Over the summer, my wife was on the search for a pair of hiking pants long enough for her legs. This search landed us at the Fjallraven store in Boulder, checking out their vast array of hiking pants. I was enamored with the pants, and started trying on pants myself — when the salesperson suggested that I try the Singi-X based on what it sounded like I wanted. I hadn’t read about this model at all, as other lines are far more popular than these (Vidda and Absiko), but after trying them on I was sold.
What’s wild about these is that they don’t review well online, and yet everyone working at the store told me that these were by far their favorite pants from the brand (it’s a very chatty store, I love it). These are more of a shoulder season pant — not quite warm enough in the dead of winter, and not the most breathable in the midst of summer heat, but any other time they strike a perfect balance.
The internet gets these pants wrong, as I’ve found they are fantastic — perhaps the best hiking pants I own. Certainly my favorites.
Materials
The primary material on these pants is G-1000 Stretch Eco (a variant of the famous G-1000 Fjällräven is known for, and for which they have many variations of). The G-1000 Stretch Eco is an organic cotton and recycled polyester blend of 50% polyester (recycled), 15% polyester (T400), 35% cotton (organic). It’s a very thick and durable material, designed for rough use, while still allowing good movement. The secondary material is described only as “stretch panels” which are strategically placed around the pants to allow for unrestricted movement of your legs. These panels are 63% polyamide, 26% polyester, 11% elastane. They are thicker than you might expect, but do allow good air movement and are very stretchy.
Essentially, Fjällräven placed the G-1000 where you are likely to wear hard on the garment: thighs, crotch, and backside. This allows you to do whatever, without worrying about wear/damage to the pants. The stretch panels are then placed at articulation points, (think hips) to allow an extended range of motion without the harder wearing fabric binding your movement.
The stretch panels are also what keep these pants from being warm enough in the winter, but allow them to flex into warmer temps. Those panels are not very weather resistant.
There’s few ventilation zips, and other odds and ends like adjustable pant cuffs with boot hooks for makeshift gaiters. There’s an integrated waist belt as well, which is removable if you prefer to bring your own.
The materials are fantastic, as is the overall construction and wide range of sizes offered. Spot on.
Wear & Performance
These are billed as “hard wearing and comfortable pants”. Simple and to the point, and nails what these are made for. Most ‘hiking’ pants are made out of a relatively thin nylon, which breathes well and stretches well — they dry fast and cater to the hiking most people do: warm and sunny days. These pants don’t bother with that. They ask: what if we made durable pants, but a little more comfortable, for those who are apt to get on their knees to forage or build a fire. Pants for those who don’t bring a sit pad, because they will find a rock or a log when they want to sit. That’s what these pants are, and it’s why I fell in love with them.
To really understand these pants, it’s more about understanding the brand than it is these pants alone. I like to think about Fjallraven as Filson, if Filson were from Sweden instead of Seattle. Really hearty gear, priced high, but made exceptionally well. But while Filson didn’t care to evolve the materials and designs over time (meaning they sell classic styles with classic materials) Fjallraven kept on evolving while not losing the soul of who they are.
So if you are a fan of say Filson’s Dry Tin Cloth pants, and always wished someone would make a more hiking friendly pair — well that’s what the Singi-X is. They are a more heritage looking pant, with modern touches to make them the best of both worlds, while belonging to neither fully.
When you look at these pants online, you’ll likely not get it. I never got it. I never got it handling them in the store either, they seemed like they had far too many silly pockets, were super heavy, expensive, and why bother? And then I tried them on (along with some other models) and it was immediately clear. They fit really well, they are comfortable, and somehow they really perform well, even though nothing about how they look makes you think they would.
Yes, the pockets are overkill, but it’s what Fjallraven is known for, and I cannot remember a time I was out hiking or camping and wished I had fewer pockets on my clothes. I’m not an ultralight hiker, and Fjallraven might not even understand what that term or mentality is to begin with.
Ok, let’s talk about wearing these hiking:
- I’ve had no movement restriction wearing these on any of my hikes. They don’t bind and bunch against you backpack or boots. They allow you to squat, to scramble up a boulder, or to stride freely.
- I’ve found the comfortable temp range is 80°F top end (but you will sweat) and about 40°F bottom end (if you are not layering and are moving). Either side of that gets a little uncomfortable, but can be managed with the vents on the pants, or layering under the pants.
- The pants shed dirt and debris really well.
- The primary hand pockets are very nicely sized, oriented, and great to use.
- The other pockets have flaps and zippers, and are a touch more annoying to use. But your gear stays put.
- The integrated belt is fantastic, and allows for easy on-the-hike adjustments. Huge fan.
- The overall cut is very comfortable and modern.
- There’s not a lot of noise from pant legs shuffling against each other when hiking either, something I loathe about most hiking pants.
Now, I’ve also worn these rucking in the morning, and as my daily pants when on a road trip. Which should tell you how well I think these perform.
I wore these driving from Boulder, CO to Moab, Utah and found them to be exceedingly comfortable driving pants. There’s not a lot of binding and bunching going on, while you can easily adjust the waist to keep comfortable on the long stretches between restrooms. And, when you are in hiking areas (like Boulder and Moab) you’ll find you can wear these pants around town without standing out in any way.
The heavier fabric helps to keep these pants from looking like stretchy synthetic hiking pants, and more like outdoors pants. And that’s also the only downside: they are not super light pants.
Overall
As you can tell, I am a huge fan of these. Anyone who prefers a harder wearing pant, and is willing to trade off on things like breathability or weight, will likely find a great pair of pants in these. I don’t wear them out and about, but I have no qualms wearing them to a meal after a hike, and they are top of the list for road trip pants. They are also the best hiking pants I own, and have tried.
They are so good, I’ve found myself buying even more pants from Fjallraven. Highly recommend these Singi-X pants.