Gear Report: Kühl Hiking Clothing

Updated March 2022. Cover photos: Hiking in the Dolomites, Italy & Big Bear, California (while pregnant)

If you’re looking for hiking clothing I recommend the incredibly comfortable and high quality options from Kühl, and in this review I’ll focus mainly on their line of hiking pants. I was pleasantly surprised when Kühl reached out to trial their hiking ware. My favorite outdoor outerwear (a pullover sweater) is Kühl brand, and I considered a it splurge at the time at REI. However it ended up being an excellent investment and it's my go-to warm layer for everything from backpacking to backcountry skiing!

I was excited to branch out into their line of hiking pants and shirts, and they did not disappoint. I’m primarily reviewing this gear for backpacking, hiking, and climbing. The clothing showed up at an interesting time – I was pregnant! It can be hard to find comfortable clothing for doing anything in pregnancy, so I was thrilled that they helped identify some great options and shipped them my way. The best part is that these same styles and sizes fit me whether I’m pregnant or not.

Kühl LÉA pullover: rock climbing in Joshua Tree and hiking in the Dolomites, Italy

What is Kühl?

Kühl is an independently-owned company based in Salt Lake City, Utah with a “passion for mountain culture”. Founded in 1983, they prioritize sustainable and ethical operation and specialize in performance outdoor clothing. Kühl clothing can be purchased online or at authorized retailers such as REI.

The Clothes

What I’m wearing in this post:

• Pants: FREEFLEX™ METRO, Size Small, Color Koal
• Shirt: ARYN SS, Size Medium, Color Soft Pine
• Sweater: LÉA Pullover, Size Small, discontinued color

Explore their variety of styles at the following links: pants, shirts, outerwear.

Kühl FREEFLEX™ METRO & ARYN SS: hiking in Big Bear, CA while pregnant

Are Kühl hiking pants and clothes worth it?

Short answer: yes. The FREEFLEX™ METRO style are the most comfortable pants I’ve ever hiked in, and that’s saying a lot because I even hiked in them while pregnant! The stretchy non-spandex fabric and adjustable waistband allowed me to choose my pre-pregnancy pant size to hike in comfort, and get more mileage out of these pants. As advertised they are lightweight, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying. They have four discrete pockets, and an additional cell phone pocket. Caring for these pants is easy as they are machine washable and dryable.

Kühl clothing is not only comfortable but stylish too. These are clothes that I can get excited to put on – well tailored for female hikers in plenty of colors and cuts. They can easily transition from camping to lunch to working out to travel!

Hiking while pregnant

I had my fair share of uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms (especially you, nausea). Getting outdoors was still a priority for me wherever possible, though I took things much slower than normal. In the second and third trimesters comfortable and breathable clothing was important to me and the recommendations from Kühl were spot on. My other go to clothing mainly included maternity leggings and oversized t-shirts.

>> Read more about my pregnant Havasupai backpacking experience here

Overall, I’d recommend Kühl clothing for many outdoor activities although their prices are on the steep end. These clothes are a great investment in quality and comfort.