I’m off-route while wearing the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers on a 4-day backpacking trip in the Colorado Rockies. I’ve been bushwhacking for hours through brutal terrain. Thick willows keep smacking me in the face. Thorny bushes (wild rose?) keep snagging on my jacket and pants. The rocky surface below my feet is unstable, and I’ve fallen more than a few times.
When I emerge from the madness, I am surprised that my pants are not torn to shreds. Somehow, the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers ($180) are a bit dirty but fully intact. My face and down jacket have not fared as well.
Although I’ve had these hiking pants for only a year, I already know they’ll stay with me for a long time. In 10+ years, I suspect they’ll have a few more holes and patches, some food stains, and a worn spot or two on the butt. But I’m certain they’ll still be going strong and have lots of life left in them.
In short: The Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers are super-durable, extremely well-built hiking pants meant to last for many years of hard use. They come with a host of technical features that enhance their overall form and function. Among Fjällräven’s lineup, they are among the toughest and have full-length G-1000 fabric. They lack some of the flex fabric of slightly lighter pants, such as the Keb Trouser.
Compare the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers with our other picks in our buyer’s guide to the best hiking pants for men.
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Heavy-duty durable pants -
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Fantastic look and fit
Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers Review
First Impressions
When these first arrived, I was skeptical of all the bells and whistles. The Vidda Pro trousers have a lot going on.
They have three large leg pockets with buttoned flaps, a knife pocket on the right leg, boot hooks, buttoned leg cuff adjustment with four different settings, side vent zips that go from the hip to the knees, and reinforced knees.
I initially thought these might be a bit impractical and have greater appeal to the “survivalist” crowd and less relevance to serious hikers and backpackers. I was wrong.
Standout Features
Each feature on these pants is thoughtfully designed and, for the most part, adds rather than detracts from their overall value.
Ankle Cuff Adjustments
The ankle cuff adjustments have four settings, from loose to tight. I’ve not given much consideration to my ankle cuffs in the past, but with the Vidda Pro, I came to appreciate their versatility.
When tightened properly and paired with high-cut backpacking or mountaineering boots, these are very effective at keeping out snow and mud. Loosen them up, and you will gain some breathability and space for a bigger snow boot if needed.
Side Zips
Despite being heavy-duty, the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers breathe surprisingly well. I initially assumed that they were going to be way too hot on warmer hikes. However, with 12-inch side zips on both legs and super-stretchy and highly breathable fabric in the inner leg, they consistently surprised me on warm-weather hikes.
Pockets & Knee Pads
The three oversized pockets and the smaller knife pocket are nice additions. Even when I filled the perfectly placed pockets with a cellphone, car keys, and snacks, the pants still fit well. I also appreciated the reinforcement when I was kneeling to set up a tent or make a fire.
Boot Hooks
The boot hooks are a great idea if you frequently find yourself hiking in snowy, muddy, or sandy conditions and don’t feel like wearing gaiters all the time. I had several occasions when hiking or snowshoeing with my dog, and the conditions have gone from an inch or two of snow to calf- or knee-deep snow. The boot hooks made for a quick adjustment to keep from filling my boots with snow.
Durability & Sustainability
Made of water and wind-resistant fabric, the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers are somewhat of a unicorn in the hiking pants realm. They’re both extremely durable yet breathable. However, they come with a price tag of $180. These do not fall into the budget category. But, we’d argue that compared to most hiking pants that cost $70-100, the updated Vidda Pros are worth it because they come out far ahead of most other options.
In the letter that came with the pants when they first arrived in the mail, these few sentences from the Fjällräven CEO stood out to me:
“If we promise to continue working hard making long-lasting products with as little environmental impact as possible, will you promise to let those products work hard, too? To use them for many years and not replace them with new products one or two seasons later? It might take some extra care and perhaps some repair as the years go by, but it will be worth it in the long run. What do you say?”
I plan to use these pants 10 years from now, so according to my calculations, the price tag is worth it.
Stylish, Too!
Every time I donned these pants, I was met with a wave of enthusiasm from fellow hikers. Whether we were trekking through the rugged beauty of the backcountry or enjoying a leisurely stroll to grab pizza after our adventures, compliments flowed our way.
I often heard remarks like, “Wow, those pants look great! Who makes them?” or, “Those look indestructible. How do you like them?” Fjällräven makes great-looking pants, and people notice them.
Room for Improvement
Boot Hooks
While I loved the boot hooks, they need a heavy-duty elastic (or other mechanism) to allow for greater adjustability so they can fit better. I needed to pull the pants way down on my hips and had to do some weird contortions to get the boot hook clipped to the top laces. And don’t even think about getting it clipped low on your boots.
Once clipped, it seems a bit tight, and the pants pull down awkwardly. This seems like an easy fix for the folks at Fjällräven, and I hope they will make a minor tweak to this in the future.
Seat Fabric
The fabric on the butt of these pants is a different color but is not reinforced like the knees. I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot more time sitting on sharp rocks, sand, and snow than I do kneeling. I’m curious how this will hold up over time.
Heavy
If you’re an ounce counter, these aren’t your first choice. They’re the heaviest pants on our list in the buyer’s guide, but they’re also the most durable, so I expect some tradeoffs.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a burly pair of hiking pants that will last a very long time, the Fjällräven Vidda Pro ventilated pants ($180) should be on your shortlist.
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