Specs

The Traveller Stretch Pants features are simple. They fit well and are durable. Here’s the specs:

• Discovery Stretch Nylon (96% nylon, 4% spandex)
• Tricot lined waistband
• Machine wash and dry
• Fast drying
• UPF 50+
• Zipper back pocket on right, Velcro back pocket on left.
• Open front pockets with small velcro stack pocket on front right
• Zipper stash pocket on right leg big enough for a large phone or GPS
• Snap on the waist with with additional button
• Burro (light brown) and Charcoal for colours

The sizing is pretty accurate. I’m a 32 (31 on a good day) and the 32 fits well. The 32 inseam is a touch long for me but I’ve got short legs so that’s to be expected. There are 30, 32 and 34 available for inseam lengths. The nylon is softer than other nylon pants I’ve got. It’s nice to not swish swish swish as much everywhere you go. It’s now a hiking alarm for my dog. When the swishy pants come out its hiking time.I couldn’t find the weight of them on Royal Robbins website. I will update this post when I found out. Their thickness is between my North Face and GoLite pants so probably around average for weight.

Good fit and comfortable

Good fit on me, could even be a bit snugger down the legs. I’ve got thick legs so if you’ve got skinny legs they might be a big big. Nice for airflow though.The fit is pretty standard for a hiking pant, like my other North Face and GoLite pants.I don’t find them constricting anywhere and the waist is tight enough but isn’t too tight. This will just be a sizing thing though.I’ve only hiked in mine but they would be great for spending days of travel in. The UPF 50+ would keep you covered in hot sunny areas and if you’re caught in a rainstorm, they’ll dry quickly for you.

They don’t sag

One of the things I’ve found with these when they get wet or sweaty is they don’t sag much. Other nylon pants I’ve had, albeit thicker ones, get wet and sag, then end up dragging on the ground if they’re too long. The spandex in these gives some stretch but don’t sag much. Great combo for hiking with long pants in rainy or sweaty conditions.

Durable

The Discovery Stretch Nylon has been very durable. I often end up bushwhacking trying to find trails or get to viewpoints I’ve spotted and there is no sign of wear after many hikes.The stretch is going to help durability here. Stiff pants will snag and tear whereas stretchy ones will move with the snag and hopefully just bounce back instead of breaking the threads and tearing.

Side pocket gets behind knee

I love side pockets to put my phone or GPS into for easy access (I can’t be without my electronics!). But the side pocket on the right leg is low and too far around the side. Anything I put it there ends up around behind my knee while I’m walking. After one hike with my phone there, I haven’t used it much for anything. Keys or anything pointy would not be comfortable.

90 out of 100 for the Traveller Stretch Pant

The Royal Robbins Traveler Stretch Pant is a great travelling and hiking pant. The soft, stretchy nylon is really comfortable and moves easily for hiking or just lounging around. I found them quieter than my other nylon pants which is nice for not screaming “HIKER HIKER HIKER!”

The deep pockets hold everything I need to like phones and GPS and with the extra zipper on the back right pocket, adds a little bit of security.

I’d like to see the side zipper on the leg moved so the contents don’t end up behind your knee when walking but it’s a good option if you need to stuff more in your pockets.

For numbers I’d give the Traveller Stretch Pant a 90 out of 100 with it’s fit, durability and comfort.

More Photos

The post Light, Soft, Stretchy: Royal Robbins Traveler Stretch Pant Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

There’s one problem though.It’s not very durable. Wear a piece of merino a lot and you’ll see holes in less than a year. After wearing many brands of merino  for some travel, work and all my outdoor adventures I concluded that merino wool is amazing but it just doesn’t last that long.

Today we review the MerinoLux 1/4 zip, a base or mid layer from Royal Robbins designed to be the perfect merino piece that will last longer. Will it stand up to the abuse? Let’s have a look.

But first we need a little backstory.

Who’s Royal Robbins?

Royal Robbins, the company, was created by Royal Robbins, the climber, and his wife Liz after climbing Half Dome in Yosemite. Noticing their ragged and ripped cut-off jean shorts after climbing, they realized they needed something better. Liz put together the Billy Goat, a simple, rugged short built for climbing and the apparel company was born.Both the climbers and the company are run by a deep respect for the natural world. Royal and his friends pushed clean climbing for the first time in the late 60s, a new technique of climbing with no permanent bolts or pitons in the rock. Royals ascent of the Nutcracker in 1967 with nothing but temporary climbing protection ushered in a new era in climbing, and continued his legacy of respecting the natural world. Royal Robbins, the company, continues with that ethos today, swapping out fabrics that use less energy to make, and striving to be a more eco-friendly outdoor apparel company.Instead of sticking with the standard polyesters used these days, they’ve upgraded to something better.

What’s Sorona?

Inspecting Heart Lake in the Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip

A quick note before we look at Sorona. I apologize in advance for any misspellings of Sorona as Corona. Auto-correct was insistent that I was trying to say Corona. I wasn’t drinking while writing this (well maybe a bit of wine), just over-active auto-correct. Back to Sorona.

In their efforts to be produce performance but eco-friendly garments, Royal Robbins have included Sorona, a corn-based polyester from DuPont, to their line.

Most often combined with other materials like merino, Sorona dries and wicks like a nylon polyester but requires less energy and greenhouse gases to produce. It’s lower dying temperature requires less energy to colour and its washable in cold water. It dries fast and also lasts longer so you’re buying fewer shirts.

What’s MerinoLux?

Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip – Backpack straps can ruin a shirt

MerinoLux which is the fabric in the 1/4 base or mid-layer we’re looking at today is Sorona polyester combined with fine merino wool.The combination gives you the stink free benefits of merino but still wicks and dries like polyester. The merino regulates the temperature while the Sorona adds a soft, smooth feel to the fabric as well as some durability. It’s wrinkle resistant and UPF 50 for travelling in the sun.Merino can sag when it’s wet or pulled. The Sorona prevents the sag with a slim fit to the long sleeves and body and a comfy 4 way stretch.It still has the downside of not being machine dryable because of the merin but if you’re looking to save some energy or travelling, you’ll probably be hanging some of your gear anyways.

Soft

Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip – Sorona and merino make a soft combination

No matter how fine the merino, I find there is still a bit of a wool feel there. It’s hardly noticeable in most of the superfine wool garments these days but it would be nice to be as soft as polyester or fleece.With the combination of wool and Sorona in the MerinoLux, Royal Robbins has created a very soft combination. It’s not got quite the smooth feel as straight polyester but it’s close. And still has most of the benefits of the merino wool.

Merino but durable

Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip – Many days under backpack straps and no pilling or holes yet

The whole reason merino is so popular is because of the temperature regulation and the lack of smell with sustained use. Being able to sweat in the same shirt for a week and be able to stand yourself is wondrous. The downside is lack of durability. I can’t wear my merino too much where it rubs against other gear because it just wears out.By adding the strong but more eco-conscious Sorona polyester too the mix you get a more durable shirt with the benefits of merino. You also get better 4 way stretch than a typical merino shirt too. I have yet to hit the smelling point on this one which is impressive. Often as soon as there’s polyester in there, the smell factor goes up.

Fit

Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip – Nice flat seams

Merino can get saggy and lose it’s shape over time. MerinoLux fabric maintains it’s shape a bit better than standard merino and has good 4 way stretch. I have a medium in the MerinoLux 1/4 and it’s fairly fitted but not constricting. I usually have a merino base layer t-shirt on underneath and it fits well. It fits close enough to be it’s on base layer as well if it was cooler. The 1/4 zip makes it easy to regulate the temperature without having to take it off. Thumb loops have become my favourite thing lately. I wish it had some.

Smell?

Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip – Lots of straps

Recent runs and hikes I’ve kept my jacket and long sleeves of the 1/4 zip on much longer than I would normally. This results in a lot more sweat than usual. It’s been a sweaty test.

But that’s the point with merino and other fabrics. It has to deal with sweat well or else why would you wear it. I’ve worn the 1/4 zip for days straight now before washing and it’s yet to smell. I assumed it was going to start to smell a bit right away from the polyester but so far so good. Future testing will include a head to head with a 100% merino 1/4 zip, wearing them for as many days as it takes to smell (I will show in between!).

Quick-drying

Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip – Faster drying than merino

Though not as fast-drying as straight polyester, I’ll take a bit of a slower dry any day just so that it won’t stink. It seems to dry a bit faster than 100% merino but is still slower than polyester. I won’t say I love the feel of wet wool against my skin but it’s not a terrible thing. I don’t mind hiking in it for long periods of time.

For Travel

Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip – Perfect for relaxing

Having travelled for months through Australia and New Zealand for 4 months in merino, it’s my go to for any sustained adventure. Even just wearing on planes and tour buses, you won’t get more comfortable, especially when it’s warm.You can wear the MerinoLux 1/4 zip out for a hike and then dinner than night. UPF 50 will keep you out of the sun during the day and you won’t need to do any ironing with it.

Final Thoughts

This might be the ultimate fabric for adventure. No stink temperature regulation from the merino. Faster drying and durability from the polyester. I’ll be continuing to test this as much as possible in the coming year to see what long-term durability is like but so far I’m giving it 2 thumbs up. 100% merino is amazing but it’s just not holding up to hard use. I think the blends will come out on top as the most popular in the end.

The Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip is a great piece for every adventure and a good one to get into for your first piece or if your merino just isn’t lasting as long as you’d like. This versatile piece can be a base or second layer over a wide range of conditions, thumb loops being one thing that would take it up one more notch for me.

Mens MerinoLux 1/4 Zip on Amazon

Royal Robbins MerinoLUX on Pinterest

The post Better than merino? The Royal Robbins MerinoLux 1/4 Zip Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.