Mammut Runbold IV Review

We wore the Mammut Runbold IV for day hikes, multi-night backpacking trips, dog walks, and even took them rock climbing. After tallying up all the scores, these came in near the top of the charts and are great pants for shoppers looking for something that's at home in a variety of environments and applications.

Comfort and Mobility

The Mammut Runbold IV was thoughtfully designed with a more precise cut that was neither baggy nor restrictive. After weeks of testing, we put this towards the very top of the charts.

Mammut used a polyamide-spandex blend, creating an effective 4-way stretch in the Runbold IV that made for a particularly freeing pair of pants. We did rock climbing and scrambling to further examine the lower-body range of motion, and we could easily high-step, crossover, or do the splits (as much as our hips and leg muscles would allow).

These have a slimmer fit around the thighs and a tapered leg, though there was a slight bit of fabric bunching at the ankles. We were big fans of the against-skin comfort of the Runbold IV and greatly appreciated the adjustable waist, which helped us get the waist fit very precise.

Venting and Breathability

In most cases, the Mammut Runbold IV will keep you from overheating. These aren't our first choice for low-elevation hiking in the middle of summer (in that case, we'd go straight for the shorts), but they still came in towards the top of the charts.

The lighter fabric of the Mammut Runbold IV helps dissipate heat quickly while hiking and scrambling, though we found the trimmer cut reduced airflow compared to some of the competition. There aren't any true vents built into the Runbold IV, so it relies solely on fabric breathability and the space between the leg and the pants. These will likely breathe well enough for most hikers who prefer pants over shorts, but if you're often hiking in hot weather, we'd steer you elsewhere.

Versatility

This was one of our favorite metrics for the Mammut Runbold IV. Mammut struck a nice balance between features, durability, mobility, and weight, making this a pair of pants that meets a wide variety of needs.

For hikers, these are light enough for long distances while still durable enough to rely on if far from the car. If your life includes a lot of travel or backpacking, the Mammut Runbold IV features zippers on all pockets, which, in our experience, is very helpful for securing sunscreen, keys, or other personal belongings. The cut of these pants gives just enough room (depending on how they're sized) to accommodate long johns in cold weather, and they keep you mobile enough that they work for other activities besides hiking. They did get a slight score reduction because they're not as great for hot weather use, but the Runbold IV is otherwise a highly versatile piece of clothing.

Features

Hiking pants aren't the most technical piece of gear; most options keep it pretty simple, but key offerings from the Mammut Runbold IV make them higher scoring across the review's lineup.

The Mammut Runbold IV features two Velcro waist adjusters—one on each side—allowing for precise fit customization. Many of our testers found the adjusters so effective that they didn't need a belt at all. For those who prefer extra security, the Runbold IV also includes belt loops that accommodate a wide variety of belt widths.

We did notice occasional issues with the Velcro tabs catching or coming loose, though this was rare. The previously mentioned zippered pockets are another thoughtful addition, providing much better security for personal items compared to models without zippers.

Durability

Despite only weighing 9.8 ounces, the Mammut Runbold IV is quite robust for a lightweight pair of hiking pants. While we'd steer you elsewhere if demanding the utmost durability, these can be relied upon for a variety of outdoor missions that might take you far from the car.

Mammut uses a fabric build consisting of 85% recycled Polyamide and 15% Spandex. The stretch of these fabrics offers some abrasion resistance if you're bushwhacking or scrambling through boulder fields, and we found the zippers on these pants to perform consistently throughout testing. The velcro waist adjustment mostly held up, but over time, there was some curling of the velcro tabs, making them slightly harder to use. If you want hiking pants for harsher environments and/or for yard work, the Runbold IV might not be the right fit, but these do outperform their weight class.

Should You Buy the Mammut Runbold IV?

If you want a do-anything pair of hiking pants, the Mammut Runbold IV should be near the top of your finals list. These are impressively versatile and substantially lighter than many competitors. While there are better options for venting or top-tier durability, the Runbold is a capable and comfortable companion for a wide variety of adventures.

What Other Hiking Pants Should You Consider?