Lundhags Traverse Trekking Trousers Review

On trekking tours and hikes you want trousers that are all-rounders and meet a whole range of requirements. They should protect against wind and wet, but at the same time let as much moisture escape as possible. Naturally they should be very robust, but without restricting freedom of movement. The Lundhags Traverse Pants cost around 139 euros and come pretty close to this ideal.

Description of the Lundhags Traverse Pants

The Lundhags Traverse is made of an impregnated cotton-polyester blend. Schoeller stretch panels are used at the knees, crotch and seat. Two zips on the sides of the thighs can be opened for side ventilation. The leg ends have a width adjustment plus a hook that lets you fix the trousers to your shoelaces. The trekking trousers have two normal slip pockets and, in the men’s version, two bellows leg pockets, one of them with a phone pocket (the women’s version has only one leg pocket).

Product description from Lundhags

Main material: 65% polyester and 35% certified organic cotton, wind- and water-repellent, quick-drying.
Stretch panels of Dynamic Extreme® at the seat and knees.
Cordura® reinforcements on the inside of the leg ends.
Boot Loc XT ensures the trousers are optimally secured at the leg end and to the shoe.
2 trouser pockets, 2 leg pockets, one of them with a phone pocket.
long side ventilation.
pre-shaped legs.
stretch panels in the crotch provide extra freedom of movement.
Sizes: 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58
Weight 595 g (size 52)
Material 65/35 ECO
Schoeller® (FC-free)
Recommended care for washing: – Nikwax TechWash
Recommended care for reproofing: Nikwax Cotton Proof

Field test of the Lundhags Traverse trekking trousers

Slim cut of the hiking trousers not always ideal for “average builds”

The cut of the trousers is relatively slim. While other trousers in size 52 usually fit me well, the waist on the Lundhags Traverse is pretty tight (though that sorts itself out after a day or two on tour 😉 ). In contrast, the legs are relatively long. With the normal sizing, the trousers are therefore better suited to slimmer / taller people than to rather “broader figures”. However, the trousers are also available in a Short version with shorter legs and in a version with even longer legs (XLong). Unfortunately, these versions are only available from a few retailers in Germany.

Pleasant cotton blend with flexible panels for good freedom of movement

The trousers are made of a well-impregnated yet skin-friendly cotton-polyester blend. Since the trousers are fitted with flexible Schoeller panels at the crotch and seat, you have excellent freedom of movement in them. Thanks to the very effective vents on the thighs, the trousers can be worn comfortably even at warmer temperatures. Temperatures up to 25 degrees are no problem, and I have also worn them at a good 30 degrees – but then it does gradually get uncomfortably warm. At the cold end, in my experience the limit is reached at 0 degrees. If it gets even colder, long underwear is recommended, which, depending on its warmth, extends the range of the trousers well below freezing.

Good impregnation means the rain trousers can stay in the backpack for a long time

The impregnation of the trousers is surprisingly good – even though they are not rain trousers. In drizzle and short showers you can do without rain trousers for a long time, because the drops still bead off the fabric well even after several washes. For shorter stretches through wet, tall grass you don’t have to get the gaiters out straight away either. Here too, the fabric with its impregnation keeps the moisture out for quite a while. But I wouldn’t go as far as some who claim that gaiters become superfluous with these trousers! On a rainy hike in the north-east of the USA, which among other things led through tall wet grass, the trousers were completely soaked after just under half an hour.

Perfect leg ends for trekking trousers – that’s how it should be!

The leg ends are ideally designed. You can fix them to the shoe with hooks and, of course, also adjust the width – that’s how it should be. The pockets are large and practically placed. The phone pocket in the right leg pocket is quite handy – that way you don’t have to search the depths of your trousers for it ;-).

Unfortunately, the trousers are not “mosquito-proof”

The cotton fabric, by the way, is almost “mosquito-proof”. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Schoeller panels. After wearing the trousers in summer in Maine / USA, I sadly had to record a whole series of nasty mosquito bites around the knees and a few on the seat/thighs 🙁 .

Rating of the Lundhags Traverse trekking trousers

As announced in the introduction, the trousers come pretty close to perfect hiking or trekking trousers. The practical features, the pleasant fabric with good ventilation via the side zips and the perfectly designed leg ends leave little to be desired. The fit is better suited to slim people. For “average builds” the waistband may pinch or the legs may be a little too long. But the freedom of movement is TOP in any case!

After several months of use, the trousers show no signs of weakness at all. Washing and subsequent reproofing were done with the Nikwax TechWash and Nikwax Cotton Proof recommended by Lundhags.