Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to spend a month backpacking around Greece, exploring islands, cities and mountains, and for the entire trip, I only had one pair of trousers with me: a pair of lightweight softshell trekking pants. Now, for the bulk of the trip, these were great – perfect for long miles on the trail and dusty wild camps on the coast. What they weren’t so great for – certainly in the eyes of my other half – was the more civilised side of the trip: the restaurants, cafés and bars.

This was all before I had become aware of Teren, a brand that designs kit specifically to bridge the gap between those two sides of travel. Although they have a range of different products now, it was these very pants that Teren started out with, with two friends managing to break into the outdoor market back in 2019 through Kickstarter.

I’ve been testing them out this autumn in the Welsh hills while planning and checking routes for a guidebook I’m working on. Here’s how I’ve been getting on with them.

Teren Traveler Pants: The Top Line

These are trousers that successfully deliver outdoor performance, but with a look and cut that also makes them suitable for more formal settings. There are some unique design details that make them stand out from the crowd too, most notably the waistband, which has a magnetic closure.

Pros: Versatile, comfortable, unique details, light and packable
Cons: Might be a little slim-fitting for some

Price: £101
Weight: 154g

Buy The Teren Traveler Pants: £101 at Terendesigns.com

The Fit

The Teren Traveler Pants have a very narrow fit, giving a look that replicates slim-fit chinos. When hiking in these, I found that the trousers did feel a little narrower than I’m used to but not in a restrictive way. In fact, the stretchy material and good articulation meant that they didn’t feel restrictive at all – even when busting big lunges while scrambling.

If you have large thighs or calves, it might be worth going for a larger size than usual – there’s a useful sizing chart on the product listing to help you there. I’ve got quite small calves and thighs but still did find them closer fitting than I’m used to.

Performance

I’ve found these very comfortable to hike in and, as I mentioned earlier, they feel impressively dynamic. On my last outing in them, which was a slog through the boggy, heathery terrain of the eastern Carneddau in Wales, they performed brilliantly. They shrugged off abrasion around the ankles and knees during scrambly ascents, offered solid moisture resistance in light rain, and dried quickly once conditions improved.

I’ve found them to be suitable for three-season use in the UK’s mountains. They’re cool enough for most milder summer days, and they can keep out wind chill on windy summits. For cold weather use, they’d need to be paired with some thermal baselayers for warmth during cold mountain days.

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I’ve also worn them extensively in areas (and at times of year) when ticks are everywhere – I’ve been picking loads off my dog recently – so I’ve really appreciated the built-in anti-bug treatment. It seems to have done its job for me. There’s antimicrobial treatment too, which I always like to have with my trail pants – especially any that I’m using for long-distance trekking.

One of the most interesting details on the Traveler Pants is their magnetic snap waist closure. Instead of a button, press stud or belt, there’s a strong magnet and a tuck-away drawstring. The idea behind the magnet is that it will pop itself open when you’re sitting down and then snap itself closed when you stand up. This genuinely works, and I found it to be a really nice detail. After a long hike, I normally can’t wait to get out of my hiking pants, but only yesterday I finished a solid day of roughly 25 km of mountain hiking and was happy enough to drive for four hours back home without feeling the need to slip into the looser jogging pants I’d brought for this specific scenario. For reference, I also managed to spill some ketchup on them on that drive home, and the mark came out easily in the first wash, so that’s good!

I’ve not had any issues with this closure coming undone when I haven’t wanted it to, and I actually haven’t found I’ve needed to use the drawstring either, as the trousers seem to hold themselves up just fine. Worried about the magnet causing problems through airport security? I haven’t ventured overseas with them yet, but from what I’ve read from the owners, the magnet doesn’t cause any issues. What you do need to watch out for, however, is the effect the magnet might have on a compass as it can send the needle off.

Verdict

The close fit won’t be for everyone – nor will the slim-fit style and the look that errs nearer towards smart-casual than casual. But that’s a matter of taste. I found these to be able outdoor performers, with all the right details I’d look for from a pair of casual hiking trousers.

Buy The Teren Traveler Pants: £101 at Terendesigns.com