Fjällräven has slowly but steadily carved itself out a formidable reputation in the outdoor world, hitting the sweet spot between aspirational everyday gear for casual punters and desirable high performance kit for serious adventurers. The Swedish brand’s stuff is admittedly expensive, but the stylish, timeless aesthetics, coupled with its durability and functionality, makes Fjällräven gear highly sought after.
The brand craft kit for three purposes: mountaineering, trekking and everyday outdoor use. Within this trio are seven families of gear, each with their own characteristics. The Bergtagen family consist of high-end mountaineering products; the Keb, Abikso and Singi families are deisgned for trekkers and the High Coast, Övik and Greenland families are more for everyday outdoor: y’know, walking the dog, strolling to the local park or – in the case of TV series Succession’s Lukas Matsson – negotiating major multi-billion-dollar international business deals. The fact that Succession’s costume designers dressed the uber rich Matsson in a Fjällräven lambswool sweater indicates the brand’s upmarket clout.
Anyway, back to the trails. The Vidda Pro Trousers are part of the Singi family, which features durable gear designed with traditional aesthetics for multi-day journeys. I recently tested and reviewed Fjällräven’s Kajka 55 backpack, a member of the same family that boasted a hard-wearing design and a wooden supportive frame. True to the product family, I was fully expecting these hiking pants to promise years of use with a dash of timeless style.
Meet the tester
First Impressions
List price: $170 (US) / £180 (UK) / €199.95 (EU)
Style: Durable trekking trousers
Gender specificity: Men’s and women’s versions available
Sizes: Men’s: Length: 30in to 34in / Waist: 28in to 44in; Women’s: Length: 30in to 34in / Waist: US 2 to 16, UK 6 to 20, EU 34 to 48
Weight: 645g / 22.8oz
Materials: G-1000®: 65% polyester (recycled), 35% cotton (organic)
Colors: Men’s: Dark Grey/Black, Chesnut/Timber Brown, Buckwheat Brown/Laurel Green, Suede Brown, Black, Laurel Green/Deep Forest, Dark Olive/Black, Deep Forest; Women’s: Mountain Blue, Black, Dark Grey/Black
Compatibility: Relaxed trekking, backpacking and hiking
The Vidda Pros tick the boxes in terms of what you’d expect of a hardwearing, Scandi pair of hiking pants. They feel robust and are comfortable to wear from the off, though it’s immediately clear they won’t give the same level of carefree, unrestricted movement as something with plenty of stretch, like Inov-8’s VentureLite Pant.
However, they certainly seemed like highly functional pants that would be great for the more relaxed hikes in my life. Meanwhile, I immediately fell for the nice little details here, like the Sweden flag stitched into the seam and the textured Arctic Fox buttons. They’re stylish enough to wear out and about or to the pub too, unlike many hiking pants. There are plenty of nice color options for men, though it's a shame women aren't afforded the same level of choice.
Oh, and there are six pockets! I just had a figure out what on Earth I was going to put in them…
Features
The Vidda Pros make use of Fjällräven’s G-1000 fabric, the brand’s PFC-free ‘cornerstone material’ that’s found in many products across its range, from hiking backpacks to jackets. This fabric is a blend of recycled polyester and organic cotton, making it extremely durable. It's also wind and water resistant and the latter quality can be rejuvenated by applying Fjällräven’s Greenland Wax too.
If hardwearing trousers that’ll last for years and years of adventures are your thing, then the Vidda Pros hit the mark. If you’re a fastpacker looking for something lightweight that provides excellent freedom of movement, these probably aren’t the trousers for you, despite their pre-shaped knees. Weighing 645g (22.8oz) the Vidda Pros are at the heavier end of the hiking pants spectrum and they don’t provide the same unrestricted movement as something like Fjällräven’s Keb Trousers Curved, for example.
To add protection and to enhance their durability, the Vidda Pros are reinforced at the knees and the rear. These are the parts of the pants most likely to suffer rock abrasion – a welcome touch that’ll undoubtedly stave of tears and tears (yes, both) in years to come.
In keeping with the traditional ethos of the Singi range, none of the six pockets have zippers, instead you get flap pockets with button closure. The bronze metallic buttons look great, featuring the familiar Arctic fox logo, putting me in mind of something like a Game of Thrones sigil. And, yes, you heard that right: six pockets! There are two open hand warmer pockets, two flap pockets on the left thigh, a map sized thigh pocket on the right and a little multitool pocket just next to this.
The waist features belt loops, a button closure and a zipfly. The hems boast elastic strap adjustment and press button fastenings, which meant I was able to to loosen things up when putting a hiking shoe on and then tighten things up for maximum protection. There’s also a gaiter style lace hook, which kept the pants tethered to my hiking footwear.
The mountains were a bit of a stretch
I tested the Vidda Pro Trousers during summer hikes in England’s Lake District National Park and the Scottish Highlands, as well as on easier walks around my home city, Bristol, in England’s South West.
While I enjoyed wearing the Vidda Pros around the house and on easy walks, I didn’t enjoy wearing them in the mountains. The payoff for the durable, G-1000 fabric is a total lack of stretch and, therefore, freedom of movement isn’t great. Even something as simple as tying my laces is a bit uncomfortable – I had to rest my foot up on something significantly higher than the ground and, even then, the pants were at full stretch. Maybe I need to do more yoga so I can tie my laces without having to bend my knees, but you get my point. On long days in the mountains, the Vidda Pros’ restrictive nature starts to grate.
They’re the polar opposite of something like Páramo’s Alta Trek Trousers, which supply complete freedom on the trails, allowing you to scramble, run, clamber, dance – whatever it is you do up there. Having said all of this, the Vidda Pros were fine on less dynamic walks, so they’re better suited to short hikes and long-distance treks on moderately flat terrain. If you’re a mountain goer and your heart is set on a pair of Fjällräven pants, opt for something from the Keb or Abisko families instead, such as the excellent Keb Agile Winter Trousers or the Abisko Winter Stretch Trousers – basically anything that blends Fjällrâven’s hardwearing construction with a bit of stretch!
Protection-wise, the Vidda Pros are right up there. The face fabric is highly resistant to abrasion and the pants are excellent wind blockers. I wore them in hot summer weather, as well as in the more challenging wet and windy conditions often encountered in the British uplands. They coped well with both; they breathed nicely in the warmer weather, while they were able to fend off showery conditions and dried relatively quickly afterwards. Nevertheless, I’d add rain pants over the top in sustained downpours.
The number of pockets is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s nice having plenty of options and survivalists will applaud the dedicated multitool pocket. However, these are already pants that suffer from being a bit restrictive and heavy. Anything you add to the pockets simply adds more weight and means less flexibility. For me, four pockets is the sweet spot for hiking pants; six feels a bit overkill.
Having said all of this, I’m still a fan of the Vidda Pros. I like all the little design touches, such as the Arctic fox buttons, the adjustable hems and the metal lace hooks. I also liked being seen in them; they look smart. To say that they’re a case of style over substance would do a disservice to their obvious durability and the quality of their construction. They’re just not the pants for the kind of hiker that I am.
