Product Review: KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Legging

Keith and I recently received an opportunity to each test out a pair of KÜHL hiking pants. We jumped at the opportunity as we have both heard so many great things about this brand yet had never actually owned any KÜHL clothing ourselves. I (Lindsey) chose to test a pair of KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Legging.

Product Overview

The KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Leggings are a great choice for outdoor adventuring. These pants offer a durable softshell and a knit stretch for breathability making them a great option for our hiking adventures. Other features that really caught my attention are the high-rise waistband, pocket on the outer thigh, and overall yoga pant look.

KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Legging

The TRANSCENDR® LEGGING features our durable softshell fabric fused with knit stretch panels for superior breathability and range of motion. Eliminate any snags from your next outdoor adventure with highly versatile, trail-tough leggings.

• Durable softshell, trail-ready legging
• Yoga-style legging with a high-rise stretch waistband
• Premium flexibility and stretch
• Water-resistant finish
• Harmony knit fabric at sides, inseam, and waistband for comfort and breathability
• The envelope pocket at the right outer thigh secures your phone
• UPF 50 Sun Protection

Buy on KÜHL.com

Initial impressions of the legging

Keith and I were beyond excited to receive our KÜHL packages in the mail. It was fun to see the pants in my hands and check out the features I was looking forward to testing out.

I first noticed the two materials that make up the pants. The softshell runs the length of your leg along the front and back. A buttery knit fabric runs the length of your leg along the inner and outer leg. This gives a great combination of compression and stretch. I typically choose very basic, inexpensive leggings, so right away I knew there would be more durable and likely last much longer.

I was eager to use the outer thigh pocket to see how my phone fit and if it would move as I hiked. I do not have any yoga-style pants with useable pockets. This is a huge inconvenience because I have to keep my phone in my daypack or hip pack. This makes it difficult to remove and replace while hiking. It's been quite a struggle to take pictures while on the trail, which is really frustrating.

Comfortable and durable for long hikes

I was able to wear the KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Leggings on two big hikes before writing this review. First, I chose to wear these while snowshoeing. I hiked the Stewart Cascade Trail, or Stewart Falls, near Aspen Grove, Utah. This is a 3.6-mile trail with about 650 feet of elevation gain. I have only ever hiked this route of the trail in the summer and doing it at the beginning of March during record snowfall presented several more challenges. The snow was incredibly deep and the path was hard to find as snow continued to cover any recent tracks.

The KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Leggings was the perfect pant for this day. They were warm in the cold weather and wicked away any sweat, helping to regulate my body temperature. I noticed several times throughout the hike that even as I was working harder with steep sections or got a kick-up of wind, I felt warm and comfortable whatever the conditions.

I also really enjoyed the full length of the KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Leggings. The majority of my leggings are 3/4 length, not making them ideal for a snowy hike. In the past, I've either worn the shorter length and used ski socks with my tall snow boots to cover my ankles or I've worn something more of a sweatpants style and had to tuck in the ankle. This was so much more comfortable and required no adjusting at all during the hike.

I was also able to wear these leggings during my first Spring hike of the year. I went out at the beginning of May to hike Grove Creek Canyon in Pleasant Grove, UT. This trail is roughly 3 miles and gains over 2500 ft of elevation. It was quite warm, around 80 degrees (F), so I was anxious to see how these pants would perform on a warm day.

As I said before, I usually wear 3/4 length, very basic, and inexpensive leggings while hiking so I was curious to see if I liked these pants for summer hiking. I honestly didn't expect to have zero complaints! I wasn't sure I'd like the length, the bit of compression I wasn't used to, and the two types of materials in the warmer weather. Even on an 80 degrees (F) day, not used to Utah warmth yet and the first hike of the season... I can confidently say the KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Leggings met all my needs and more.

I thought maybe the longer length and thicker fabric (compared to my other leggings) would be bothersome to me. I did not notice the length except to note these leggings would have been great to provide protection from scrub brush on other trails that in the past destroyed my lower legs/ ankles. The thicker material overall, may have felt slightly warmer, but I actually really enjoyed the combination of fabric and compression to provide support without being restrictive.

The pants are breathable and just like with the winter hike, kept my body temperature consistent and comfortable. I also noted that the waistband did not roll down or move while hiking, this is a huge plus for me. There is also a hidden tie in the waistband as another option for comfort. I also noted that the pants did not bunch or create a wedgie while hiking, also a big plus!

A big highlight for me is the pocket! It is just what I've been missing with all the other pants I own. The pocket held my iPhone 14 Pro perfectly. It was easy to access, felt secure, did not bounce while walking, and is just an overall great feature.

Casual and stylish for everyday wear

I have not worn these out casually, but totally will. I wear leggings most days. Although I may choose my more relaxed leggings for around the house or running errands. The KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Leggings would be a totally acceptable choice. They don't necessarily look like hiking pants and would be a great option however you'd want to use them.

Final thoughts on the KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Legging

I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to try the KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Leggings. The excitement was paired with a little bit of anxiety at first because I knew these would be different than what I'm used to wearing. I wasn't sure how well I'd like the overall fit and material. Now, I think I just had bad experiences with similar products in terms of longer lengths, materials, pockets, etc. These pants are definitely comfortable, durable and offer the features I'm looking for! I'll definitely be choosing these pants for hiking in the future; specifically for in the snow, in spring/fall temperatures, and when a long pant is ideal.

KÜHL TRANSCENDR® Legging

The TRANSCENDR® LEGGING features our durable softshell fabric fused with knit stretch panels for superior breathability and range of motion. Eliminate any snags from your next outdoor adventure with highly versatile, trail-tough leggings.

• Durable softshell, trail-ready legging
• Yoga-style legging with a high-rise stretch waistband
• Premium flexibility and stretch
• Water-resistant finish
• Harmony knit fabric at sides, inseam, and waistband for comfort and breathability
• The envelope pocket at the right outer thigh secures your phone
• UPF 50 Sun Protection

Buy on KÜHL.com

I'm really interested now in purchasing another pair of KÜHL pants in a shorter length for all my summer hiking! I can see this is a brand that offers a great number of options. Although priced higher than I typically spend on clothing, KÜHL is worth it because of its quality, fit, and features. KÜHL has many outdoor and casual options. Their clothing style seems to really fit with my lifestyle and the look I'm going for. I've seen KÜHL in many local stores here in Utah; Al's, REI, Scheels, Christy Sports, etc. You can find them online or in stores near you.

So, what did you think of these hiking pants? Do you own any KÜHL products? I would love to hear your opinion on them. Let us know all about it in the comments section below. 👇 💬