These are my first KUHL pants, the Konfidant Air Klassik Fit. Being primarily a boulderer and sometimes sport climber, I always avoided KUHL pants because they seemed too heavy and sturdy. When the team at KUHL contacted me and asked if I could review their pants, I was surprised to see the versatility of the men’s outdoor pants line.
I’ve been a huge fan of Prana since I started climbing. I love the breathability, comfort and lightness of the Stretch Zion model. Now, when I agreed to write this review, I didn’t think the KUHL Konfidant Air would come close to the Prana in any of these categories. Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised.
Breathability
Air and breathability go hand in hand. The Konfidant pants go even further with the KühlAir™ ventilation system. These pants have more vents than a desert Astro van, 11 to be exact. If you can sweat in these pants, you deserve a reward.
I hate it when it’s too hot to wear (other) pants and I end up switching to shorts. Don’t get me wrong, shorts are great, but not for protecting your legs from rocks, bushes, and other sharp, pointy objects you might encounter as you approach the rock.
Back to the air vents, all 11 of them. They are located behind the knees, on the thighs, in the pockets and even in the crotch. KUHL put a lot of thought and detail into the design of these pants. You might think that the Konfidant Air pants are nothing but Swiss cheese, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Each vent is covered and sewn firmly. So far, nothing other than Air has worked on my pair!
Comfort
The KUHL Konfidant Air is made of ENDURO™ fabric. This is made of 68% cotton, 29% nylon and 3% elastane. It is slightly stretchy and has a nice, textured feel. The fabric dries quickly and is abrasion resistant (meaning it can withstand a knotty knee pad).
KUHL’s Klassik Fit is billed as “not too tight, not too loose” and I have to agree. This is what we can expect. It fits well and leaves enough room to get that crazy hand-to-foot match on your latest project, but doesn’t feel baggy or uncomfortable. KUHL offers different fits in different models if the Klassik isn’t your style.
Light
So my first thought when browsing the KUHL website was that the “Air” pants would be the lightweight variation of their standard pants. Turns out it was just the air vents mentioned above. That being said, the ENDURO™ the fabric is extremely light.
I’m going to compare the KUHLs to my old standard Pranas once again (as if you’re reading this, chances are you have/had a pair). Don’t bother, I’m standing holding the KUHL Konfidant Air in one hand and the Prana Stretch Zions in the other. Same size and everything. The KUHL pants are noticeably lighter. I don’t know how KUHL created such a lightweight, breathable and durable material. Congratulations to the R&D team!
Colic
So I have to say that I am very impressed with the pants made by KUHL. Here are a few things I’m not totally in love with.
- Lots of exposed metal buttons. This includes a large metal branded patch on the right front pocket. It’s not a deal breaker, it just adds a bit of volume and makes that scraping metal sound when you beach a whale at the top of the project.
- Just like Leslie Knope from the TV series Parks and Rec, I think all pockets need to be bigger. The pockets of the KUHL pants are quite small. I can barely fit my phone in the front pocket, however, KUHL makes up for this by adding several other pockets of different sizes (9 total).
- I’m not a fan of belts and I really like stretchy or adjustable belts. The KUHL pants work well without a belt for me, I would just prefer that feature.
I had to be very picky to find some things I didn’t like about these pants. Overall, nothing would stop me from purchasing another pair in the future.
Conclusion
I think KUHL pants could become a go-to brand that we see on rocks and boulder fields in the future. I am very impressed with the quality and versatility of the KUHL Konfidant Air men’s pants.
Owner and operator of Every Last Rock. He is dedicated to spreading the word about all things climbing. He is often found bulking in the United States and training obsessively.