GEAR REVIEW: KÜHL FREE RADIKL SHORTS

I DIDN’T NEED NEW SHORTS 

The last Kühl product I bought was a pair of convertible pants for our yearlong trip back in 2014. Made from the company’s signature “advanced fabric,” they offered accommodating stretch and great breathability while enduring frequent use and many hardships on our travels. However, eight years later the baggy and techy style have relegated the pants from frequent use to just a memento of our travels.

Given their relatively high cost and tech-first reputation, I had not since shopped Kühl clothing. Then this summer the Salt Lake City-based company sent me a pair of their Free Radikl shorts to test, and suddenly the brand is top of mind again.

FIRST LOOK AT THE FREE RADIKL

With a 10-inch inseam and more subtle style than other Kühl designs, the Free Radikl shorts have an unassuming look suitable for everyday wear. Yet they still offer the trail tech for which Kühl is famous, including a flexible and soft fabric mix of 68 percent cotton, 29 percent nylon, and 3 percent spandex, along with stealthy pockets.

The first thing I noticed upon trying them on was the perfect fit. I have a 33” waist and these shorts are the most exact fit I’ve experienced. The tall waistband has little stretch but sits comfortably on the hips. The ENDURO “advanced fabric” is comfortable against the skin while remaining durable to handle scrapes and slides without noticeable wear. Meanwhile, hidden throughout the design, there are seams of highly breathable stretch fabric to ensure mobility and breathability in all the right places.

As Kühl states in the Free Radikl product description, these mens shorts “combine the comfort of your favorite gym shorts with trail-ready abrasion resistance, quick-dry abilities, and premium sun protection.” That seems pretty much spot on.

 TESTING IN TUCSON

I’ve been wearing the Free Radikl shorts all summer, including daily use on a couple of weeklong trips. They’ve been worn on hikes of several miles, long days exploring new cities, casual bike rides, to work functions, and on one baking-hot trip to Tucson.

The shorts might not be the lightest and airiest for long hikes, but I walked comfortably for miles without thinking about what I was wearing (always a good sign). In the blazing summer heat of Tucson, the shorts were stylish enough for drinks downtown while comfortable enough for sunrise excursions into Catalina State Park.

They held up to plenty of sweat, several scrapes, and two salsa spills—and they still look as good as new. The only change I’ve noticed is a slight stretch in the waistband over the last two months, making them ride a little lower than in the first month of wear.

CONCLUSION

Kühl has quickly reminded me why they’re one of the leading outdoor apparel brands. The attention to detail that goes into engineering a simple pair of shorts is emblematic of their years of experience designing quality clothing. And while I’m doing my best to limit new purchases and make do with gear and clothing I already own, the Free Radikl shorts are a welcome addition that are seeing frequent use. For any and all upcoming trips, including a return to Tucson, these amazing travel shorts will be one of the first items packed. They do come at a high cost, listed at $79 on the Kühl website. But if you’re like me and prefer to invest in fewer pieces of higher quality clothing that will last, you’ll quickly realize the Free Radikl shorts are worth the price.