Performance Denim Is Having a Resurgence, Delighting Everyone Who Wants to Move While Still Looking Chill
What to know: After testing performance denim everywhere from the rock-climbing gym to hot summer trail runs, our outdoor gear columnist names the best overall performance jeans as the Ripton Superlight Jean. She also highly recommends Duer’s Performance Denim Harbour Shorts as the most comfortable, casual-looking shorts. For hikers and runners looking for maximum mobility in a shorter inseam, she loves the Ripton Trail Daemon Jorts.
I don’t have much tolerance for uncomfortable clothing, especially pants. I want to be able to move freely whenever I want, in whatever I’m wearing, whether that means taking a work break to pull hundreds of weeds from my garden or going on a quick hike with my dog at lunch. And since I sometimes go out among the public for social functions and athletic events, I’m always looking for comfortable, functional gear disguised as regular clothing that makes me look like I’m adulting.
Some would suggest denim jeans as a possibility for that role. Jeans have a reputation for being both comfortable and functional—an undeserved reputation, in my opinion. True, made from 100% heavyweight cotton yarns woven into a tight-knit twill, traditional denim can be soft, durable, and functional for things like riding horses and shoveling what comes out of that horse. Denim jeans also resist snags when scrambling on rocks or pushing through abrasive brush on a trail. And they provide resistance from wind and cold for bike commuting or shoulder-season hiking.
But they aren’t truly functional compared to modern outdoor gear: they’re too stiff to allow for flexible rock-climbing moves, restrict knee bend for comfortably pushing bike pedals or stepping uphill on a hike, and could cause hypothermia if you get wet…because they stay wet.
And comfortable? C’mon. Do you want to wear jeans with their unforgiving waistband and button closure at the Thanksgiving dinner table? Or on a plane for seven hours? Or during any outdoor activity that requires full movement and makes you sweat? Jeans do become stretchier as the fibers relax, flex, and adapt to the wearer, but not enough to be truly active.
That said, there are jeans that successfully blend casual fashion and athletic function. A couple of decades ago, I practically lived in a pair of thin, lightweight, super-stretchy Prana jeans because they were breathable and flexible. I could wear them out on the town at night, but they were also my top pick for rock climbing and camping. They had a funny print that I overlooked because they were so dang comfortable and functional. They were my do-it-all pants. It’s been years since I found another pair of denim pants that I don’t dread pulling on—pants that have that classic denim look but can be worn hiking, rock climbing, camping, traveling, and around town.
In recent years, however, several brands have brought back what they are now calling performance denim—cotton fibers woven with synthetic threads like stretchy elastane and cooling, sweat-wicking recycled polyester. Duer and Ripton are two performance denim brands that have impressed me. Duer launched in Canada 11 years ago when its founder saw a need for stretchy jeans for cycling. Ripton introduced performance denim jorts for mountain biking in late 2019. Both brands have expanded their performance denim lines and are creeping into the outdoor space. Here are some of their jeans and shorts I’ve worn and recommend.
The post Performance Denim Is Having a Resurgence, Delighting Everyone Who Wants to Move While Still Looking Chill appeared first on Outside Online.
About The Author
