high expectations for the brand’s latest offering, the Fjällräven Kaipak Curved trousers.

After numerous test trips exploring the outlying fells of the Lake District, I haven’t disappointed. The trousers are high waisted, with no gaping at my lower back. They fit around my hips and rear perfectly. I would describe my figure as athletic – I have a slim waist but strong glutes and quads and this curved style seemed to really suit my shape.

The fabric is breathable, so even after 20km of hiking in the balmy spring weather, I was still very comfortable. There’s also articulation around the knees to allow for great range of movement.

With an outdoor trouser in the mountains, all I’m looking for is that they don’t ride up or down, that my legs are warm but not too hot, that there is sufficient give in the fabric to accommodate scrambling and hopping over stiles and that the material is comfortable against my skin. On that basis, the Kaipak Curved trousers tick all of my boxes.

Design Features

There are many versatile pockets in the Kaipak Curved trousers. The pocket on the right thigh is zippered and is deep enough to fit a wallet. It has a hidden pocket within it which is the perfect size for a smart phone. The pocket on the left thigh is secured with a snap fastener. This pocket is wide enough to stow an OS Explorer map and deep enough so that most of the map is stowed, enabling easy access if you’re checking the map regularly. There are also two spacious pockets by the hips which I haven’t been tempted to use as there’s no way of securing the contents.

The cuffs on the bottom of the trousers are fitted with strap adjusters which can be easily changed to fit around your boot and there’s also a handy hook which can secure the ankle cuffs to the boot laces like a gaiter.

Best walking trousers

The Kaipak Curved trousers fasten around the waist with a traditional zip and button closure and there are loops for attaching a belt, plus additional loops for gear.

Performance

The panels of fabric in grey along the hips, lower back, inner thigh and back of the knee are really useful as they stretch as you move and are also breathable.

The majority of the material is the G-1000 Eco. The standard G-1000 fabric was launched by Fjӓllrӓven in 1968 and is used in the majority of their products. It is hard wearing, breathable, wind resistant and shower resistant. All the products are pre-waxed using Greenland Wax, a mixture of paraffin and beeswax, but you can also re-wax your garments for enhanced and continued protection from the weather.

G-1000 Eco is a more sustainable version of the standard G-1000 fabric, as it uses organic cotton and recycled polyester, limiting the use of raw materials in the creation of the product. Fjӓllrӓven claim to have made this switch without losing quality or durability and it certainly feels that way to me. Fjӓllrӓven are slowly but surely switching out all of their G-1000 fabrics for G-1000 Eco.

I found that in boggy terrain, the trousers picked up bits of grass along the bottom of the trousers but as soon as they dried out these were easy to knock off. They really do feel durable and resistant to conditions in the UK mountains.

Fjӓllrӓven Kaipak Curved W: Verdict

Fjӓllrӓven have created a really great product for women with the Kaipak Curved trousers. My only real gripe is the length. I’m 5’7” and I found them slightly too short for me, so much so that I wasn’t able to use the hook gaiter without it pulling the front of the trouser down awkwardly. A long length option would be preferable for women over 5’6”. I was worried they might be too heavy or thick for my preferred fast and light style of adventuring, but I didn’t find them to be cumbersome at all. At 400g for a size 38, they’re heavier than most of my spring/summer trekking trousers but this isn’t noticeable when wearing them. All in all I was very impressed with both the comfort and performance.

Full Specifications

G-1000® Eco – 65% polyester, 35% cotton and remainder – 88% polyamide, 12% elastane / High waist and curved fit / fixed length leg endings / pre-shaped knees / boot hook / 2 thigh pockets, 2 hand pockets, 1 inner mesh pocket.