They rock on the rocks.
Compared to legacy brands like The North Face, Columbia and Patagonia, prAna is a relative newcomer. The Stretch Zion Slim Pants make a strong statement for men’s hiking pants in the face of such storied names, delivering on flexibility, fit, style, durability and features. Excellent all-rounders, they only fall short when subjected to extreme conditions. But if you’re at that point you should be considering specialized clothing anyways.
They received an aggressive shakedown at Shenandoah National Park. For every mile of the Bearface Viewpoint, Rose River Falls, Overall Run Falls and Old Rag Circuit trails, I carried these pants.
I find most outdoor pants to be too loose for my liking, the slim option looks and feels like a pair of my straight fit khakis, which is perfect for me. Less fabric to catch and drag on vegetation or rocks, without being skinny. Inside, the seams never irritated me and I didn’t have to adjust any bunching while trekking.
Let’s Get Into It
Let’s discuss flexibility first. Each of the trails we tackled contained a significant rock scramble. Your hands, elbows, knees, thighs and shins become additional points of contact to supplement your feet while yeeting yourself about the boulders. Contorting yourself into all sorts of shapes is the only way up, down, through or alongside some rock features. My joints were the only limit to my flexibility, the pants never held me back. Although I got plenty bruised and scratched up, the pants look no worse for wear.
According to the hikers I fell in with at the start of the rock scramble at Old Rag, the day I chose to climb the mountain was unusually humid. For this pair, breathability is there but possibly lacking compared to lighter models. More durability may mean less breathability. Still, I’m less inclined to lay all the blame on the pants, my significantly lighter and thinner REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie and back panel to my Gregory Nano 22 H2O Hydration Pack were equally saturated. That day was pushing the upper limits of the region’s humidity, so your mileage may vary.
They’re also been great in less intense applications for my day job, performing well in the coastal Carolina swamps and mountainsides of Oahu.
I’d assign them an overall score of 4.75/5. That quarter of a point is deducted only due to the possibility that a more breathable pair exists which can handle temperature and humidity extremes. They’ll be my primary camping, hiking and working pants for the foreseeable future.
What’s Promised:
- Now made with recycled nylon, ReZion™ fabric is tested to ensure it stacks up against the original; it’s lighter to promote breathability and performance
- ReZion performance fabric resists abrasion and wrinkles while providing UPF 50+ sun protection; fabric has a subtle sheen, which helps to achieve maximum durability
- PFAS-free durable water repellent (DWR) finish sheds moisture and stains
- Fabric is bluesign® approved
- Roll-up leg snaps, webbing-adjustable waistband and a ventilated inseam gusset are ready for bouldering, scrambling and more
- Mesh-lined pockets; zippered dual-entry cargo pocket on right thigh; concealed zipper coin pocket with an elastic key loop; back patch pockets with a flap on the right
- Slim fit through the hips and thighs
- This style fits the same as the original Stretch Zion Straight Pants at the waist, but with an updated fit through the leg, giving it a tapered look and feel
- New low-profile plastic closure lays flat for added comfort and compatibility when wearing a climbing harness or backpack with hip belt
- Plus, the webbing on the button is now anchored with 4 bar tacks, distributing tension across the waistband for added strength and durability