Fit for Adventure - Adidas Women’s Hiking Flex Capris
Adidas Hiking Flex Capris, $76, adidas.com
The Good: You can run, jump, climb, and do basically anything in the Hiking Flex Capris comfortably.
The Bad: Don’t like belts? Then you won’t like these knickers.
The Ugly: They run big, and if you don’t size down, you risk looking like a hot mess. And nobody wants that.
Adidas has made some serious strides in the outdoor world over the past few years, including acquiring Five Ten in 2011, sponsoring climbers like Sasha Digiulian, and buddying up with climbing gyms like Brooklyn Boulders. But are they successfully becoming “the athletic brand in the outdoors?” Based on my experience with the Women’s Hiking Flex Capris, they’re on the right track.
At first glance, the Hiking Flex Capris look similar to others I’ve tried, but fit and feel better. They’re made from a blend of nylon and elastane, which makes them soft and stretchy. I was comfortable bending down to get a closer look at fossils near Taughannock Falls in Upstate New York and climbing up boulders on hikes outside Philadelphia - something I can’t say for other hiking pants I’ve worn. The 19.5 inch inseam is perfect for me, but if they’re too long, the drawcords inside the hems can be adjusted for a better fit. The three pockets, two front pockets and one on the right leg, are great for storing small items.
The material is lightweight, breathable, sheds water and dries quickly. But the Hiking Flex Capris do have some drawbacks, the first being sizing. I’m a medium across the board with other outdoor brands and based on the size chart, my measurements put me in between a small and a medium. The mediums were practically falling off, but the smalls were a near perfect fit. I’d definitely recommend sizing down from the get-go. The capris do come with an integrated waist belt to ensure they’re on snugly, but the belt isn’t removable. When I wash them, the belt twists it takes some finagling to get the it back in the right place. I’d love to see an updated version of the Hiking Flex capris with a removable belt and with belt loops.
The bottom line? With a few small tweaks, these would be the perfect pair of hiking knickers.
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Tags: apparel, backpacking, gear, hiking
Author: Katie Levy
