HikingRevolutionRaceHiking Trousers

RevolutionRace Nordwand Pro hiking trousers review: feature-rich and well-priced outdoor trousers

Are these the best-value hiking trousers on the market right now?

✓  Best BuyRevolutionRace Nordwand Pro Hiking Trousers Price£109Material65/35 polyester/cottonSeasons4-season The good✓  Very comfortable
✓  Feature-rich — every detail considered
✓  Excellent pockets
✓  Very durable
✓  Excellent fit
✓  Quick drying
✓  Wind resistant (70 mph tested)
✓  Reasonably priced vs the competition
The not-so-good✗  No built-in waist adjustment — belt needed
Check price at RevolutionRace →

At a glance

Buy the Nordwand Pro hiking trousers at RevolutionRace →

Overview

Hiking trousers are one of those pieces of kit that you do not think you need until you try them. Well, the second you drape a pair of purpose-built pants over your legs and head out in the mountains in the changing conditions we get here in the UK, you will ask yourself why you waited so long. A good pair can make challenging work way more enjoyable, whereas getting caught in a rainstorm in a pair of skinny jeans can make for the worst walk of your life.

Hailing from Sweden, RevolutionRace has become something of an outdoor industry darling overnight. Their considered approach to product design has resulted in some beautifully purpose-built pieces of kit, and they have quickly become one of the Nordic’s most well-known outdoor brands — part of the great Scandinavian invasion in the outdoor space, alongside other disruptors like Nortent, and rivalling more established players like Fjällräven and Klättermässen.

On price: when ordered directly from RevolutionRace, the Nordwand Pro trousers will set you back £109. Which, despite feeling a little pricey at first, is actually decidedly competitive. The North Face Stolemberg Alpine Convertible Trousers cost £51 more — and are slightly less feature-rich. The Fjällräven Keb trousers are remarkably similar but cost more than £100 more at £215. Do not gasp at £109 just yet: these are a phenomenal buy at that price.

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How we tested

We used the Nordwand Pro on a range of walks, wild camps and bushcrafting trips through the winter of 2023/24. Most notably, we took them on a 3-day wild camping trip through Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park in January — walking through rain showers, driving wind and snow, wearing them over baselayers and on their own, pairing them with waterproof overtrousers, and really getting to put each feature to the test in very British, very real conditions.

The answer is simple: we love them. We knew going in that these trousers were hyped, and we came away firmly on the bandwagon. They are breathable enough for practically any UK adventure (aside from the hottest summer days), water resistant enough that you do not need to worry in light showers, and so well built that whatever you need — it is there. Gusseted knee seams for steep ascents, enough pockets for a full day’s kit, rugged glove-operable zips, pit-zip venting for mountaineering, reinforced crampon panels, lace loops for over-boot wear. The list goes on.

Features and performance

Water resistance, wind resistance and breathability

Before you go thinking the Nordwand Pros are waterproof, it is important to understand that they are not — intentionally so. The DWR-coated Hypershell material means they will not get soaked through immediately, while remaining breathable for steep climbing and warmer days. On day one of our Scottish trip, we walked through a light rain shower for about 90 minutes and remained completely dry underneath. Due to the lightweight materials, they also dried out remarkably quickly afterwards.

The windproofness is very impressive. We scaled Cairn Gorm in gusts of up to 70 mph and never once felt the wind penetrate — performing on par with a pair of waterproof overtrousers or mountaineering bib pants. The only area where we felt any cold was when wind drove into the elastane panel covering the rear. On breathability, we used them on uncharacteristically warm winter walks at 12–15°C and found them perfectly comfortable even when our heart rate rose on steep inclines.

Fit

Another thing we really appreciate is the fit. Athletic enough that they do not blow around in the wind, yet far from skinny jeans. They taper towards the boot to keep everything in place, and the fully adjustable ankle cuffs mean you can wear them equally well with big winter mountaineering boots or lightweight trail runners. The only area we think RevolutionRace could improve is the waist — belt loops mean you need a separate belt to adjust the fit. Built-in velcro tightening straps would, for us, make these trousers perfect.

Durability

The 65/35 polyester/cotton construction makes these incredibly durable — easily handling everything from gorse and thorny brush to sharp rocks during scrambles. The zips, buttons and stitching are of such solid quality that we are confident these trousers will last you many years, whatever you throw at them on the trail.

“The Nordwand Pros could be the only pair of hiking trousers you’ll ever need for 4-season UK adventuring.”

Buy the Nordwand Pro hiking trousers at RevolutionRace →

Our verdictThe best-value hiking trousers on the market right now — and we’re firmly on the bandwagon.We really rate the RevolutionRace Nordwand Pro hiking trousers and think these might be the best-value hiking trousers on the market right now. The consideration going into the design tangibly improves your experience of the outdoors even in less-than-ideal conditions, and at £109 they deliver some of the best bang for your buck out there. Due to the flattering cut, the slew of extra features and the durability of the material, the Nordwand Pros will almost certainly become your go-to rugged work trousers for everything from hiking and mountaineering to wild camping — and even gardening.Buy the Nordwand Pro hiking trousers at RevolutionRace →

FAQs

How warm are the RevolutionRace Nordwand Pro hiking trousers?Remarkably warm for a pair of hiking trousers. Despite having no fleece or internal lining, the wind resistance meant we did not need baselayers underneath even on a windy winter ascent of Cairn Gorm. They are also comfortable at 16–18°C. Avoid only on the hottest summer days.

How waterproof are the RevolutionRace Nordwand Pro hiking trousers?Water resistant (Hypershell material with DWR coating), not waterproof. Kept us dry in 90 minutes of light rain during our Scottish trip. For a heavy downpour, pair them with overtrousers.

Are the RevolutionRace Nordwand Pro hiking trousers worth the price?Yes. At £109, they sit in the middle of the cost spectrum for trousers of this type — but they comfortably rival the North Face Stolemberg (£160) and Fjällräven Keb (£215). Exceptional value.

How durable are the RevolutionRace Nordwand Pro hiking trousers?Some of the most durable hiking trousers we have ever tried. The 65/35 polyester/cotton mix handles gorse, bracken and scrambling with ease. YKK zips, solid buttons and bombproof stitching suggest many years of use ahead.