Francesca Donovan didn’t expect to like the relaxed fit Berghaus Farren trousers – but she was impressed with this ground-breaking, women-first comfort fit technology.
Designed by MtnHaus (Berghaus’ innovation initiative) with ZonalAdapt technology, which is said by the brand to move with a woman’s body and its physical fluctuations, the Farrens have been tested by over 100 women and scientists involved in the 18-month design process. As someone who’s long had to compromise on hiking legwear, I was keen to add my pear-shaped and (smaller end of) plus-size perspective to see if the award-winning Farren trousers live up to the hype.
Francesca Donovan recommends
The relaxed fit and women-first technology make the Farrens exquisitely comfortable – as long as there’s not much wind on the tops!- adjustable waistband with hidden toggle
- breathable fabric
- freedom of movement
- stomach relief panel
- price
- not that warm or windproof
| Quick Specs |
|---|
| Price: $182.25 | £135 (available from Berghaus) Weight: 446g (trousers, size 18) Materials: Body – 87% Polyamide, 13% Elastane | Waistband, Side Thigh & Inner Short – LYCRA® ADAPTIV™ 78% Polyamide, 22% Elastane Features: woman-fist design, responsive waistband, targeted compression zones, lumbar support panel, side vents, knee darts Pockets: 2 stash pockets, 2 zipped thigh pockets Hem: drawchord Size: 8 – 20 Men’s version: no berghaus.com |
The headline, technical jargon aside, is that the Farrens actually work – once you’ve found your fit, you can slip in and forget about them for a full day of intense activity. For me, the highlight is a hidden adjustment toggle with four measurement options on either side of the waistband that you can change easily at any time for a snug fit to suit your body that day.
Unlike some women’s legwear, a secure waistband doesn’t mean squeezing elsewhere. There’s a front ‘relief’ panel that takes pressure off the stomach. A lumbar support panel at the base of the spine won’t necessarily stop me throwing my back out (again) but it does reinforce the dependable waistband. In real terms, these features work together to offer the most comfortable fit I’ve experienced. No pinching. No pulling up every few steps.
Both the Farren troursers and leggings benefit from these innovative fit features. If you’re looking for a tougher fabric with more features, though I’d recommend the Farren trousers. They also have ZonalAdapt technology making them my favoured walking trousers for comfort – with no faff over buttons or zips. The waistband and inner shorts are built with the same LYCRA® ADAPTIV™ fabric as the leggings. These shorts do sometimes ride up while seated but I found the benefit of breathable fabric next to skin outweighs this minor inconvenience. Elsewhere, the trousers are made from a tougher blend which hasn’t snagged, despite feeling nothing as hard-wearing as the cardboard creations from more ‘rugged’ legwear makers.
The 2 zipped front pockets are huge, taking a map, snacks, and smartphone without the waistband dragging. The 2 stash pockets are also a handy addition but are hard to access under a zipped waterproof – not that you’d be wearing these trousers in cold conditions. They’re ideal for moving fast on cooler autumnal days or for long, summer adventures. The water repellency of the DWR coating is noteworthy. Beading has retained on multiple wears in moderate showers. While they do wet out in heavier rain, they dry quicker than leggings.
I sized up in the trousers. The relaxed fit has made a comeback with the Gorpcore trend. It’s a new approach for me and I did appreciate the room to manoeuvre and the possibility of layering thermals underneath. Drawcords at the hem are secure and simple to use. However, baggy pants become problematic in gusty winds when they flap. In calm weather, there’s a slight swooshing noise when walking – but it’s not as intrusive as that of infamous waterproof overtrousers.
No odour is retained after days of wearing and the Farrens wash well with no piling. They are are expensive (despite not being fit for all-season use) but have quickly become my go-to warm-weather legwear thanks to the unrivalled comfort over many hours of activity. Given the immense efforts made by Berghaus to craft a genuinely women-first technology, I’d like to see the sizing extended to include more body sizes.
How we test
Francesca has been testing the Farren trousers and leggings over four months on late-summer, autumn and early-winter walks and minor scrambles across the Peak District, Eryri, and the Lake District, as well as trialling them in the gym and at her local climbing wall.
