Living in the Arizona desert, I need pants that can take a beating without making me overheat.

IIt seems like most things out in the desert were designed to try to poke, scratch, or sting you. I am always on the search for the magic pant combination of protection and keeping cool - not an easy combo for a fabric to pull off. A few months ago I picked up a pair of Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants and think I may have found my new adventure/everyday pant.

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Lightweight and breathable fabric

Starting from the top: the fabric. These pants rock for the dry heat of Arizona because they are made from a lightweight and breathable material that dries quickly. Listen, I am going to sweat. There's no way around that. The key is to minimize the discomfort and not add any additional heat factors like heavy fabrics. Kuhl even integrated some vented pockets that you can leave open to allow some airflow. I'll talk more about some of the rad features as we go. I wear these guys all day, for multiple days and they never lose their shape or fit. I can stay out in the sun for long periods of time thanks to the UPF 50+ protection. Bonus!

Elastic drawcord at the bottom hem

The magic is in the details. The Renegade Rock Pant has an elastic drawcord at the bottom hem. This lets you cinch them up for more freedom of movement on rough ground and style points. You can leave them undone for better air circulation when the temperature rises. I can't tell you how stoked I am about this! For work days, I leave the hem uncinched so it lays over the top of my show. When hiking or climbing, I cinch it up so there's no drag. Bonus: these look fab with my Chacos!

Fun factoid: these pants are available in 2 fits: Klassik and Tapered. The Klassik Fit is for those who like more of a roomy fit. The Tapered Fit Chino is a slimmer fit and my personal preference. For me, the tapered fit is spot on.

It is roomy enough to breathe without feeling like I'm swimming, but slim enough to still be very stylish and comfy.

Pocket design and options

For all of you pocket lovers out there, the Renegade Rock Pant has you more than adequately covered. In fact, there are 8. Yes, 8. I personally don't carry a lot in my pockets. It's nice to know that they are there if and when I may need them. I try to keep as little weight in my pants as possible. I usually only carry my phone in my front right pocket or slip it into the side leg pocket.

Inseam length options

When standing straight up, I top out at 5'8" on a good day, excluding hair. I have a longer torso, but shorter legs. Finding pants that don't bunch up even with a 30" inseam is a challenge. The Renegade Rock Pants are available in a 28" inseam option for certain colors. Heck to the Ya! This is pretty much unheard of in hiking pants. At least in my experience.

Long-lasting quality and durability

Finally, the long-lasting quality of these pants is noteworthy. They can take a beating on the trail and still look brand new at the end of the day. I have worn these every day, all day for work projects where I am walking 10 miles, constantly crouching, lifting heavy things, and climbing ladders and walls. They perform. I have even hand-washed these in a pinch and was able to wear them the next day since they dry so quickly. Just for reference, I am a professional photographer specializing in hotels and resorts which means I travel all over the world and work in ever-changing environments.

Kuhl Renegade Rock Pant for the Win

I think I can say with confidence that the Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants are one of the best hiking pants I've ever owned. I would definitely recommend them to any adventurer. What's not to love: they are super lightweight, the fabric is ultra-breathable, you can choose the fit, they have 8 pockets, a cinched hem, incredibly durable, they don't lose their shape after multiple wears, and they look super good! Kuhl smashed it with these pants!

Kuhl Renegade Rock vs Prana Brion

Last year, I wrote a review raving about the Prana Brion Pant. I still love these pants, but the main drawback to these was the weight. I find them to be too hot. The Kuhl Renegade Rock Pant edged out the Brion in a couple of areas:

breathability from the ventilated pocket openings
cinched bottom hem
keep their shape better than the Brion after multiple uses

Kuhl Renegade Rock Pant Review