Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers - Women's Review

After wearing the endless stretchy, fully synthetic hiking pants that make up the majority of options in this review, the rigid, poly-cotton fabric of the Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers can be a confusing switch. Once we broke them, we appreciated their sturdy fabric and thoughtful design and found that they're an excellent option for bushwalking adventures.

Performance Comparison

Comfort and Mobility

The Vidda Pro pants feel stiff and restrictive compared to the stretchy synthetic options in the review, especially at first. After a few washings and wears, they start softening up, offering a structured comfort we came to appreciate. It's nice to feel more protected from rough rocks, brambles, and branches.

Even after finding a good fit and a few months of wear, you never forget you're wearing the Vidda Pro pants. The waistband and hips can bind when you're taking a high step, and if your weight fluctuates throughout the month, these issues will probably irritate you at times.

These trousers remind us of non-stretched jeans, which can make it harder to find the right fit. They come in sizes 2 to 16 with a 30", 32", or 34" inseam. Our lead tester wore her normal size 6 with a 30" inseam, though some days she wished she'd gone with an 8. If you're curvy, you may end up with a larger size that gaps at the waist. Luckily, there are belt loops to help.

The articulated knees improve mobility, though they hit low on our lead tester's legs. They work well enough that the pants don't restrict our movements on relatively flat trails or those with gradual climbs. And, while you can lunge and do some basic stretching in these pants, they do not cross over into yoga or rock climbing territory.

Venting and Breathability

These pants don't seem as breathable as thinner, synthetic options. Their polycotton fabric is thicker than most in the review, with double layers on the knees and bum. They're also treated with wax to provide waterproofing. When we tested them while working out at the gym, they held onto more moisture than most. They're also harder to blow air through with our lips sealed against the inner fabric, a secondary test.

The more substantial fabric rolls easily and stays in place better than many thin, slippery options. An elastic and snap-cinching system also lets you hike the pants up to your knees. We find that getting air on your lower legs does a lot to regulate your temperature.

Since they hold onto more heat overall, these pants are well-suited to cooler weather. We wore them comfortably through the winter months over a pair of long underwear. Just be sure to order a size that gives you enough room to layer.

Weather Resistance

Fjallraven calls the poly-cotton blend fabric it uses in these pants G-1000, a fabric they treat with Greenland paraffin and beeswax for water resistance. It works similarly to many of the other hiking pants' durable water repellent (DWR) treatment. Water beads up and rolls down the fabric, with a minimum soaking into the trousers. It works better for a few sprinkles or water-crossing slashes than a full-on downpour. When we tested it in the shower, it kept us dry for about 20 seconds.

You can purchase wax bars to reinvigorate the pant's water resistance at any time. A major selling point for this weather resistance is that it avoids using a chemical-based DWR coating. Traditionally, these have included toxic, forever fluorinated chemicals like PFAs, PFOAs, and PFCs. While many companies are switching to DWR coatings that they call PFC and PFA-free, using time-tested wax as waterproofing instead gracefully side-steps the issue.

These pants also block the wind well. It helps that, unlike the whisper-thin versions that strong winds tend to plaster to your legs, the structure of these pants holds them away from your body. Even when the wind is cold, they hold more body-heated air around you.

Construction Quality

We've always had good experience with Fjallraven's construction quality, and these pants fall in line. The seams have small, sturdy stitches for the most part. We are able to snag them with a paperclip, but they don't pull through or bunch the fabric. That means you're less likely to lose a big chunk of the stitching all at once.

As we've said, the thicker fabric provides some inherent durability. It resisted scrapes from the paperclip test and the many branches we bushwhacked through during field testing. When we punctured the fabric with the paperclip, the fibers slid back into place to hide the hole and there was no sign of it left behind.

The reinforced knees and bum will also help your pants stand up to your hardworking, hard-playing lifestyle. While the top button for the fly sits on a wobbly stem, it didn't show signs of failure. The zipper seems solid, the hem cinches work well, and the six pockets, which we'll discuss more below, are brawny and (hooray!) useful.

Perhaps our biggest construction complaint is the lack of flexibility in the design. Sizing up might help, but it might also be helpful to add a gusset in the crotch to provide a bit more room to move.

Versatility and Features

The Vidda Pro Trousers earn a respectable versatility score because they work well in weather ranging from warm to downright frigid and in situations ranging from casual hikes to backpacking trips and trail-building days. They also offer impressive features that are built as ruggedly as the rest of the pants.

While the Vidda Pro Trousers are one of the few options in the test that don't include an integrated belt or waistband, it makes sense that they don't. The stiff fabric wouldn't respond well. Since long backpacking trips can whittle your waistline surprisingly quickly, and soft, stretchy hiking pants can stretch out, it makes sense for many of the other pants in the review. These pants will stay in place longer. They also include belt loops if needed.

Fjallraven tends to do a good job with its pockets, and these pants are no exception. They skip putting pockets on your rear, which is fine with us since we rarely find them useful. Instead, they offer three larger pockets on your thighs. They're nicely placed, and the fabric is stiff enough to support the weight of the usual suspects—your phone, a map, a multitool, snacks, etc. Sturdy snaps keep your stuff safe.

The two hand warmer pockets are functional and comfortable. A tall and narrow sixth pocket on your left side seems to be the axe holder the company mentions. A snap at the bottom seems useless until you figure out that it opens the bottom of the pocket to let a handle slide through. It works, but only with [axe | axes that don't have a flared handle].

The pant's reinforced knees have an opening at the bottom to slide knee pads into, solidifying their status as crossover work pants. The rear is also reinforced for longevity. A cinching system at the hem uses snaps and elastic to help keep ticks or sawdust out. It also lets you roll the legs up a bit if you like. Boot hooks in the hem help seal your ankles to keep out snow or dirt. Fjallraven claims they are easy to repair if you use them to death.

Should You Buy the Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers?

If you like hard work, hiking, and pants that will last, these are a great choice. These are also a good choice if you like hiking pants to offer more structure and protection from off-trail, bush-wacking adventures. If you want your hiking pants to feel like yoga tights, almost any other pants in the review would be a better pick. They are pricey, but likely to last long enough to justify the investment.

What Other Hiking Pants Should You Consider?