Rab Women's Sawtooth pants review: comfortable, lightweight softshell pants for warm and cool weather hiking

Rab Women's Sawtooth pants: first impressions 

On the rack, these hiking pants appear to be everything you want from a pair of softshell pants. They are feather light and very stretchy, meaning that while you’d probably wear them for hiking, you could do a proper heel hook while rock climbing in them, or even a little yoga on the trail.

They are highly breathable and designed for summer hiking however they’d work across all seasons with good wind protection and even some water resistance. They boast four deep zipped pockets for storage, tethered draw-cord hems, a fleece-lined waistband, belt loops and 30+ UPF. All in all, these are everything you want from a softshell pant all wrapped up in a stylish fit.

Rab Women's Sawtooth pants: on the trails 

I definitely squealed with delight when I tried these pants on for the first time. They boast superior comfort and an insane amount of stretchy freedom of movement for pants that aren’t leggings. I got them out in the hills on a fairly warm fall day and they kept me nice and cool and dry. On a cooler day though, they still provide good protection from the wind and while they aren’t waterproof, I’d definitely wear these ski touring if the conditions weren’t too moist.

I love all the pockets for stashing credit cards, keys and headphones and am really pleased with the flattering cut, which is not always the case with hiking pants. Though being able to do yoga in them is absolutely not a marker of a good hiking pant, I was able to keep them on for a few stretches when I got home which is a bonus in my book. These are comfy enough to be travel and camping pants too.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing

These fit true to size. I’m wearing the UK 8, which is my typical size, and there’s not a single place where they catch or hang loose. 

Fit

These are slim fitting and flattering owing to the stretchy material, without being skin tight. Basically everything you want from the best hiking pants. 

Comfort 

In addition to the light, stretchy, breathable fabric, superior comfort is sponsored by the gusseted crotch and articulated knees. There’s nothing Rab could do to make these more comfortable besides serve them up with a hot drink. 

Temperature regulation 

These pants are highly breathable so will go a long way towards keeping you cool in summer, while the wind protection will stave off the cold in winter. 

Breathability 

I ought to have been sweaty in these pants given the warm conditions I was hiking in, but I wasn’t. The breathability is great for hiking and ski touring.

Durability 

These pants are great quality, well made and don’t require frequent washing, therefore they should stand the test of time. 

Here’s where we tested the Rab Women's Sawtooth pants: 

This hike rises up from the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and after a steep, grassy climb delivers superb views of the Arrochar Alps.