Kuhl 2017 Apparel

Price: $120CAN / $89US
Colours: Dark Roast, Carbon, Koyote, Teak
Sizes: 28-30, 42 

The Kuhl Outsider Pants, Slax Short and Konfidant Air Short all share the same 65% Cotton, 32% Nylon and 3% Spandex fabric blend. This specific blend of materials creates a lightweight fabric that’s ideal on hot summer days. It’s smooth to the touch and in the case of the Kuhl Outsider Pants, coated with an all-natural wax (which contains no petroleum products), this helps provide some water resistance to the pants while keeping them lightweight. A gusseted crotch and three-piece front panel add extra articulation and freedom of movement, while added stretch provides additional comfort and flexibility.

• 3-piece front pant panels add extra articulation.
• FreeRyde Waist.
• 3D cell phone pocket.
• Gusseted crotch for freedom of movement.
• Articulated knees for freedom of movement.

Price: $95CAN / $75US
Colour: Dark Roast, Dark Khaki, Indigo, Khaki
Sizes: 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42

If the Outsider Pants are too light for fall days and cooler nights than the Kuhl Kanvus Jeans Pants might be what you need. Kuhl created their own proprietary canvas (or Kanvus as they call it) for their Kanvus Jeans, they combined long staple combed cotton and double twisted yarn to create a stronger, softer canvas. With 2% of spandex thrown into the mix, the Kanvus Jeans have an impressive stretch and rebound considering they’re canvas. Some may compare these to their favourite sweat pants given how comfy they feel but the look is far superior. The Kanvus Jeans provide enough mobility so you can climb, boulder, bike and hike in them so they’re not just a one-trick-pony. The Kulk Kanvus Jeans have all the standard Kuhl accoutrements such as cell phone pocket, built in articulation and gusseted crotch. They’ll also fade naturally as you wash and wear them thanks to their Patina fade-out double dye, so they’ll begin to look like your favourite jeans the more you wear them.

• Stealth cell phone pocket.
• Articulated knees.
• FreeRyde Waist.
• Tapered Fit with a full seat and thigh tapers at knee through lower leg.
• Gusseted crotch for freedom of movement.
• Vintage Patina Fade-out double dyed to wash and fade.

Price: $95CAN / $79US 
Colour: Carbon, Teak, Metal Green
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL

The Kuhl Bakbone Long Sleeve is the ideal lifestyle shirt that can also keep you dry and comfortable on a hike or world travels. Its wrinkle-resistant, easy care, wash and wear polyester fabric wicks away moisture and dries quickly. Should you not be able to launder it for several days (or weeks) due to travels, no problem, it’s finished with Ionik to resist odours. The microfibre, Elxur fabric is peached with an air texture so it has a soft supple feel against your skin and looks great on the trail or out for dinner. The included security pocket is a nice touch if you want to keep your passport or money safe but there is no velcro closure on that pocket so the two chest pockets may end up being even more secure.
 

• Quick dry, wicking and odour resistant finish.
• Wrinkle resistant.
• 2 chest pockets.
• Inside security pocket.
• Articulated 5-panel sleeves for better range of motion.
• Foldover collar.
• Button-up placket.
• Long sleeves with single-button, mitred cuffs.
• Button-through chest pockets.
• Straight hem.
• UPF 30.

Price: $85CAN / $65US
Colour: Gun Metal, Carbon, American Kahaki, Raven
Sizes: 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42
Inseam: 8, 10”

With 68% cotton, the Kuhl Slax Short have a soft, comfortable feel, the 29% nylon makes them fast drying and durable and the 3% Spandex provides some stretch so they have good range of motion, allowing them to move with you. The fabric is lightweight and the design is simple so they don’t weigh you down, even the EQUALIZR rear pockets are flush with the main body of the shorts providing an incognito style. Of course, the Slax Short have Kuhl’s famous stealth cell phone pocket, along with many other features. These are a high style short that can still play in the mountains, the perfect combination perhaps. 

• EQUALIZR rear pockets are perfectly level and have a clean appearance for incognito style.
• FreeRyde Waist.
• Zero Pivot Snap.
• Chino style flat-front pockets.
• Stealth cell phone pocket.
• Gusseted crotch for freedom of movement.

Price: $90CAN / $70US
Colour: Dark Khaki, Turkish Coffee, Desert Khaki, Gun Metal
Sizes: 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42
Inseam: 8, 10”

With the same great fabric blend as the Slax Shorts, Kuhl’s Konfidant Air Short are more suited for hotter summer days where you need mobility and light weight ruggedness. The four vented pockets are what Kuhl calls their ‘Kühlair vent system which keeps air flowing when you need it most. With a total of 9 pockets, the Konfidant Air Short provide a place for everything including your cell phone. Just don’t be surprised if you have a hard time remembering which pocket your wallet was in. The Konfidant Air Shorts are available in an 8" and 10" inseam.

• Super lightweight fabric.
• Reinforced Grosgrain ribbon for added durability.
• Free Ryde Waistband follows the natural contour of your hips.
• 9 total pockets: 2 front hand, 2 back, 2 zippered side, 1 welted drop-in, 1 3D cell phone, 1 coin.
• Vented front, back and side pockets.
• Kühlair Vent System keeps skin kühl by allowing air to flow through the mesh lined pockets.
• UPF 50 keeps skin safe.
• Gusseted crotch vents.

Price: $85CAN / $65US
Colours: Pirate Blue, Raven, Olive, Khaki, Koyote
Sizes: 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42
Inseam: 10”

Back in 2014 we reviewed Kuhl’s Mutiny Shorts and since then they have not missed an alpine swim, paddle or hot tub session. The new Mutiny River Shorts are pretty similar, only they have two mesh-lined, self-draining hand pockets on the front and one velcro pocket on the back, in addition to the two zippered pockets (one on each side). The waist tie is also replaced with a zipper and snap—all great improvements as the River Short’s tie can come undone and without a zipper getting them on and off is more of a challenge. The Kuhl Mutiny River Shorts are going to be my new go to swimmers for all of this summer’s activities, only problem is that after 3 years the Mutiny Shorts are still going strong.

• 3D Nylon increases surface area to speed dry time.
• Durable Water Repellant (DWR) for quick dry.
• Microfiber, 4-way stretch softshell panels allow unrestricted movement.
• Woven, peached microfibre on inside waistband for unmatched comfort.
• RashGuard Inseams are flat felt, finished for smooth soft surface next to skin to eliminate rash.
• Inseams strategically moved forward to prevent friction.
• UPF 50 sun protection.
• 2 mesh-lined, self-draining, zippered pockets. 
• 2 front and 1 back mesh-lined, self-draining.
• key loop inside the right pocket.

Aside from Kuhl’s moutain styling, the reason I continue to be so impressed by this brand is that they offer up well made and durable apparel at a fair price. The style is not too technical but more of an urban mountain feel but their clothing can still perform in the mountains should you want them to. Their clothing branding has also become far more subtle which I think is a great improvement. In this day and age of over branding no one wants to be a walking billboard.

In addition to comfort and function, Kuhl’s fabrics are always super soft against your skin and my all time favourite feature (and the reason I search out Kuhl’s shorts and pants) is the built in cell phone pocket. Simple, yet brilliant and I can no longer live without it. If you haven’t already, do your self a favour and give Kuhl a try, I think you’ll be glad you did.