Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants Review
There are a lot of hiking pants on the market, and I have done multiple hours of research and in field testing. The Kuhl Renegade Rock pants have several features that make it one of the best. In this review I will give you my honest look at the fit, feel, and specs of these pants. By the end of this post, you will know for sure if the Kuhl Renegade Rock pants are right for you!
Quick Summary: Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants
MSRP: $99 | Weight: 13 oz (size 32/30) |Fabric: 95% Nylon 5%
Pros
- Multiple pockets for storage
- Modern fit that looks stylish
- Great stretch with mobility
Cons
- A bit restrictive at the hips
- Pockets are a little small
- Not the best for colder weather
Bottom Line
The Renegade Rock pants by Kuhl are hands down my favorite for scrambling on the trail or climbing. I find that these pants stay comfortable while also remaining resistant to wear and tear. Just like other pants on the market these pants offer basic weather resistance with a DWR coat and UPF 50+ rating.
Overall, I am surprised by the features of the Renegade Rock pants. When it comes to carrying space on these pants there are a lot of options. I found the side zip and side drop pockets super useful. And when I got warm, I would just cinch up the bottom of the pants for added ventilation. Minor cons are that these pants are limited mostly to 3 seasons use and a bit snug for layering due to the tapered fit.
Performance: Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants
When trying to find the best pair of hiking pants there are a lot of factors to consider. Depending on the season you will want either a lighter more breathable pair or a heavier and warmer pair of pants. Other things to consider are the features like belt loops, pockets, and attachment options. Most importantly is comfort and mobility, when heading out in the backcountry a pair of restrictive pants will just work against you every step.
Comfort & Mobility
When it comes to comfort the Renegade Rock, pants are actually very comfortable. And the fabric feels soft and breathable. Another thing I noticed about the fabric was the amount of give they provide when hiking uphill or doing scrambling on the trails.
The Kuhl Renegade Rock pants are up there with the comfiest pants I have tried, I really like the fact that they have cinch cords and can be rolled up and have various pocket options. Which I found to be a big plus. I noticed no restrictions when squatting down to pick my backpack up or advancing up steep inclines and even did some scrambling in these pants.
Overall, the Renegade Rock pants are a comfortable and versatile pair of hiking pants that will work for any outdoor occasion.
Versatility & Style
These pants are one of the most versatile pants I have. The fabric blend and attributes work well for the inconsistencies of the outdoors. This pair features a 95% nylon, 5% elastane blend. Which allows the fabric to ventilate well, be durable, and gives the user full range of motion.
The fit of the Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants is similar to others and is relaxed at the seat with a gradual taper from the knees to the ankles. I really like this fit because it provides a good amount of room around the waist and thighs and looks stylish and not baggy around the ankles.
Overall, these pants are a great choice for hiking, climbing, and work as a trail to town pants. They are an excellent choice on warmer summer days, fall, and/or spring. They work well on multi day trips or even day hikes and definitely make a good pair of pants if you are planning to scramble.
Though the Kuhl Renegade Rock pants is a pretty versatile hiking pants, like the Kuhl Deceptr it doesn’t provide much protection for colder weather due to how thin and breathable the material is. Also, while the pants provide some cover against wind it is worth keeping a pair of rain pants handy for added protection against the elements.
But, in warmer conditions these pants are an awesome breathable pick and can be rolled up using the cinch cords around the ankles without any difficulty.
Durability
Due to the Nylon fabric these pants are a bit sturdier I would say that compared to the Kuhl Deceptr they are a little less durable, but they are able to resist normal wear and tear on the trails. I have done some light scrambling in these pants, and they have held up just fine and do very well on backpacking and hiking trips without a scratch.
Breathability
For how lightweight these hiking pants are it’s no surprise that they also ventilate well during activity. The Renegade Rock pants are not the most breathable pants out there, but they do a good enough job in moderate temperatures. I could see super-hot temperatures possibly being a little uncomfortable due to the lack of features to roll up pant legs. I believe the Outdoor Research Ferrosi does a better job in higher temperatures due to breathability.
Weight
The Kuhl Renegade Rock hiking pants come in at 13 oz making it on the lighter side. But good thing is for as light as these pants are, they are fairly durable. Most pants that are lighter tend to have to give up a little on durability. I haven’t noticed this to be the case for these pants so far and they have held up fine in normal groomed trails and light scrambling.
Weather Resistant
Kuhl’s Renegade Rock pants do an effective job at repelling water due to the DWR coating. I wore these during a light rain and the water beaded up and rolled off the pants during a downpour. I did not wear these in rainy conditions as much as I would like so I did simulations using a spray test to provide a more thorough report.
The pants were also able to dry relatively quickly after the rain. Which was nice because it stinks to have soggy pants on the trails. The pants also come with a 50+ UPF rating, which means they only let 1/50th of the ultraviolet rays through. Another thing to note is that 50+ UPF is the highest rating clothing can have. So, these pants are effective for sun protection.
Features
These pants have quite a few features with 8 pockets in total; two front pockets, two back, two side drop pockets, 2 side zip pockets. All the pockets worked well especially for smaller objects; I did have trouble with placing my phone in the pockets. I was able to without the case which brought it back down to a 6.5 size phone. But if you have a smaller phone, it should not be an issue.
I actually did not really use the drop pockets much but heavily used the side and back zip pocket. I found these pockets fairly deep and useful for carrying small utility items. These pants do not include a belt but do have belt loops for adding a belt if needed. I found the belt loops useful for my arcade belt and fit well. I have had difficulty in the past sliding the arcade belt into loops that were too small. But these pants putting the belt through the loops was a breeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kuhl Renegade Rock pants true to size? The Kuhl Renegade Rock hiking pants stay pretty true to size. They are tapered pants style so if you do not like a more fitted pants you may want to get a different fit.
How to measure your inseam? The inseam is the measurement on the inside from the bottom of the crotch to the bottom ankle. One way to measure this is to find a pair of existing pants that fit well and lay them on a flat surface. Next, measure the inside part of the pants from the crotch to the bottom of the ankle.
What Other Hiking Pants Should You Consider?
Kuhl’s Renegade Rock is a great versatile pair of hiking pants and offers a good value to performance ratio. It helps to have multiple pairs of pants for different seasons and conditions. Other options that you might want to check out are the Outdoor Research Feriossi which tends to do better in warmer conditions. Or the REI activator 3.0 which is warmer in colder conditions. If price is a concern, then a good budget pick would be the Columbia Royce Range pant, which is a little less durable but offers many of the similar features just at a lower price.
Wanna read more about my favorite pants? Check out the article below!
Should You Buy The Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants?
Overall, the Renegade Rock pants by Kuhl are a great value pant that offers a lot of versatility and will work in many conditions. Offers great comfort and mobility features that will not feel too restrictive when climbing or descending. The modern tapered fit works well for transitioning from trail to town and it has many useful features that the top pants on the market have. I found these pants to have a few more useful pocket features than some of the other pants I have tried.
