Any update for us on the Fjallrave Vidda trousers?
I've been wearing them in all weathers for a while now and am generally very pleased with them. The good:
- breathable;
- tough...I've pushed through dense undergrowth including brambles and they just shrug it off without any damage, unlike my deerstalkers which rip at the first sign of anything sharper than a dandelion;
- practical...nice little touches like boot-lace hooks and adjustable hems so even if your leg length is shorter than the standard 32/33 inch fixed leg, you can have them pulled in and strapped to boot-laces. Great pockets;
- relatively rain-resistant. I wouldn't call them waterproof but the double reinforcement at back-side and knees has never let water or dampness through despite kneeling in the wet and sitting on damp logs etc.;
- not too noisy;
- windproof if waxed;
- surprisingly warm enough even sub-zero;
- no sweaty gonads!
The not so good:
- As above, not 100%water resistant but do dry quickly and don't cling to the skin so you never feel chilled;
- waxing them is a PITA
- Expensive (relatively) for what they are.
They come without a lot of wax impregnation and the more they're waxed, the more waterproof they become. It also enhances durability and helps protect the (double) stitching. From what I have seen, they are a massive step up from anything I've seen from the likes of the new Seeland range in build quality.
To wax them you have to buy a block of Greenland wax (a fiver) which resembles a bar of soap. It's a mix of paraffin and beeswax. You gently rub it in all over which takes a good hour or so to get an even coverage, then stand back and admire how your trousers now resemble a dribbly candle, all streaked white. I then take a heat gun with a flat diffuser on the end, set to a temperature that wont melt the polycotton (ie hot but not so hot you'll burn yourself if you direct the heat to the back of your hand). It takes about 55 degrees to properly melt the wax, but I've found a little hotter is better. The wax magically melts and gets soaked into the trousers.
It's at this stage that the cult Aardman Animations film "The Wrong Trousers" springs to mind as initially they feel as stiff as frozen cardboard, but a short time later, they soften up and bed in. I usually then remelt the wax as it seems to take a few attempts to get an even streak-free melt. Once done a few times, it really helps wind proof them but they do retain enough to improve water repellancy to an impressive degree. I've so far waxed them twice, and they could do with 3 or 4 treatments for regular wet weather just to ensure a really even all over coating which is difficult at a first attempt.
All in all, they feel like they'll last years and they're certainly tough enough to go the distance. I like the olive green and black. Understated and drab. I've done a gralloch in them and they sponged off well afterwards. They also have a natty knife pocket which is where my scabbard goes.
What would they have over Harkila? Well, for less than half the price of Harkila's entry level fare, I reckon they'd be as long term durable, and more breathable so ideal for hill stalks and genuine all year round use. They won't be as warm or as waterproof as Harkilas better range such as their "Pro" trousers, so high seat users may wish to look elsewhere in the colder weather.
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