Walking Trousers

Sasta Asla Trousers | Review

A new pair of trousers that offer a traditional and eco-friendly approach to protection from the elements

Why We Chose The Sasta Asla Trousers: Tough, durable, eco-friendly, and great for long walks

Sasta make great trousers. We loved their winter-focussed Sasta Antons when they were released a couple of years ago and their lighter Kaarna pair went down a storm with our reviewers when they were released last year. For 2020 we have a new pair called Asla, and guess what? They’re good.

Who Are The Sasta Asla Trousers For?

Sasta are based within the Boreal forest of Finland and their products all reflect the demands that the environment there can impose. This particular item falls within their outdoor line (rather than the hunting or fishing ones) and is designed for hiking or bushcraft right the year round.

Materials

The main material is made from a blend of 65% recycled polyester and 35% organic cotton. Exactly the same blend that Fjällräven use for their extremely popular G-1000 products. Like Fjällräven, Sasta have also proofed the material with wax in order to add a level of water resistance. More specifically, it uses Nikwax’s Cotton Proof, an eco-friendly solution that can be reapplied quickly and easily at home.

“The main material is made from a blend of 65% recycled polyester and 35% organic cotton”

It’s an effective material, offering impressive durability alongside breathability and good resistance to light rain or snow (but not total waterproof protection). It’s not particularly insulating, so if you’re looking to wear these in winter, you’ll want to wear a decent baselayer underneath.

There are reinforcements on the knees, on the back and on the leg ends, all made from a blend of polyamide and Spandex.

Design

Like last year’s Sasta Kaarna trousers, the fit here is quite slim, with a bit of volume to accommodate a baselayer but not enough to look or feel baggy. We thing we really liked was that the knees are moulded to give good, comfortable articulation when you’re striding or crouching.

The ankles have Velcro tabs on them for ankle adjustment. These do the job though we can see the patches getting a little clogged with seeds and fine brush etc eventually.

Up top, the waistband has no elastic but does have built loops, there’s a zipped and button-down fly and then there’s one single zipped pocket on the thigh that’s the right size of your phone and wallet but not quite big enough for an OS map.

The material blend is the same as what Fjalllraven use in their G1000 products. Photo: Mike Brindley

Sasta are based in Finland's Boreal forest. Photo: Mike Brindley

The ankles have Velcro adjustment tabs on them. Photo: Mike Brindley

Conclusion

These aren’t available in a women’s-specific fit though some of the sizes Sasta offer might fit some women. Three colours are available: dark olive, black and walnut.

At £190, they priced about the same as the similar options from Fjällräven. It’s not cheap but you’ll certainly be able to count on these lasting a long time, and, if you treat them as and when required with Nikwax’s Cotton Proof, they’ll carry on performing for you as well.

If you’re looking for something with the same levels of comfort and breathability but with slightly more weatherproofing and durability (and more pockets) you might want to consider Sasta’s other new release for 2020 which is called the Taiga.