Overview: I recently put to rest one of my longest serving pieces of gear in my closet; the Wrangler Flex Pants. I first started using these just as I was beginning to toy with the idea of a circumnavigational high route through the Guadalupe Mountains. I knew I needed a pair of pants that I could reliably use to drive through the rampant bush and thorns that make up the flora in the desert. However, I didn’t want to spend an exuberant amount of money since I much prefer to wear running shorts. Out of necessity was born one of my most trusted pieces of gear. What follows is a sonnet to my favorite pair of pants, and why I am buying another pair. If you’d like to see the accompanying pictures to this review, feel free to check them out on my website here.

Location: The Wind River High Route, Big Bend National Park, several off trail adventures in the Guadalupe Mountains, and casually around town.

Guadalupe High Route Gearlist: https://lighterpack.com/r/2qgcpc

Specs:

• 366g/12.91oz

• Mens 34 Waist, 30 Length

• 94% Nylon, 4% Spandex

• Straight Fit

• Two Zippered Cargo Pockets

• Two Front Pockets

• Two Back Pockets

• UPF 30

• Womens V1 & V2, both with UPF 50

*****Disclaimer: I paid a discounted price of $22.50, as opposed to the contemporary full price of $24.99, by using a 10% discount that is available to all Veterans. I did not receive compensation from Wrangler, nor was I asked to review these pants. I simply want to inform the backpacking community about a budget friendly pair of backpacking pants.

Customer Service: I had a bit of a kerfuffle when I originally ordered these pants back in 2018. Wrangler was quick to mail out the first pair, and generously provided a complementary 10% off coupon for a future order. However, I had just begun to lose a lot of weight for a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, and got the sizing wrong.

When I discovered my mistake, I was able to get on the line with a real human being and received a full refund for the pair, after they received the initial pair, which I then used to buy the appropriate size. All of this took place over the course of a few days, which is pretty fast considering the time it takes to transfer money out of bank accounts, as well as the time needed for shipping. You won't get the same kind of attention you receive from smaller cottage companies, but I do feel like I received excellent customer service.

Pros:

The Price. Backpackers LOVE to talk about budget options, when it comes to gear. A pair of the Wrangler Flex come in at about a third of the price of some of the more popular backpacking pants on the market, such as the OR Ferrosi and the Prana Stretch Zion. Yet they have many (if not more) of the same features that the more expensive brands have. Backpacking can be a pricey hobby to get into. However, worn clothes can be a category where you can save money. According to the Wrangler website, you can receive further discounts by signing up for their newsletter, or by providing proof that you are an active or former member of the Armed Services.

The Availability. If you happen to cause a calamitus rip in your pants while out on a hike and are making a town stop in between segments, it's likely you'll be making your way over to a Walmart for your resupply, in order to save money. Well lucky you, you can easily replace the destroyed pair, as most Walmarts carry a large stock of the Wrangler Flex in their clothing section. They're also available through Amazon, if you need Prime shipping.

The Fit. Easily my favorite thing about these pants. The four percent of Spandex makes it so the pants move naturally with my hips and legs as I hike. Whether I'm scrambling over rock, hopping over boulders, or making my way through a thicket of desert brush, I have yet to be restricted in movement by the Wrangler Flex. I find the fit exceedingly flattering, making it easy to wear these pants around town as well.

The Pockets. I'm used to using running shorts on my backpacking trips, making pocket space limited. Having six pockets available on these pants has made little things a lot easier. For example, when I’m setting up camp, instead of juggling a handful of stakes in my hands as I set up my tarp, I can place the stake sack in one pocket with the rest of the stakes, as I work with just one stake and a corresponding guyline. I’ve also used them to store trash throughout the day, or a set of maps to quickly deploy whenever I need them, or my filter and sports caps when refilling at a stream. Plus, if the gear sits in your pockets, then it doesn't count against your baseweight, does it; )

The Durability. My second favorite feature. The Wrangler Flex have handled everything I’ve thrown at them. They’ve especially shone in the desert, where serrated cactus thorns and thick brush overgrowth have made short work out of other pairs of pants I’ve tested. I put several hundred miles of off trail travel into one pair of pants before having to repair a hole that developed in the seam that runs along the backside. In similar conditions, other pants have not fared so well. The Wrangler Flex have been quite reliable throughout the years.

Cons:

Breathability. Because the Wrangler Flex are made of very durable nylon, the tradeoff is that they don't breathe as well as the OR Ferrosi and other high end pants. I'm a pretty heavy sweater, and when I'm exerting myself, like on a steep climb in the desert heat, it can look like I've fallen into a puddle. It's a strange occurrence that only seems to happen on the first day of my hikes. Honestly though, this may be just a "me" issue. Seriously, I could be sweating while it's 20 degrees outside. Others may not find breathability to be an issue.

Belts. Many brands have a drawstring cord or a pull tab to cinch the waist area down on their pants, eliminating the need for a separate belt. However, the Wrangler Flex do not. Many ultralight backpackers may initially balk at the idea of adding an extra piece of gear to their kit, even if it’s “technically” worn weight. However, I’d like to argue that having a belt can actually be quite useful.

Whenever I backpack, I like to stretch at the end of a hard day after setting up camp. I will take the belt and use it as a lever to stretch my hamstrings and glutes, similar to how a yogi could use a yoga strap in Supta Padangusthasana (Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose), or to facilitate a shoulder stretch via Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose). I’m a big proponent of body maintenance, and see the belt as a necessary tool for a successful off trail trip, way more than I see it as a nuisance to carry. At 99g, the belt is a multifaceted accessory worth its extra weight.

TLDR: The Wrangler Flex are an affordable and durable pair of pants that are great for off trail backpacking, yet look great around town too.