Field test: Fjällräven Abisko Midsummer zip off Trousers Our test Manufacturing Comfort Performance Accessorizing Robustness General assessment
With the Abisko Midsummer zip off Trousers, Fjällräven offers a lightweight model with removable legs perfectly suited to hiking in our latitudes.
The Fjällräven Abisko Midsummer zip off trousers (phew!) are part, along with all the products in the brand's Abisko range, of a series of products designed for light day hiking and hut-to-hut treks. Beyond that, we will be more interested in the higher ranges: Bergtagen (high mountain) or Keb (great trek). Among a range that includes around twenty different trousers, including men's and women's, the Fjällräven Abisko Midsummer zip off Trousers is a variation of the classic Abisko Midsummer Trousers, but in a “zip off” version, with removable legs. Available in men's and women's versions, these lightweight trousers opt for a cotton and polyester fabric (G–1000 Air Stretch), which primarily aims for quick drying and great lightness in use.
| Technical sheet | Fjällräven Abisko Midsummer zip off Trousers |
|---|---|
| Sex | Man and woman |
| Matter | G-1000 Air stretch (organic cotton and partially recycled polyester) |
| Membrane | Nope |
| Pockets | 4 |
| Belt loops | 8 |
| Peg | Elastic cord |
| Colors | 3 colors (men) / 2 colors (women) |
| Manufacturing | Vietnam |
| Weight | 343 g (EU size 50) (see note (1) below |
| Price | €199.95 |
Editor's notes
Manufacturing: (4.5/5)
Comfort: (5/5)
Performance: (5/5)
Accessorizing: (4.5/5)
Toughness: (5/5)
Where to find it?
To be found at our partners: Au Vieux CampeurEkosportMountaineer |
First feeling to the touch: lightness. In terms of manufacturing, this sometimes holds unpleasant surprises. Seam checks: perfect overlocks, and double stitch seams. In terms of material, the fabric used, G–1000 Air Stretch, is made of organic cotton and partially recycled polyester. A good point for the environmental note. On this Abisko Midsummer zip off Trousers, Fjällräven uses two different weights / weaves, with reinforced areas in particular: buttocks, knees, pockets. Do we put on? On the belt side, eight loops (!) allow a perfect fit, and above all pants that keep their shape perfectly, even after several hours in the field. A very good point. The knees are slightly preformed and the lower leg is finished with an elastic cord. Sufficient ? To be continued…
Rating: (4.5/5)
No need to go back to the belt and its eight loops. This is one of the unexpected strengths of this model, as it provides comfort over time. In terms of cut, it remains classic (regular fit), and therefore ideal in all circumstances. Neither too fitted to guarantee good breathability and perfect ease, nor too “baggy” for pants that follow your movements at all times without ever clinging. The preformed knees are effective, and if the stretch is rather limited, the extensibility never gives any feeling of limitation in the movement. Do we remove the legs? Hidden under a flap located at the bottom of the thigh, and the zips are protected, on the inside, by a cuff that prevents contact with the skin. Everything is done in one minute flat; the longest part will still be removing the shoes... The legs can be stored in the side pockets located on the thighs, and be forgotten until the first frosts of the evening.
Rating: (5/5)
On the performance side… How to measure the performance of a pair of trousers? We are talking here about lightness. It is there, even if a weight exceeding 300 g is no longer completely in the ultra-lightweight category. It doesn't really matter. This Abisko Midsummer zip off Trousers is a real pleasure to wear, and in terms of breathability, it remains correct. No excessive sweating in case of extreme heat, and if necessary, you can easily open the zips (belt pockets and leg zips) to reduce the feeling of heat. Even switch to shorts, of course! Light, breathable… on the technical side, this meets the promise of the Swedish manufacturer, with a small bonus. The G–1000, including the Air Stretch version, can be waxed perfectly using the brand's Greenland Wax. Without reaching the impermeability of high mountain membrane pants, we can thus reinforce certain points such as the front of the thighs, while preserving the breathability of the rest. And dry everything in a jiffy on arrival at the stage.
Rating: (5/5)
In terms of accessories, apart from (again!) eight belt loops, our Abisko Midsummer zip off is a bit scanty... Two zipped mesh side pockets (that's good), a "card" pocket (with gusset and press studs) on the left thigh), a zipped “media” pocket on the right thigh (large pocket + internal micro-lighter pocket)… Everything would be perfect with two back pockets, no doubt. Do we miss them? Not really. Who actually uses it? At the bottom of the ankle, an elasticated adjustment cord. Simple and efficient. Very effective. We will come back to this in the next chapter.
Rating: (4.5/5)
The sinews of war… Having worn out a number of bottoms while trekking, I ended up getting annoyed by their often recurring weak points. On the seam side, as we said, it's serious. The zips too, signed YKK. Let's talk about the G–1000 AIr Strech fabric again for a moment. The reinforced areas show a confidence-inspiring ripstop weave that hasn't budged one iota despite an active summer (on very abrasive terrain, in particular). The non-reinforced areas favor the extensibility of the stretch, with very good resistance over time. Remains THE key point. The one that, year after year, makes me throw the still correct pants in the trash (recycling, of course): the ankles. The lightness of the fabric let fear the worst. But the design works wonders. Thanks to the elasticated ankle cord, the trousers remain systematically protected from friction which never fails to occur on the inside, in contact with the top of the shoes. Result: impeccable ankles, despite tens and tens of kilometers on the clock. That's a good point. A very good point, even, which augurs well over time to the expectations of a regular hiker.
Rating: (5/5)
For regular practitioners, lightness is often synonymous with fragility, which often encourages them to equip themselves in the higher ranges. Also the Fjällräven Abisko Midsummer zip off Trousers was expected at the turn. In the end, the lightness is there, with an excellent level of comfort (we never take it off!), a very practical aspect with the removable legs, the possibility of obtaining water repellency by waxing it with wax, etc But the real strong point of these pants is undoubtedly their sturdiness: a real waistband and elasticated ankles are a real bulwark for a perfect fit over time. There remains one point, not insignificant… the price. At nearly 200 euros for the pants, it obviously deserves consideration. It's up to you to see… Still, for once, you get what you pay for. With a little environmental tone (organic cotton, recycled polyester) that will in any case make it a sustainable purchase, in every sense of the word.
Overall rating: (4.5/5)
We liked | • Excellent robustness • The environmental aspect of the choice of fabrics • Light, breathable, and water repellent with Greenland Wax • Perfectly designed waistband and ankles |
We liked less | • 200 € all the same… • No back pockets |
The test conditions
• Tester: Anthony Nicolazzi
• Test conditions: Mini-treks in the Alps in summer conditions (variable weather) and summer coastal hikes in Brittany (overcast weather).
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