[Product] Evaluation | CleverHiker

Bottom Line

The prAna Halle Pant is a versatile, affordable pair of hiking pants that will meet the needs of most hikers. We like that these pants stood up well to the pokey vegetation found on the trails in Arizona. They were durable enough and only sustained minor damage even after a big fall off of a rock. Our side-by-side testing and field experience showed that these pants have some functional features, such as large hip pockets and a drawstring at the waist. These pants have more of the traditional hiking pants look and feel and, as such, are not quite as comfortable as some of the other pants we tested. That said, they still feel fine after a full day of hiking. Overall, the Halle is a good choice as a dedicated hiking pant – it ticks all our boxes for average hikes.

Comfort & Mobility

While the Halle Pants are comfortable enough to wear all day hiking, they aren’t our first choice for lounging around at camp. We performed a side-by-side comparison test and used them in the field to determine their comfort and mobility. During the comparison test, we lifted each leg while wearing the pants until we could feel resistance. Then, we measured the distance from the ground to the top of the knee and took the average of both legs. After completing this test, the Halle performed towards the bottom of the group. This was not particularly surprising as these pants are more form-fitting, which means there will be higher resistance when lifting the leg. This is generally apparent when walking up a steep hill, as that resistance can lead to increased effort.

We also used these pants while backpacking in the Blue Range Primitive Area of Arizona. We found they have the feel of more traditional hiking pants: comfortable enough to wear all day and sleep in, but not our first choice for comfort.

Durability

After bushwhacking through a burn area, the Halle impressed us with its durability. During a trip to eastern Arizona, we used these pants while hiking on a virtually non-existent trail. Part of the hike was along a burned ridge where we had to weave through thick brush and crawl over burned trees. At one point, one of our testers slipped off a rock and took an unfortunate fall. We were sure that the leg of these pants had ripped, but once we got up, we found that they were still intact with just a tiny wear spot near the hem.

They also did very well holding up to pokey plants along the trail, and there were very few pulled threads at the end of the trip. All in all, these pants have joined the ranks of some of our favorites to use for rugged, adventurous backcountry trips.

Breathability

The prAna Halle Pants are average when it comes to breathability. During side-by-side testing, we soaked the bottom of the pants in water and then hung them up to dry with all the other pants we tested. We timed the dry times of each pair of pants in the same conditions. The Halle Pants were in the middle of the pack. In the field, we didn’t find these pants to be especially hot or sweaty compared to other models. However, because of the form-fitting nature, there is not as much airflow to help with breathability.

Features

We like that the hip-level pockets on these pants are deep and spacious to fit a variety of objects. These were the pockets we tended to store our phones in while hiking because even though they didn’t have a zipper, the phone was never at risk of falling out. They are also the pockets with easiest access. Unfortunately, the leg and rear pockets were not as convenient. The leg pocket was large enough to fit a cell phone, but barely. The zipper was also difficult to open and close, particularly with one hand. The rear pockets were also cumbersome. The snaps were tricky to open and almost impossible to close again. An iPhone 15 Pro stuck out of the pockets enough that the snaps could not be closed over them, though they were snug enough that the phone did not fall out when we conducted our jumping test.

Other features that the Halle Pants include are a waist tie and belt loops. Both of these are standard and have no exciting innovations to offer.

Weather Resistance

The Halle pants are more water resistant than average but will not withstand torrential rain. PrAna includes a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish on these pants, which helps them to bead and repel a limited amount of water. During our side-by-side testing, we sprayed all the pants with a squirt bottle and counted the number of spritzes needed to wet out the pants. When we sprayed the Halle pants, the water beaded up a bit and ran down the pants before wetting out after eight squirts. This is better than the pants with no waterproofing but not as good as dedicated weather-resistant pants such as softshells or rain pants. These pants will do well in a light mist for a short time but must be paired with rain pants when used in wet environments.

Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants?

The Halle Pants are great all-around, traditional-style hiking pants with solid performance in every category we considered. These pants do well in many areas but weren’t a winner in any metric. Their reasonable price tag makes these a good choice for folks looking to purchase a versatile pair of hiking pants that will excel in various scenarios. Hikers looking for a pair of pants that fills one niche well, such as being extraordinarily comfortable, or the most durable pair of pants on the market, may want to look elsewhere.

What Other PANTS Should You Consider?

Khul FreeFlex Roll-up Pants Review: Another versatile pair of dedicated hiking pants, the Khul FreeFlex Roll-up Pants are one of our favorites. These pants are very durable and have accompanied us on many off-trail backpacking trips. We also like that they have great pockets and a drying time similar to the Halle Pants. The biggest downside in comparison to the Halle is they are less weather resistant.

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants Review: We like that the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants and the prAna Halle Straight Pants look nice enough to wear to work. They also both have large hip pockets, drawstrings at the waist, and a more traditional look. The Ferrosi does have better water resistance and quick drying abilities but is not as durable as the Halle.

REI Trailmade Pants Review: The Trailmade Pants are another great alternative to the Halle Pants for those who want a more traditional style. We love that these pants have good-sized hip pockets and a zippered leg pocket that is really easy to use. These pants are more breathable than the Halle, but not as durable.