Prana Stretch Zion Pants Men's: Redefining Comfort for Adventurous Men

In Hinduism, the brand name Prana means breath. It is also considered a life-giving force that flows in and around our bodies. The founders chose this name, intending to inspire all of us to stay active and feel good about ourselves while wearing Prana clothes.

Since the early 2000s, Prana has been committed to an ethical, sustainable manufacturing process.They have used organic cotton, hemp, recycled wool, and polyester to support ethically-made clothing. Organic cotton uses less water, eliminates GMOs, harmful chemicals from our closet, and these materials also create versatile and stylish clothing for yoga, hiking, swimming, and many more.

Prana uses organic cotton to make their clothes 

For Prana founders, sustainability is about the clothes that they sell us and also about the health and safety of their factory workers. The packaging is another area that Prana has committed to change. The company’s goal is to completely eliminate plastic from its packaging in 2024.

To me, the best hiking pants are not necessarily the most expensive ones. They should be the ones made by manufacturers that respect the planet and its people - like Prana.

2. Prana Stretch Zionpants - Product details, pros, and cons 

As with any other Prana Brion pants, this Prana Stretch Zion pants review will take you through the specifications of this pair of pants first, and then I will also share with you its pros and cons.

Specifications

• Fabric: 97% nylon, 3% spandex
• Made from Stretch Zion woven fabric with DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• Weight: 14 oz
• Gender: Men's
• Pockets: 5
• Two front mesh pockets
• Side cargo pockets: yes
• UPF rating: 50+
• Roll-up legs: yes
• Standard fit
• Ventilated inseam gusset
• Streamlined adjustable integrated belt

Pros

• Well-designed for both hiking and everyday casual wearing
• Made of durable Stretch Zion fabric
• Super comfortable
• Abrasion-resistant and wrinkle-resistant
• Have a wide variety of sizes and colors to choose from
• Excellent sun protection
• Included of many pockets
• Quick-dry stretch nylon fabric
• Streamlined adjustable waistband
• Comes with ventilated inseam gusset
• Suitable for all kinds of weather

Cons

• Threads start to unravel after wearing a few weeks
• Ankles are baggy
   

Prana Stretch Zion pants review

Comfort and versatility

The Prana Stretch Zion pants men's is made from Stretch Zion fabric, which is a four-way stretch fabric that effectively resists abrasion, dries quickly, and is super comfortable to wear. This material is also soft, not too tight or too loose, giving outdoor adventurers the right amount of stretch for climbing, hiking, or biking activities.

The Prana Stretch Zion is super comfortable to wear

Its roll-up pant leg snaps is another feature worth noting as it adds to your convenience when hiking or biking. The pant legs come with one pair of snaps on each seam. Thanks to this feature, you can roll up the cuffs and snap them into place. When the pant legs are rolled-up, you can shave about eight inches off from the pants' length.

Traipsing through creeks, splashing in puddles, and even crossing streams while on a hike is super comfortable with these snap-up pant legs. It works great in keeping your legs warm on cold days while offering an option to wear  shorter pants for some extra ventilation during warmer days.

I have worn this Prana men's Stretch Zion pants when hiking outdoors in 40°F weather, and it is thick enough that my legs still felt warm. I usually need to wear long underwear underneath when I participate in outdoor activities during cold days, but I no longer need to spend money on this extra layer of winter leggings when wearing these Prana pants. I have also worn it while camping outdoors in 70°F weather, and it is still breathable enough that my legs do not feel hot.

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Well-designed and stylish

The pants are perfectly designed for outdoor adventures as well as daily casual wear. It looks like regular pants with a comfortable and laid-back style, letting you wear them both around town or on a hiking trip to the mountain.

Its integrated hip belt is one of the features that I like the most. It is a built-in adjustable belt that is perfectly sewn into the waistband, so I can take it on and off without the need to open or close a belt buckle. Adjustment is also simple: I only need to pull on the end of the belt that passed through a buckle located to the right of the fly.

The integrated belt is light and easy to use

Though this belt is light, it works exactly the way I want it to. The pants remain tightened for the entire time I’m wearing it. Even when I hike ten miles or tackle the most challenging rock cliffs, the belt still keeps my pants tight. Also, these pants’ cuffs fit perfectly over a pair of hiking boots, so they hardly constrict my movement, no matter where I wear them to.

The Stretch Zion has five pockets: the two regular front pockets are around six inches deep, and are made from the black mesh material. If you worry that  the mesh holes are so large that you might lose small items, then fret not! These two front pockets’ mesh holes are small, and deep without being overly deep.

The  two back pockets are made differently: one is standard, the other is sealable as it has a small slice of fabric over it. However, it is not secured, so be aware that stuff can fall out.

The cargo pocket is on the left side of the pants, and it is perfectly designed for backcountry travel. It comes with two zippers, one is located at the top near the flap, and the other is on the front. I find this zipped pocket great for carrying personal belongings while climbing, like a phone or keys. It is 6’’x 6’’ in size, meaning it is large enough to accommodate a small to average-sized cell phone like an iPhone 7.

When choosing the best hiking pants, we often only pay attention to critical criteria like comfort and durability, but the Prana pants are also stylish. Some readers might not immediately agree with me on this point as “stylish” is usually associated with fashionable items that they wear to parties or to fashion shows. However, you can have hiking clothes that are both functional and stylish, and this pair of Prana Men's Stretch Zion pants can amplify your style correctly. Its roll-up legs also add to the aesthetics of these pants. Putting them on will immediately make you and feel outdoorsy and cool.

Relating to the style, there is one minor con that I think I should mention here. These pants fit perfectly over the thighs and do not rub against your thighs. However, it is a little baggy around the ankles and calves. From my personal experience, the built-in adjustable belt  helps to minimize this bagginess toward the lower part of the pants, as the belt makes it easy to tighten the pants to the level that you wish. Because of this relaxing look, it is more suited for outdoor and casual wear, but probably not for formal office meetings.

Durability

Durability is where the Prana Zion Stretch pants stand out from its competitors. I have worn lightweight and stretchy hiking pants before, and most of them do not last long. So I assumed that the quality of light pants is not very dependable.

However, these Prana pants are an exception. These pants are light yet surprisingly durable and abrasion-resistant, and they are designed to keep up with all of our adventures.

I have scratched and banged them against the branches, sharp rocks, walked through thorn bushes, scraped through sandstone walls, walked through mud, and dirt on multiple outdoor trails when hiking. I have also washed them many times, and they still show no signs of tears or scuff marks.

Some threads unravel slightly after several weeks of wearing, but most of them are around the inside of the buttons, so I do not consider this as a durability issue. After five months of regular wear and tear, they are still as thick and sturdy as the day I first bought them.

I have come across comments saying that the belt does not function properly after wearing it a few times. However, I haven't faced any problems with this pants' built-in belt even during long-distance trails, and I believe you will not, either.

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Breathability and ventilation

The Prana Stretch Zion pant men's is super lightweight. It weighs only 14 oz, which is around 40% lighter than my denim jeans. Though the weight of clothing does not always equal its breathability, the lighter the hiking pants, the more comfortable they are to wear.

As briefly mentioned above, the pair of pants’ roll-up legs help with ventilation, especially during summer days. It opens up the legs to allow airflow, which cools the wearers down quickly.

I have not used this feature often, only a few times on the last few trails, but it is really helpful to have when the situation arises. Two months ago, I had a hiking trip to  Rosebud Battlefield State Park in southern Montana, and these snap-up pant legs helped me roll the pants up by about 8 inches, keeping my pants dry when crossing small streams.

The vented gusseted crotch has tiny vent holes to help dry the perspiration of the wearer’s body during outdoor exercises, facilitate breathing, and keep the wearer cool. Besides this, the UPF 50+ qualities also helped me to stay comfortable and protected in hot weather of up to 75°F.

  ➜ RELATED: Lowa Renegade GTX Mid: Right Footwear For Your Adventures

Alternatives 

1. Prana Zion Straight Fit pants

The Prana Stretch Zion pant 30 inseam have almost all the features that a hiker needs. However, if you are looking for a versatile pair of pants that works well for both trails and a casual office meeting, its baggy ankles might not be a good fit. When it comes to versatility, the Prana Zion Straight Fit pants might work better. 

Prana Zion Straight Fit

It has all the same features as the Stretch Zion pants that I reviewed above: the integrated belt, the zipper cargo pocket, the roll-up snaps, and the vents. However, it comes with a slimmer cut that can remove the bagginess beneath the thighs, giving it a much better look for going around town.

You can also wear it to casual office meetings or some overtime working hours over weekends. Since it is less baggy, the pants also dry faster because there is less fabric used to make them.

Since it has a slimmer fit, it does not restrict my motion. You might feel a bit tight in the waist or butt from the first try, but be aware that it is made from Stretch Zion fabric, so it will stretch as you wear them. Over time, the material loosens up a bit.

2. Prana Men's Zioneer Pants

The Prana Men's Zioneer Pants is a great all-around pair of pants. You can wear it to work, hiking trips and other outdoor events, or just around town. It shares many similarities with the classic Stretch Zion, like the built-in belt, the roll-up snaps, and vents.

The Prana Zioneer pant

Their key difference  is the side pocket: it has a different shape with only one zipper on the side. The result is you can have a more versatile pair of pants that looks a bit less outdoorsy.

The Zioneer does not have a slimmer cut, and it is just as baggy as the classic Stretch Zion. So if you are looking for a slim fit, this is not the right one for you. However, if you do not like the classic Stretch Zion's cargo pocket, then this Zioneer model could be an alternative that is worth your consideration.

Conclusion

I hope that this Prana Stretch Zion pants review has provided you with useful information to decide whether you will need to purchase these pants. They are well-made, durable, and lightweight hiking pants that are versatile for outdoor trips and daily casual wear.

Even though they might look a bit baggy, I do not find this a big concern as I tend to prefer loose clothes. In case you’re interested in other options, head over to the alternative section above, where I briefly reviewed two more options for your consideration.