Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Tight review: the most technical hiking leggings we've tested

Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Tight: first impressions 

Swedish brand Fjällräven is no stranger to designing rugged hiking pants, but we're used to seeing a more traditional design in styles like the Keb Curved. Technical hiking leggings, however, are having a moment and it turns out that even the Arctic Fox can't resist getting its stretch on.

The Abisko Trekking Tights are surprisingly technical. Yes, they consist of four-way stretch fabric in a body-hugging design but wait, there's more. These tights boast seriously rugged anti-abrasion panels on the seat and knees where you most often come into contact with rough rock. When we say rugged, they're actually quite unusual-feeling against the skin, though you soon get used to it.

There are also some surprisingly practical pockets including a thigh pocket that's big enough for a map or your phone and is covered to protect either and another zippered leg pocket big enough for your compass.

Don't expect thigh zips on these leggings like you're used to seeing on regular hiking pants, but as long as you're wearing them in cooler weather, don't expect to need them either. The dense weave on these leggings is thick enough to fend off a cool wind but they breathe really well. We wouldn't wear them in the height of summer, but they can handle sweat in other seasons and you'll stay comfortable.

There isn't much in the way of wet weather protection (though they do dry quite quickly) but the beauty of leggings is that they're easy to pull a pair of rain pants over. These leggings also come in a men's design with a fly.

They're really stretchy, but the sizing is a bit odd and they run large, but they might not be as comfortable as your favorite yoga pants if you size down, and we have to admit that the reinforced panels do make them feel a little strange. On the other hand, they're built to last and look great, even if they are expensive.

Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Tight: in the field 

I've been on a bit of a technical hiking leggings trek myself over the past few years, trying out various models from different brands to see if I can find the perfect fit. My favorite-ever hiking pants are the Fjällräven Keb Curved so when I was offered the chance to test out these tights, I was keen. I've been hiking in these all winter in the highlands of Scotland to get a feel for how they perform in cold and snowy weather.

Here's how they performed:

Size, fit and comfort

I usually go for a small but I was sent an XS to test in these as I'm advised that they run quite large. Depending on the brand I'm between an XS and an S but I generally prefer to size up for comfort. Even though these have plenty of four-way stretch, I think I'd have preferred to risk it and size up. They look great because they're so tight and I can wear them all day, but for comfort I'd rather just a little extra breathing room and they are tight enough that they leave marks on my legs.

The high waist is nice and there's a draw cord which I don't need because mine are so tight. I've found they never slip down which is hugely important for leggings. They're long enough for coverage without having inches of extra fabric around my ankles and mine feel like compression pants, but I'm guessing they won't if you wear your regular size.

The smaller size detracts from the comfort for me just a little, but as I said I can wear them all day – I just wouldn't wear them for yoga or lounging around it. The other aspect that reduces the comfort just a little is the abrasion-resistant panels around the seat and knees. The material is quite rough and while I wouldn't say it's exactly uncomfortable or scratchy, this feels a bit odd at first. Like wearing a diaper. But you do get used to it and soon forget all about that.

Temperature regulation and protection

Unlike some leggings I've tested, there are no breathable panels or zippered vents on these leggings, but so far I haven't missed them. In fact, the material is really excellent at breathability and wicking sweat, even when paired with rain pants over the top. I've been quite comfortable wearing these in cool and cold temperatures, even when I'm getting my heart rate up on a steep gradient.

They're thick enough to provide some warmth in winter and a decent amount of protection against thorny bushes while the aforementioned anti-abrasion panels are exactly where I need them for scrambles. I am reasonably confident these will be too warm for summer, but they're ideal for the rest of the year.

There's no rain protection, but they dry quite quickly and that's what rain pants are for anyway.

Storage, durability and value

One of the features that makes hiking leggings technical for me is excellent storage, and these leggings really shine on the pocket front. I love a thigh pocket for my phone and there's a right-hand pocket with a flap for added protection that's big enough for most maps plus a left-hand zippered one that's also big enough for a phone or compass.

Thanks to the tough panels where you might find yourself crawling on rock or sliding down a steep slope on your bum, these are quite tough, though anything with stretch will lose its shape eventually and these do have a surprisingly high Elastane content.

As for value, they're really expensive for a pair of leggings. For just a little more, you could get the Keb Curved trousers which are arguably more technical and they're more than twice the price of other hiking leggings I've tested that I think perform equally well. So, you'd need to really love the brand and really want an excellent pair of hiking leggings to invest. But will you look great in them? Probably.

Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Tight: the bottom line 

Fjällräven's Abisko Trekking Tights deliver on the brand's reputation for high quality. These hiking leggings are sleek, stylish and high-performing, though the fit might miss the mark for some. They are pricier than most, and you could find similar performance at nearly a third of the price in the Columbia Women's Cirque River II Hiking Leggings.

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