Why the Prana Brion is the best budget outdoor pant

Quite a few of my readers have mentioned the Prana Brion pants as a great budget option for hikers, travelers, rock climbers, and other outdoorsy types, and I would have to agree. They’re made of the same fabric as their dedicated rock climbing pants, but have a more casual style, making them a great all-around choice for all sorts of activities.

Given their popularity, it’s also likely that you’ll be able to find them on sale, at prices significantly lower than some of the higher-end soft shells out there. I managed to find some for about $50, and considering that’s 75% cheaper than some of the $200 alternatives out there, these are a comparative bargain, and might just be the best value performance pant out there.

So, how do they stack up? Let’s find out.

Prana Brion Pant Review

Here they are:

Plain and simple, just how I like it. These have jeans-style pockets, and…well, that’s about it. Prana’s Stretch Zion pants, which are more dedicated for climbing, have specialized features such as an integrated belt, roll-up ankles, and a zip-off shorts version, but the Brions are more like casual wear by comparison. They’ll handle a hike just fine, given how they’re made of the same material, but these will be right at home at a bar or a nice restaurant afterwards.

Pocket closeups

I’m always happy to see performance pants using jean pockets, as they do such a great job of preventing anything from falling out:

The coin pocket is nice, although it’s small; it’s not one of those extra-deep ones for a phone, so it’ll only handle coins.

Over in back, the Brions have two patch pockets, just like a pair of jeans. They originally had a logo stitched on to the back right pocket, but I was able to remove it without doing any damage to the fabric:

Those are just regular pockets, which brings me to Caveat #1: The Brion pants have no security pockets. Prana was obviously going for a different demographic here, but I wish these had something zippered to keep a wallet secure. It’s fine for a budget choice, but you’ll want to keep just a few cards on you if you’re traveling someplace with pickpockets, or you can use a money belt.

While we’re on the subject of pockets, here’s what the front pockets look like on the inside:

Prana Brion Pant inside pocket closeup

They’re meshy, which I’ve never quite enjoyed. The idea is to make them more breathable, but they feel weird, like I’m wearing a swimsuit or something…and occasionally the mesh will get caught on something and a thread will get pulled out. It hasn’t been a big problem for me, but it’s a minor gripe.

Here’s a closeup:

Prana Brion Pant mesh pocket closeup

This also brings me to Caveat #2: The front pockets are really short. You won’t be able to see this in the photos above, because these are an older version, from before they shortened anything. The new ones are a couple inches shorter, which doesn’t feel quite right. Tall phones might peak out the top, and it’s easier for coins and other small items to fall out. I think the idea was to make the pockets so short that you could wear a climbing harness, and any pocket contents would sit above the leg band of that harness, but still…it would be nice to have deeper front pockets, and I’m glad I got the old version, back in 2014 or so.

Fabric composition

The fabric used in the Brions is 97% nylon, and 3% spandex. It’s the same fabric used in their entire “Zion Family” line of products, named after their Stretch Zion Pants, which are built for rock climbing and other athletic activities that require light weight, high breathability, and plenty of stretch. Prana has had quite a few other items in this category as well (such as the “Zioneer” and “Zogger” pants), as well as shorts, and it’s nice to see a whole range of options using this same fabric, as it’s a pretty good one.

I say pretty good…because I’ve seen better, and I’ll explain why in a little bit. But for the price, it’s hard to complain.

It’s a single-weave fabric (as opposed to a double weave, which looks kind of like two layers of fabric stuck together). Here you can see both inside and out:

As I’ve mentioned in a few other places, the trick to making synthetic pants feel natural is to use thick, textured yarns. If the yarns are thick enough that you can see them with the naked eye, that’s a good sign; they’ll feel better, and allow for more breathability.

And in the Prana Brions, you can juuuust barely see them…and they’re not super textured. There’s still plenty of breathability, but they have a slick, synthetic feel to them, a little more than I’d like. Again, I can’t complain about these sorts of things given the significantly lower price, but I’ve gotten a little spoiled with some really great alternatives that feel closer to cotton than I would have expected from a synthetic fabric, and I tend to prefer them.

Still, I’ve handled other synthetic fabrics that feel like plastic, and these don’t come close to that; they’re in a middle ground where they feel somewhat synthetic, though it’s nothing too crazy.

It also gets a bit wrinkly. It’ll kind of clean itself up as you move around, but it’s not as wrinkle-free as you might expect from a synthetic material.

Fabric weight

The weight itself isn’t listed (in grams per square meter), but these are super light, and definitely suitable for hotter weather. Even tropical heat is doable, depending on heat sensitivity and level of activity.

If you really want to get into detail, in a 32×32 they weigh about 12 ounces; this is significantly lighter than the Outlier Slim Dungarees (which are 16 ounces, at 280 grams per square meter), or a pair of jeans (20-24 ounces) in the same size. Doing the calculations, the Prana Brions are right around 210 grams per square meter, which is the sweet spot for hot weather.

And yes, I know I just went back and forth between metric and non-metric. Hush.

Fabric stretch

This is sort of an odd one. The Prana Brions are extremely stretchy horizontally, expanding about 35% beyond the original size, but they’re only a little bit vertically stretchy, at just 5%. I wish the vertical stretch were a little more significant, especially for things like rock climbing, where you often have to lift your legs up high. For the most part it’ll be fine, but just a bit more would have been nice.

They do have a gusseted inseam (that diamond-shaped piece of fabric that goes between the legs), which helps out with flexibility:

I tend to like these quite a bit, as they generally allow for wider leg moves than you’d get with a regular inseam, so I’m always happy to see them.

Fabric durability

Here’s where we arrive at Caveat #3: The fabric isn’t super tough. It’s thin, light, and summer-appropriate, meaning this is what happened to the knee when I fell off a bike:

I patched it in back, and I’m happy to keep using them, but this is part of the reason I think of these as a cheap backup that I don’t mind ruining. You can’t expect amazing durability from something so thin and light, so I’d say it’s better to think of these as general athletic pants for warm or hot weather, rather than super-tough canvas that’ll handle whatever you throw at them. But again, if you can find them on sale, you won’t get too upset if they get thrashed.

(For a heftier, tougher pair of pants, check out the AT Slim Rivets by Western Rise. I fell off a bike in those too, and they came away completely unscathed.)

Fit notes

They call these slim, although they don’t taper toward the ankle, so they’re a little looser down there. Going with your regular size is just fine (same size as Outlier and Bluffworks, if you know those), but these do have a tendency to expand over the course of a day, so it’s best to use these with a belt, as the waistband will otherwise expand and sag.

Conclusions on the Prana Brion Pants

All in all, these are a great budget choice, and perhaps the best value in a lightweight, breathable, stretchy, versatile pair of pants that’ll handle a hike and a pub crawl equally well. I wouldn’t say they’re the best, but at the MSRP of $80, they’re significantly cheaper than any of my other favorites, and it’s easy enough to find them on sale.

You really can’t go wrong with these if you’re planning on using them for warm weather trips and you don’t want to spend too much; but keep in mind the shallowness of the front hand pockets, and lack of zippered security pockets.

So if these are for you, you can find them on Amazon.

They’re also available in many hiking, camping, and outdoor stores, as well as Prana’s own website, where you can find the entire “Zion Family” of products using the same fabric.

If you’re looking for something thicker, tougher, and maybe with a security pocket, check out a list of soft shell jeans, where you’ll find some truly impressive options, if you’re willing to spend a bit more.

About SnarkyNomad

Eytan is a pretentious English major whose rant-laden sarcastic tirades occasionally include budget travel tips and other international nonsense. You can follow his every narcissistic word on Facebook or Twitter.

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15 Comments on “Why the Prana Brion is the best budget outdoor pant”

  1. I thought we were pretty much on the same wavelength regarding comfort in our nether regions, having read your thoughts on travel undies. However if these Prana Brion are the best budget trousers you can come up with for $80 or so then you are severely deprived.
    Not just the many ‘caveats’ – I call them faults–but practicality and appearance make this look like a sponsored ad.
    Maybe one of the 4 things to know about Europe should have been that we have better hiking/everyday trousers by a street.
    I’m not going to advance a laudatory review, but just have a look at Craghoppers NosiLife or Classic Kiwi. Or even the real budget stuff like Mountain Life or Quechua which can be had for under, €20.
    Waiting for reaction from your countrymen

    1. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose, but that’s exactly the sort of gear I try to avoid. The cargo pockets, the integrated belt, visible zippers, logos, and that sort of thing are details I’d rather live without. If I’m trying to pack light and have a versatile wardrobe, it has to look as good as it feels, so I can bring half as many outfits that can handle anything, and I think this one is a good example of that.

      And I found one for about $40 one time, which I think makes it a great choice.

      1. Horses for courses. I detest carrying a bag for my daily perambulations, so I tend to go for lightweight multi pocket trousers and a good lightweight gilet.. I need to carry a phone, a wallet a purse, passport, pills, tissues, mints, a pen, notebook, sunglasses, specs wipes and a small bottle of water.
        These are all concealed in my Craghoppers Nosilife lightweight trousers (insect repellant too) and my 24 pocket Scottevest featherweight gilet. Temperatures are generally hot here in the Algarve, and this is comfortable outerwear with superb carrying capacity. Both hands free for more important Stuff!

          1. Yep, that’s how I look at it. Anyone can go to a camping store and find clothes with all the pockets, but I like to collect the alternatives that look good enough to wear at a wedding, and functional enough to climb a mountain.

          2. Again the generalisation ‘Readership of this website’! – Houston, I think we have a problem. I sense the generation gap and I am on the wrong side. I attend more funerals than weddings, and if I travel to one, I wear the appropriate gear, not scruffy lightweight high polyethylene trousers, with or without pockets and zips. I think I misconstrued ‘travel pants’ aside from the fact that where I come from, pants are underwear! My days of travelling with a small pack are over, and I am built for comfort certainly not ultra-lightness. I agree with the conclusions about the travel underwear – Uniqlo are serving me well, but for my travels, which consist of walking round my destinations, I favour the pockets and zips. As you note there are plenty, and even though I cant access many of the brands you mention, we have a good selection, and I just cannot emerge from my hotel in the morning in minimally pocketed trousers and carry a handbag around all day.

  2. Some other good options for budget pants are Old Navy GoDry Pants (regularly on sale for $25,) Eddie Bauer Horizon Five Pocket Pants (regularly on sale for $42,) and Mountain Hardwear MT6 Pants (which will probably go for around $45 during typical end of season sales.)

    I had a problem with the Old Navy pants where the stitching frayed in multiple spots, but since I kept the receipt I was able to return them no problem and they were great other than that. The EB and MH pants are rock solid AFAIK.

    1. Eddie Bauer has a pretty great warranty, and I’m pretty sure Mountain Hardwear does too…and it’s available at places like REI, which have additional warranties of their own. Either way they’re going to be reliable.

  3. Hey Eytan,

    I’ve been recommended the Brion pants by many people for travel to South East Asia, but I was wondering what in your experience, and possibly even opinion, would be the best travel pants for hot and humid climates? Breathability and comfort being the utmost important factor, durability following, and at this point, price is not an issue if these are pants that will last me on plenty of travel to similarly humid climates

    1. To be honest, I’m not sure if any synthetic pant fabric will be comfortable enough to feel “comfortable” in super hot weather. Synthetics are non-absorbent, meaning you’ll be able to feel a layer of moisture along the surface. The only way to help with this is by using thick yarns, which makes the fabric a little heavier, but increase surface area and breathability. Western Rise makes a pair of pants (reviewed here) that have some big, visible yarns, and they breathe impressively well for something that hefty. The Brions have smaller yarns with a tighter weave, but they’re also thinner and lighter, so they can both work.

      But if you really want to be super comfortable, linen is the only way to go. It’s absorbent without feeling damp, dries quickly, requires an open weave that’s breezy and comfy, and has a nice feel in general. Unfortunately it isn’t weather resistant, and it’s not going to endure tough environments like synthetics would, meaning visible-yarn, single-weave synthetics such as the Prana Brions or Western Rise Slim Rivets would be a solid all-around choice.

  4. Eddie Bauer Horizon Guide 5 Pockets are VERY similar to the Brions in fabric, construction and fit as well as MSRP. I compared both and went with the EBs because of color choice (I favored a gray) and they were on sale. I subsequently bought a pair of Horizon Guide chinos (again I liked the khaki color choice over the Brions.) Of course the chinos have slash pockets in front and inset hip pockets. Those hip pockets both have zip closures. There is also an on-seam zip pocket on the right thigh. It’s not real practical, being a little small for either a passport or cell phone, but it’s there and is not too conspicuous. One other thing is that the mesh on the pockets is only on the side against the pants, not the leg, which is more comfortable. I’ve traveled with both of these and have been pleased.

    1. Yeah, I like those a lot. I try not to spend too much time reviewing retail brands, as their catalog changes so frequently, but maybe I should mention that one somewhere anyway…

    2. Out of curiosity, how do the chinos compare to the 5 pocket? Are they cut the same or looser/baggier? I had no idea they had a 5 pocket version. I recently had to give my chinos away since they no longer fit (and I wanted jean-like pockets).

  5. I tried these on at REI after reading this article and really wanted to like them. I could be wrong but I feel they’ve been redesigned since this was written. The material is stretchy and feels great, but the bottoms of the pants flare out at the hem, almost like boot-cut jeans. It’s a weird silhouette. The other thing is the crotch area is fairly low-rise, so if you’re, let’s say, packed well, your gear is displayed through the material. Sizing up to make more room makes the whole thing too baggy.

    The only other “technical” pant I own is a pair of Bluffworks Chinos; they feel slick and sweaty by comparison but the cut is near-perfect.

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