Royal Robbins is an outdoor clothing company founded by climbers that produce quality travel apparel with a focus on comfort. When I had the opportunity to try out some of their gear on our adventures, I jumped at the chance. Our contact sent over the Townsend and Traveler stretch pant.
Townsend Pant
Townsend Pant is created from durable synthetic blend flannel that doesn’t look like a pair of pants you would want to hit the trail in. The synthetic blend flannel looks much like the wool dress pants I bought from Bananna Republic to go to job interviews in.
For me, that was the selling point.
Features:
- UPF Protection
- Stretch for range of motion
- Quick dry
- Wrinkle resistant
- Drop in cell pocket at hip
- Wool like finish
The material used for the Townsend is amazing. The pants are constructed from a polyester rayon blend with some spandex for added stretch. Not only do they dry quickly, they’re extremely comfortable. They’ve become my go-to for #vanlife evenings and long drives thanks to the flannel chill factor.
On cold nights I even found myself sleeping in them, and continued to wear them through breakfast the next day. If they were available in a slim tailored fit version, I would be all over them.
The fit was a bit of a sticking point initially. I’ve grown accustomed to wearing slim fits, and in comparison to my usual go-tos, they felt like my dad’s pants. Fit obviously comes down to personal preference, but the downside of the fit was they simply aren’t a useful pant for bike commuting. While the relaxed straight played well with hiking boots, they interfered with pedaling. The option of a slim fit with a tapered leg would add a lot of versatility.
Initially I thought I’d wear these to work; instead they’ve become lounge pants. While they do function well on hikes, my favorite way to wear them is paired with flip flops and insulated jackets on road trips. The materials and construction is solid, resulting in a useful pant suitable for a wide range of casual activities.
The Royal Robbins Townsend Pant sells for $85. Check them out at RoyalRobbins.com
Traveler Stretch Pant
The other pant sent over was the Traveler. Like the Townsend, the Traveler pants feature the Royal Robbin standard fit. A relaxed fit by our standards, the stretch nylon has a technical pants look that is better suited for the outdoors than the streets of San Francisco, but those that prefer a more relaxed cut will find the Traveler to be a quick drying pant suitable for a wide range of activities. Unfortunately, it arrived in khaki, and while I occasionally indulge in khaki, the relaxed fit and I weren’t a good match.
The Traveler Stretch Pant from Royal Robbins retails for $75 USD. Check it out at RoyalRobbins.com