6/3/2025
Review:  KÜHL Renegade™ Men's Shorts
​Performance Men's Shorts
​$79US
Sizes:  waist 28 - 42 inches
Inseam:  8, 10, 12 inches
Special Features:  Lightweight, breathable, tough abrasion resistance, quick-dry performance, move with your body, versatile, UPF 50+ UV protection.
New Colors Available - 
kuhl.mensrenegadeshorts

South Kaibab Trail - Grand Canyon 5/25.

Grand Canyon:  South Rim to North Rim Hike in One Day
There's almost no better place to test out Kühl's Men's Renegade shorts than the long, grueling Grand Canyon rim to rim hike in temperatures reaching 90 degrees.  Fred wore them on this 21-mile hike to test the comfort, breathability, quick-dry and UV protection features.

Fred's comments:  "These Renegade shorts are great for comfort, they fit well, have good pockets, rugged, good quality, and dried fast after sweating."  

Fred wearing Kühl's Renegade shorts in Zebra Slot Canyon
Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument

Ashdown Gorge Wilderness near Cedar City, Utah.  This hike involves some boulder and rock scrambling, in and out of Ashdown Creek.

Near Zebra Slot Canyon, Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument

These were also tested in the ultra-narrow Zebra Slot canyon in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where he had to slide across tight walls of slick rock to get into and out of the slot.  Even though temperatures on that 9-mile hike got up to 88 degrees F, the shorts didn't feel heavy.

On a 10-mile Ashdown Wilderness hike near Cedar City, Utah, temperatures ranged from 55 degrees to 80 degrees, and the Renegade shorts never felt heavy.  They were rugged enough to withstand sliding down some boulders.  These shorts had to withstand more than just walking, our hikes usually involve some scrambling and climbing over rocks.  They did great!

Renegade Shorts Construction Detail
Kühl has put a lot of thought into the comfort of the Renegade short.  It features a Free Ryde yoke waistband engineered to conform to the body's natural curves, especially the hips, to provide a more comfortable fit, with the back part of the waistband higher than the front.  The inside of the waistband is lined with a micro-chamoix material which is comfortable against the skin.  The gusseted crotch allows for more freedom of movement without binding.  

If you're going to spend all day moving, step after step, many times stepping up onto rocks, you don't want to focus on your gear and clothes; you need to focus on hydration, nutrition and electrolyte balance instead.  These Renegade shorts, worn with a webbing belt, fit well and were comfortable all day long.  These shorts were actually designed to "move freely as your body demands."  They are made with the two-way stretch Duralux™ performance-blend fabric.

We look at hiking clothes as an "investment" in our favorite activity.  These Renegade shorts provide a good return on investment because they last a long time.

Ashdown Gorge, southern Utah

Kühl Renegade Men's Shorts

Feature	Comments	Rating (1-5)
Breathability/Drying Performance	"They dry easily and don't feel hot even in hot temperatures."	5.0
Fit	"Not too tight, not too loose."  (Wore webbing belt)	5.0
Pockets	"The pockets hold a lot of stuff, but I don't tend to carry a lot in my pockets."	4.5
Construction	"Very durable and don't unravel or tear easily."	5.0
Quality	"Great quality, should be able to wear them for a long time."	5.0

9/7/2021
Review:  KÜHL Freeflex™ Roll-up Women's Pant
$99
​

From KÜHL website 

Wearing KÜHL Freeflex pants in Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness, Utah

I recently tested out a pair of KÜHL Freeflex Roll-up hiking pants on one of Idaho's toughest hikes - the rugged off-trail climb to Mt. Breitenbach, the fifth highest peak in Idaho.  They fit me perfectly with the assistance of the drawstring at the waist.   No binding or constricting, no slipping down, just put 'em on and focus on the hike.   I think KÜHL has figured out the right construction and proportions for their hiking pants - they comply with every movement;  from Class 3 climbing over boulders to jumping over streams and sitting and taking a break.  I wondered how the material would handle sitting on the scratchy, sharp limestone talus, and whether the rock might snag a hole in the material.  Well, the Freeflex handled it just fine - no holes or rips or snags.  The material seems really heavy-duty for its lightness and it is soft but strong.  The length is generous, fitting over the top of my boot to deter gravel from entering.  There's a lot of great things to say about these pants - they also hold their shape throughout the hike and don't sag.

Actually, I will probably end up wearing them around town, too because they are so comfortable and flattering.   They washed up really well and dried quickly.  Something that you don't always think of when buying hiking pants is your cell phone, or rather how that phone fits into your pants.  I was able to carry my phone in the side cargo pocket and not feel the weight of it with every step, as I do with my other hiking pants.  And I like the roll-up option for streams and gravel-free hikes.

Time will tell how they hold up but if they are anything like my KÜHL Splash Roll-Up Pants, they will last a while.  I got my Splash hiking pants many years ago and they have withstood many miles of cold-weather hiking and many years as part of my field-working "equipment" for geology and vegetation surveys and forays.  Their quality, rugged material expertly handled the vigors of walking through harsh sagebrush steppes, kneeling, digging, and gave me protection while planting shrubs for habitat restoration.  They fit over a light pair of base layer leggings when added warmth is needed.  I still use them today, although the bottom hems are finally getting a bit frayed.  I'm not surprised that the Splash hiking pant is still a popular product.  I'm pretty rough on my outdoor clothing and these have held up better than other brands.

On slopes of Mt. Breitenbach, Idaho's 5th highest peak - wearing KÜHL Freeflex Roll-Up Hiking Pants

10/10/21:  On trail to Signal Peak, Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness, Utah

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9/8/21
Review:  KÜHL Re​negade™ Cargo Men's Hiking Shorts

Fred got to try the KÜHL Renegade Cargo shorts on the rocky hike to Mt. Breitenbach.  These are great shorts as an alternative to hiking pants.  They offer more sun protection than many shorts because they are cut to knee-length.  There are lots of pockets to store small items in.  The fabric is very durable for sitting on rocks.  These shorts fit well and were true to his size.

Fred had another pair of KÜHL shorts he wore year after year for hiking.  We summited Gardner Peak in Utah a few days ago and he wore the Renegade Cargo shorts again, - looks to be his new go-to hiking short.

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