Fjallraven Vidda Pro Review

The Fjallraven Vidda Pro are reinforced, highly durable trekking pants that feature not two but three cargo-style pockets. They are thick, burly pants that seem much more ideal for harsh climates or heavy work, such as elk hunting or building a cabin in the wilderness, than for warm weather day hikes or trekking. These pants are made to last.

Performance Comparison

Comfort and Mobility

The Vidda Pro trousers have a roomy, almost baggy fit that is not constricting in any way. With articulated knees, they move easily with the body during normal walking. The G-1000 fabric is made from a blend of polyester and cotton fibers and doesn't feel soft or smooth but rather stiff like canvas work pants. That said, they're not overly abrasive or synthetic-feeling. Though their loose fit allows for a decent amount of mobility, they are also noticeably thicker and heavier than other pants in this review, and they don't offer any of the light, stretchy qualities present in many other pairs we tested. At the end of the day, they aren't as comfortable or as mobile feeling as the highest scorers, but they're not bad.

Due to their lack of stretch or athletic tailoring, these pants aren't great for acrobatic hiking, scrambling, or climbing. They are comfortable when taking normal strides, which makes them a good companion on hunts or while performing outdoor labor.

Venting and Breathability

Designed for the Arctic, the Vidda Pro has few features that accommodate ventilation or breathability. Unlike pretty much every other hiking pant on the market, these pants don't have a single mesh-lined pocket or zippered vent designed to allow warm, moist air to escape. Despite claims to the contrary, we found that the weighty, thick, wax-coated fabric trapped heat very quickly. It is apparent to us that these limitations mean that this pant is best suited for cold, harsh climates.

In general, we find thinner, stretchier pants have the most space between fibers and, thus, the most breathability. The thicker, stiffer pants have less space between fibers and trap the most air inside. These pants are among the thickest and stiffest in the review and don't allow much ventilation.

Weather Resistance

The most interesting aspect of this pant is its method of water resistance, which is impregnation of Greenland Wax. A small, affordable block of wax must be purchased separately. The pants come already treated to withstand some moisture, but we found that we needed to add more on our own to achieve water resistance for steady rain. Washing the pants in hot water removes any wax treatment you may have already added, a “reset,” which is either helpful or annoying, depending on the circumstances. Since we unknowingly washed out our treatment, we had to re-apply, which we found to be a combination of fun, tedious, and mildly time-consuming. Because of the investment in time and labor, we could easily envision rarely washing these pants after the first treatment — or at least only washing them in cold water to preserve the wax layer.

In our initial shower test, after having washed these pants clean, they did an admirable job of holding up to light rain but then became soaked through, absorbing a lot of water in the process. We couldn't help but think that perhaps adding 35% cotton to the blend wasn't a great idea for a hardcore outdoor pant. After applying our own wax, however, we found that they were easily among the best performers in heavy rain, although it took many repeated applications of wax for seriously impressive water resistance — something not everyone will do.

Features

There is no doubt that these pants have a lot of features. They have two deep front handwarmer pockets but none in the rear. There is a large cargo pocket with a mesh divider on the right side and dual overlapping cargo pockets on the left that sit a little further forward on the thigh. All of these have button flaps. Also on the left is a tall and narrow pocket designed for a knife or hatchet with top and bottom button flaps. The reinforced knees have fabric with an opening at the bottom for inserting knee pads if your activity requires that type of protection.

Finally, snap button tighteners at the lower leg cuffs allow you to cinch the cuffs closed around a boot or pull them up above the calf and hold them there. With so many well-thought-out features, we rated them at the top of the metric.

Versatility

The Vidda Pro is somewhat versatile, as long as you aren't moving quickly or dynamically. On the one hand, its durable construction and plethora of pockets mean that it is an optimal choice for outdoor work or camping, and it allows the cold-weather hiker to carry lots of gear while still staying organized. They aren't suitable for warm-weather activities, and we can't imagine wearing them in summer. Similarly, their aesthetic isn't one that we would opt for in a pair of casual, around-town pants. Perfect for some conditions and anathema to others, the versatility of these pants is dependent on wearing them in the right conditions.

We wore these pants while hiking in the fall, completing construction projects before winter arrived, chopping firewood, and tracking elk before hunting season. They were perfect for all of these applications. We also tried them out in late summer before cooler temperatures arrived and regretted this decision. If you spend your spring and fall in cool mountain climates and need a rugged pant to wear from the job site to the trailhead, these pants might be the only ones you wear for months.

Should You Buy the Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers?

Despite their lofty price, these pants have solid durability. They are perfect for hunters, trekkers, and other rugged users who need a heavily-featured and well-tailored pant for spending all day on their feet. Average hikers and backpackers should look elsewhere.

What Other Hiking Pants Should You Consider?

For other heavy-duty options, consider the more affordable CQR Tactical Raider. For sturdy pants that have a lot more situational and weather versatility, we recommend the Arc'teryx Gamma Pant or the Prana Stretch Zion II. The Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants are another one of our favorite overall hiking pants, and the REI Co-op Trailmade present a great value.