Tested By Tiso
Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers

Definitely not the wrong trousers!

One of the hottest brands in the outdoor scene is Fjällräven, featuring a heady mix of high performance, great sustainability and Scandi-cool. This Swedish brand started in a small town called Örnsköldsvik in the 1960s, with the vision to make nature more accessible to more people. That vision comes alive in their products, but also through their commitment to sustainability and their involvement in the wider outdoors community, for example the “Fjällräven Classic”, organised treks in various countries. Not a race, an opportunity to enjoy nature with like-minded people.

I bought the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated trousers around a year ago with “time in the woods” in mind. I was looking for something a bit more substantial than the lightweight walking trousers I had, more robust with different features.

I'm a bit of an outdoors “jack of all trades”, I enjoy cycling (road and MTB), climbing (rock and ice), walking (mountains, hills, lowland paths), water sports (wild swimming, canoeing) and bushcraft. On the latter, I'm no Ray Mears, but I do love spending time in woodland, perhaps doing a little carving and the like.

Bushcraft forums consistently recommend the Vidda Pros as the best trouser for the job. They have been used for innumerable forest walks with my family, climbed some hills in them, a few periods of sitting round a campfire carving spoons and I've even worn them into the office. I haven't used them on longer treks, as I'm lucky enough to also have a pair of the Fjällräven Keb trousers, which have a bit more stretch material in them. Here's my impressions of the Vidda Pro Ventilated over the past year.

Fit

First of all, fit. Fit is a very personal aspect. I'm a 33” waist, 32” leg length, so the size 48 was perfect for me. I've got largish thighs from cycling, but this isn't an issue, as there is a stretchy panel on the inside of the leg and in the crotch. The articulated knee has a double layer of fabric, for reinforcement but also to take an optional knee pad, but this doesn't get in the way of moving around. I like the fact that they aren't baggy, they are a “fitted” without being restrictive.

Material and Water Resistance

So, they fit well. But they are also very comfortable. The G-1000 Eco fabric (an organic cotton/recycled polyester blend, with wax treatment), is very comfortable next to the skin. It's of a weight that feels “substantial” without feeling heavy. As mentioned above, the cut suits my leg shape well, it's fairly close fitting around the thighs but the stretch material doesn't make it feel tight, and there is enough room around the lower leg to allow for freedom of movement without feeling baggy.

The material feels breathable, but not as breathable as a lightweight trouser, but then you have the addition of the side zips for ventilation. One of the interesting features of the G-1000 Eco fabric is that you can (and should) wax the fabric to preserve its water resistance. The more wax you apply, the more water resistant, but less breathable. What I've tried to do this winter is wax them a bit more heavily, as it makes them warmer due to the wax blocking the wind, but also they are stiffer so it helps trap warm air next to the skin.

The wax is Fjällräven's own proprietary blend of beeswax and paraffin and is easy to apply, the wax is PFC-free, so greatly reducing the environmental impact. You rub some on to the G-1000 fabric, then use an iron or hair drier to melt the wax in. There's a how-to video on this page. I'd definitely recommend buying some wax when you buy the trousers.

One note on waxing, try to avoid any creases in the material underneath, otherwise you will end up with a line of heavier wax. Don't worry if you do, it'll come out in the wash. A 40c wash will wash out the wax. I have to say, there's something quite satisfying about giving them a quick wax before heading out, I know they'll look after me and I like to look after them.

Features

One of the reasons for choosing the trousers was the range of features, beyond them simply fitting well. I'm not a fan of stuffing my pockets (see comments on durability below), but there is plenty of space. There are two good sized hand pockets on the hips, on the left thigh there are two stacked cargo pockets and on the right thigh you get one cargo pocket with an internal mesh sleeve and a knife/tool pocket. The cargo pockets are secured with substantial poppers.

I've used the knife pocket a couple of times, there is a handy loop of fabric with a popper fastening. This goes through the belt loop of a scabbard and keeps the knife firmly in place. I find it much comfier to keep the knife on my thigh instead of my belt. There is also an axe loop at the waist.

Other features include a strap in the hem at the ankle, which allows you to tighten it up to keep weather and bugs out; there is also a hook tucked into the hem which you can use to hook on to your boot laces, much like you would do with a gaiter.

None of the features feel “gimmicky”, they are all thoughtfully placed and don't get in the way when not in use. For example I've not yet chosen to use the axe loop, although I definitely will someday, but it's never been a nuisance.

Durability

When we invest in a new bit of outdoor kit, we want to know whether it will last. It's good for the bank balance but also better for the planet. One of my key reasons for choosing the Vidda Pros was their reputation for being robust. The G-1000 Eco material has a lot of natural abrasion resistance, when walking through undergrowth it doesn't tend to catch like a lighter fabric might.

It's not bullet proof though, I had my phone in its case in my pocket and accidentally slid down a rock, causing a small hole. However the polycotton blend is easily mended with a few stiches, which hold really well. If your best loved bits of kit don't have some war wounds, are you even using them?!

Another interesting durability aspect I have found is that they wash really well. A couple of times I have gotten stains on them that I was sure weren't going to come out (based on my experience with other garments), but they cleaned up fine. I'm guessing the wax impregnation stops stains getting into the fibres.

In Summary

I have no hesitation in recommending the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated. I think they are good value for money, given their fit, features and robustness. I'm looking forward to many more adventures with them.