I have hiked in and reviewed a lot of Kuhl pants with very positive results so when Kuhl asked me to do a product review on the Kuhl Revolvr Shorts it was a no brainer. Except for the fact that I usually hike in pants and not shorts. Well, if anything was going to get me to change my ways it was going to be a pair of shorts from Kuhl. Here is a look at my impressions of the Kuhl Revolvr Shorts.
As a disclaimer I would like to mention that I have an affiliate agreement with Kuhl and any purchase you make from links on this website may result in me getting a small commission with no extra cost to you. I was sent a pair of shorts to review but did not receive any payment for the review. All opinions on this page are my own and based on my own experiences with this pair of shorts. This review is for general informational purposes. Your experience with the pants may be completely different.
Kuhl Revolver Hiking Pants
Before I begin my personal experience with these shorts I wanted to give the specifics directly from Kuhl. All of this information comes directly from the Kuhl website and is subject to change.
According to the Kuhl website, the Revolvr Shorts are “Made with KÜHL’s exclusive lightweight and quick-drying ÜBERKÜHL™ fabric, the REVOLVR™ Men’s Short also offers plenty of stretch when you need it. This durable and versatile short is easy care and has been designed and styled to meet your warm weather demands.”
Price*
$69.00 USD
Sizes*
Waist: 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42
Inseam 8, 10, 12
Colors*
Khaki, Cayenne, Pine Grove, Gotham Grey (shown on this page)
Material*
68% Cotton, 29% Nylon, 3% Spandex
5.2 oz./sq. yd. | 177 GSM
Care*
Machine wash cold.
Tumble dry low.
*All information from Kuhl.com
What I Liked
I have hiked in the Revolvr Pant version before and have always liked the material and the fact that they could easily go from the trail to the golf course to the office. They are one of my favorite Kuhl pants so I figured I would give the shorts a try. The shorts are even more comfortable. The materials have a slightly different feel, a bit lighter perhaps, while still maintaining the strength, flexibility and durability. Here is a bit more of what I enjoyed about the Revolvr Shorts.
Flexibility
Not surprisingly by the name of my blog but I am a bigger guy. It is hard to find clothes that fit well and that also can move with me without getting tight. This is a challenge with hiking because not every step on the trail is uniformed. What I really liked about the Revolvr Shorts was that the shorts gave every inch that I asked of them. Big steps up rocks were no big deal, short steps to avoid an obstacle were no big deal and even side stepping worked great.
The Revolvr has spandex built in so I don’t know if that had something to do with it I just know that no matter how I moved the shorts never got tight or bunched or inhibited my movements. This is so important with hiking gear especially. If the shorts don’t have flexibility it could actually lead to dangerous situations. If your shorts won’t allow for the big steps then the next step could be off the side of a mountain. The Revolvr passed this test with flying colors and I felt comfortable and free to move 100% of the time.
Material
The Kuhl Revolvr Shorts are made with 68% cotton, 29% nylon and 3 % Spandex. I talked before about the flexibility but the comfort that this produces is also very important. The shorts feel solid without feeling heavy. They are also very soft. I wear the Revolvr pants and now shorts on hikes, but also out to restaurants, around when I am running errands and just walking around downtown. They have the strength of a pair of jeans but also are extremely comfortable on the trail. The material is also great at moisture wicking and dries fast but more on that later.
Durability
The other great part of the materials that Kuhl uses in the Revolvr Short is it gives it tremendous durability. The flexibility of the fabric helps protect against small rips or tears but also always comes back to the original shape. I have sat on rocks and did a modified butt slide down a short incline with no marks left on my backside. While I don’t like to admit this, I also got a small tree branch caught in a belt loop on a hike. I was walking and the branch threaded itself perfectly and actually stopped me from walking. I thought for sure it would tear off the belt loop. Instead, no damage at all to shorts. I do want to apologize for the names that I called the tree though!
Water resistance
I haven’t tested the water resistance too intensely on the Revolvr Shorts because it has been dry out in Colorado for the most part. I have poured some water on my leg just to see how well it worked because I’m like that. The resistance was there but if you pour water on something it is going to get wet so it wasn’t an accurate test.
What was so much more impressive to me is how fast the shorts dry. Within a minute it seemed like I was perfectly dry again. One thing I did test was sweat. I’m a big guy and it is hot in the summer and I sweat a lot. The moisture wicking worked really well and kept me cool and mostly dry. The bit of dampness around my legs dried so quick it was like I wasn’t even sweating. To me this is as, if not more, important that how the shorts do against a micro burst of rain. I spend more time sweating in on hikes than getting rained in Colorado so that is what I look for. Now if you live in a more damp area that might be different, I just didn’t have the conditions to test that thoroughly.
Sun Protection
The Kuhl Revolvr Hiking Short is rated at 50 UPF. Sun protection is so important for mountain hiking in the thin air and I feel much more confident with clothing that protects my body. I have learned a lot about sun protection while writing these blogs and always assumed that all clothes provided the same protection but they don’t. Make sure to check the UPF rating on any clothes that you plan on taking outdoors for long periods of time.
What I Didn’t Like
While I do like a lot about the Kuhl Hiking Shorts, they will take my blogger card away if I don’t find something wrong. Plus, I want to be totally honest with you on this review. So here is what I don’t love about the Kuhl Revolvr Shorts.
I am almost embarrassed about mentioning what I didn’t like as it could just be a user error from not wearing shorts that often. The only thing I can come up with is that the cuff rolls up on occasion. Not all the time but occasionally I look down and the cuff is starting to roll up my leg. That is it, all I could find with these shorts after five hikes. Come to think of it maybe I haven’t been giving shorts a chance all these years.
I also wouldn’t be opposed to a cargo version of the Revolvr Short. While they have extra pockets they are smaller so it would be nice to have some extra full sized pockets.
Wrap up
The Kuhl Revolvr Shorts did something that I didn’t think could be possible. They made me like wearing shorts! I have never really been a shorts person. Nothing against them I just always wore pants when I went out in public. But after wearing these shorts I am starting to change my position and I have worn the Revolvr on five hikes already!
I like that I never have to worry about the shorts. I know they aren’t going to tear or rip if I get into the woods or have to do a bit of a slide. They are comfortable and fit me great. I also love the flexibility and the moisture wicking. It is not often that a piece of clothing can make you rethink a world view but I am a shorts wearer now. I wonder what else I have been missing out on!
Highly recommended!
If you like this review, you can see other products I have reviewed on my Product Review Page. If you have any items you would like me to review or any comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!