Arc’teryx Sabria pants for women: Tested and Reviewed

When I go hiking in summer, I just wear comfortable shorts, but up until last year, hiking in any weather below 22°C posed outfit issues. You can't just go hiking in any kind of long trousers. If the hike is intense, things can get uncomfortable quickly.

Leggings don't have pockets. Sweatpants can become too baggy. Jeans just isn't an option. Enter the Arc'teryx Sabria pants.

When Arc'teryx asked me to try these trousers, I didn't hesitate. I'd heard good things about the brand and I'd finally be able to wear something suitable when working my leg muscles.

I've tested these pants for about a year now and here are my findings.

 

 

What are the technical specifications of Arc'teryx Sabria pants?

The Arc’teryx Sabria Pants are ideal for intense outdoor activity like technical hiking, trekking, mountain climbing or simply walking your dog.

So, naturally, the designers have given a lot of thought to the material that went into the pants. They chose to use 87% Nylon (material which is popular for its resistance to heat and moisture, flexibility, durability, and toughness) and 13% Elastane (material recognized for the high degree of comfort and freedom of movement).

When you go out hiking, climbing, backpacking or any activity that requires you to high step, jump and run around, you definitely need a pair of pants that can keep up. The 4-way stretch fabric that the Arc’teryx Sabria Pants are made of, offers a lot of room for motion.

In addition to this, they also have articulated knees and gusseted crotch which will give you absolute freedom of movement.

An adventurous person who is always on the move appreciates the quality and durability in a pair of technical pants. The Sabria Pants are made of a strong, resistant material that will allow you to wear them on the most challenging routes for a long time to come.

The Sabria Pants come with UPF 50+ sun protection which will shield you from the damaging ultraviolet radiation. We now know how much damage those rays of UV radiation can cause, including premature skin aging, sunburn or different types of skin cancer.

Thus, people with sun-sensitive skin, people on high grounds or equatorial regions where the sun is more intense, even people taking certain kinds of medication need to take full precaution in the form of high SPF sunscreen products and UPF 50+ clothes. Arc’teryx Sabria Pants recognize this fact and made sure that you are completely protected while hiking.

There are four different colors to choose from: plain black, Black Sapphire (which is a dark blue), Redox (a light shade of brown), and Shorepine (a pleasant shade of green). It’s nice to see that you have more options other than the traditional beige or khaki pants.
 

What are the features and performance of Arc'teryx Sabria pants?

Features and performance include the sizing, fitting, breathability, stretch, comfort, pockets, water resistance, quick-dry effectiveness and style.

Arc'teryx sizing and fit

The Arc’teryx Sabria pants follow a woman’s specific silhouette which makes them really flattering. They have a low-profile waistband with a drawstring that allows you to tighten the waistband if needed. Unfortunately, the waistband itself isn't stretch.

The Sabria Pants are slim through the leg, however, they are not as tight as a pair of leggings, leaving plenty of room for movement. Towards the ankle, they become tapered which will go great with both hiking boots and walking sandals.

The Arc’teryx Sabria Pants are available in a variety of sizes, from XS to XL. Just a tip: if you happen to be between sizes, it would be a good idea to order the larger size, as the waistband doesn’t give a lot of way.

I'm 1m65 and weight 56-57 kg depending on how much chocolate I've had the day before. I have heavy legs and my hips are quite a bit wider than my waist. In the photos, you can see how the pants fit me and I own them in a small.

They fit nicely around my upper legs while being a bit loser around my lower legs. They also fit nicely around my behind and if I were 10 cm taller, the pants still wouldn't be too short. They're mid-rise.

 

Breathability

One of the most important features when buying a pair of technical pants is breathability. You wouldn’t want to slowly stew in them on a hot day or turn into an icicle on a freezing day while on a mountain trail.

The good news is that the Arc’teryx Sabria Pants are made of high-quality air-permeable fabric that allows air to pass through them, therefore providing the much-needed breathability and increased comfort.

Sabria Pants have a good layering system that conserves or dissipates heat, depending on the weather. Thanks to this very effective system you will be able to use your energy efficiently and achieve all your goals.
 

Stretch and comfort

Negative note: the trousers do stretch out a bit when you wear them more than once before washing them and when you have big hips like I do, you stretch them out even further by having to pull them over your hips as they don't have a zipper and button but a drawstring. I would've preferred a zipper and button.

The Arc’teryx Sabria Pants are lightweight and ocomfortable to wear. Having said that, the only thing that is not so comfortable about them is the waistband. It is surprisingly rigid which makes the pants tricky to put on or take off, especially if you are a little curvy. It might require you to do a mini-workout in order to slip into them.

Once they’re on, the waistband sits snugly and comfortably around your waist but you have to do the same mini-workout to slip out of them. So, perhaps it would’ve been better to equip the Sabria Pants with the traditional zipper and button instead of a drawstring.

The material that the Arc’teryx Sabria Pants are made of, stretches quite a bit especially when you wear them more than once before washing them. So, if on the first wear they fit perfectly, you should expect them to be a little looser on the following ones.
 

Pockets

The Arc’teryx Sabria Pants have two zippered thigh pockets with flaps in which you can keep small objects in complete safety. They lay flat so you won't have two awkward-looking bulks on the side of your legs.

However, considering the fact that nowadays most of us take our mobiles with us wherever we go, it would’ve been a good idea if the designers had made the pockets slightly bigger. In their current size, a mobile phone will not fit.
 

Water resistance and quick-dry

The fabric has been coated with DWR (durable water repellent) which repels moisture. You will not have to worry about spilling liquid on them or getting caught in a light drizzle.

But if you do, rest assured, the Sabria pants dry off surprisingly quickly thanks to a well-thought-of layering system that moves moisture away from your skin. This is an important feature for a pair of technical pants.
 

Style

Usually, hiking pants sacrifice style for functionality but this is not the case with the Arc’teryx Sabria Pants. The slim cut is very flattering and you will have no problem popping into the local bar for a well-deserved drink after your hike without feeling awkward.

In fact, the available colors make the Sabria pants very versatile. You will be able to wear them on a remote mountain trail, on treacherous terrain, or while simply running errands around the city, all the while feeling stylish and cute.
 

Is Arc'teryx pants worth it?

I love how light these Arc'teryx pants are and how they don't really look like hiking pants. The somewhat stretchy fabric makes them easy to move in and the fit is flattering. The downsides of these hiking trousers to me are the rigid waistband/them not having a zipper and the pockets but the latter aren't as big of an issue as I always have a backpack with me anyway.

If you're looking for stylish and lightweight mid-high hiking trousers, I'd say the Arc'teryx Sabria pants are a good choice.
 

Where to buy the Arc'teryx pants for women?

You can find the exact pants I have here for women and here for men.
 

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I received the Arc'teryx Sabria Pants for review purposes.