I’ll be the first to admit…

I’m no climber. I have dabbled here and there at some local bouldering and top rope gyms but unfortunately, a fear of heights has hampered my ability as a climber (definitely not a lack of skill or anything…). So, therefore, this review on the Arcteryx Konseal Climbing Pants is not from the POV of a climber, but hear me out, as climbing pants, they have great features that apply to other activities too. I have used my Arcteryx Konseal Pants almost nonstop for the last 9 months and here’s my take on them and why any adventurer needs to add these to their wardrobe.

Flashback to September 2023, I was on the hunt for a great pair of hiking and travel pants for an upcoming trip. I normally hike in shorts or tights, but I was after something with a little more durability than tights as my long pants option. I tried on a few but nothing felt quite right, particularly as a shorter person, pants were a bit of a tricky find. However, one day I came across the Arcteryx Konseal Climbing Pants while walking through the Wild Earth Burleigh store. Initially, I was a little wary as they were climbing pants and as mentioned - I am not a climber. Despite this, I tried them on and they had everything I was after for my hiking and travels. 

Since I use these mostly for hiking and travelling, I’ll break down why I love the pants for both purposes.

HIKING

The Arcteryx Konseal Pants are made from a cotton/nylon blend, with a touch of elastic, which provides great comfort. The cotton is super durable -  being a climbing pant, they’re made to be scratched against rough rock and hold up without tearing holes in your pants. Even after a few slips in these while hiking, they still remain strong and have no holes to date. Also, as they’re a cotton blend, they’re super breathable and I’ve worn these from early hours in the morning, setting out for a hike, to the middle of the day once the sun has warmed up and have still been fine. 

When choosing a pair of hiking pants, I was also super picky about the waist - I did not want to have to wear a belt or have any poky buttons digging into my sides from my backpack waist belt. The waist of the Arcteryx Konseal Pants is very low profile with a small adjustable inner belt system and you can cinch it tight, or loosen it as needed. As a climbing pant, they’re designed to be under a harness, so this was perfect for a loaded hiking pack as well.

TRAVEL

A few of the features mentioned for the hiking benefits also apply to travel - breathable, durable, adjustable waist belt (I have loosened it to max range on multiple occasions after eating some awesome local cuisine) and there are a few more features which are why these are now my favourite travelling pants. 

One of the features I love about these pants is the amount of and quality of pockets. It is no secret women love pockets given that most women’s fashion make pockets only to fit a single Tic Tac in, and the Konseal pants are the answer to our prayers. Don’t worry gents, I’m sure they live up to or beat typical men’s pockets too. There are two good-sized front pockets, two very deep pockets (my phone fits completely in both front and back pockets without sticking out) and my favourite is a small zippered leg pocket on the thigh to secure any small items. I’ve found that when I’m travelling, I need heaps of pockets for my phone, snacks, rubbish, train tickets and more and there’s heaps of room in these pants. 

The other thing I was looking for in a pair of pants was, honestly, something that just looked good. I wasn’t after a traditional pair of zip-off hiking pants, which don’t get me wrong, have huge benefits, but I wanted some that I could wear from the trails to a restaurant and not feel too out of place. I’ve now been wearing these out in the streets of Tokyo and don’t feel like I’m wearing a very technical outdoor pant (even though they are), they just feel like a great comfortable pair of pants.

One last perk of the Arcteryx Konseal Pants is that they barely crease which is a deal breaker for travel for me. Even after stuffing these into my now, very very loaded travel pack, I can take these out with minimal creases and even when they do, after 10 minutes of wearing, they have ironed themselves out. 

With winter rolling in, no doubt these pants will be able to get me through my upcoming hiking and camping trips, plus good for general winter casual wear and other adventures I have up my (pants) sleeve.

If you need any further help, don't hesitate to come in store to chat with our experts or shoot us a message online if you have any questions! We’ll see you outdoors. Share your adventures with us on Instagram at @wildearthaustralia and use the hashtag #MyWildEarth to be featured.

About the contributor: 

   Jess Fiske is the Social Media Coordinator at Wild Earth. When she isn’t rollerblading in the streets of Coolangatta, you will find her either hiking in SEQ or strapping on her snowboard somewhere cold. Always planning her next adventure, Jess loves to get outdoors and travel off the beaten path. Follow her adventures on Instagram.