Rab Incline Pant Review
The Rab Incline is a reasonably priced, function-first mountain pant that performs well across a variety of activities, from hiking and backpacking to scrambling and climbing. We were impressed by its durable yet lightweight fabric, solid weather resistance, and thoughtful touches like fully zippered pockets and cuff drawcords. That said, the lack of waist adjustment detracts from the overall comfort and fit—enough to be a dealbreaker for many. Still, for its $125 price tag, the Incline offers dependable performance and versatility with only a few caveats.
Comfort & Mobility
Durability
Breathability
Weather Resistance
Features
Sustainability
Category
Light/midweight
Materials
88% polyamide, 12% elastane
Weight
10.3 oz.
Waist
Snap/fly
Pros
Cons
Rab Incline
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Hiking Pants.
The Rab Incline pants rank near the top of our list when it comes to comfort and mobility, thanks to their generous stretch and thoughtful design. I wore these on a four-day backpacking trip through the Enchantments, and they handled everything from high-steps over boulders to squatting down to set up camp with zero restriction. The 88% polyamide, 12% elastane blend offers excellent give—comparable to standout models like the Arc’teryx Gamma and Mountain Hardwear Chockstone Alpine Light—and felt just as suited to rock scrambling as to long trail miles.
The only comfort hiccup was the fit: while the legs felt great, the waistband ran a bit large on me. I wore an XS (my usual size for a 27” waist), but it still felt loose up top, making the proportions feel a little off. And while the men’s version adds a gusseted crotch for even more mobility, this is sadly missing from the women’s version. But none of these gripes truly interfered with movement, and overall, these are some of the most comfortable and versatile hiking pants I’ve worn.
For a pair of light-to-midweight hiking pants, the Rab Incline punches above its weight in durability. The 88% polyamide, 12% elastane stretch double-weave fabric felt tough and high-quality out of the box, and it lived up to that impression in the field. I wore these on a four-day backpacking trip through Washington’s Enchantments, where they endured snow, rain, wind, and sharp granite without snagging, tearing, or showing signs of wear. Despite their thin softshell build, they handled rugged terrain and campsite tasks with ease.
While I wouldn’t call the Rab Incline bombproof like some burlier softshells, they’re more than capable for regular use across hiking, climbing, and backcountry travel. Compared to something like the Outdoor Research Ferrosi (86% nylon, 14% spandex), the Incline felt noticeably more hardwearing. If I were heading into unpredictable mountain weather, these are the pants I’d reach for. They strike a great balance between weight, stretch, and abrasion resistance—a versatile choice for demanding conditions.
The Rab Incline pants offer solid, though not standout, breathability. The double-weave nylon fabric let enough air through to keep me comfortable while hiking in 70-degree sunshine, and I didn’t find myself overheating on steep climbs or while setting up camp. The tethered drawcords at the cuffs were a nice touch—they made it easy to hike the pants up above my calves for a little extra ventilation when temps rose.
I’d rank the Incline’s breathability in the middle of the pack—comparable to the Arc’teryx Gamma, maybe even a touch airier. And while light enough for warm days, they also handled unexpected cold well. On a 30-degree morning with light snow, I layered long johns underneath without feeling constricted. All told, the Incline is not the most air-permeable hiking pants we've tested, but it balances breathability and weather resistance nicely.
The Rab Incline Pants handled mixed mountain conditions impressively well. Treated with a fluorocarbon-free DWR, they shed light rain, snow, and even moisture from damp sitting rocks without soaking through. During my backpacking trip, I faced everything from 70-degree sunshine to 30-degree snow flurries—and the Inclines never left me wishing for more protection. Even in sustained wind and passing showers, I stayed comfortable and dry enough to avoid layering up prematurely, and they dried quickly when wet. While the Incline is clearly not a substitute for full rain pants, the weather resistance here is better than most softshell hiking options.
Pockets
The Rab Incline features a thoughtful pocket layout that stands out from much of the competition. The women’s version includes three zippered YKK pockets—two at the hands and one on the right thigh—all of which can be securely closed. I especially appreciated having zippers on the hand pockets, which are often left open on other hiking pants. The thigh pocket felt sturdy and functional—a notable improvement over the shallow or oddly placed thigh pockets on models like the Prana Halle. Some might miss a rear pocket (the men’s version includes one on the right seat), but personally, I found the three existing pockets more than sufficient for trail essentials. Anything else lives in my jacket or backpack anyway.
Waistband, Cuffs, & Other Features
The ankle drawcords on the Incline were a standout feature for me. They made it easy to hike the pants above my calves for ventilation or to keep them in place while wearing sandals. I liked them better than the drawcords on my Patagonia Chambeau Rock Pants, which had to be physically tied and felt cumbersome in comparison.
On the flip side, the waistband left a lot to be desired. The two-snap closure was finicky, and unlike many hiking pants, there’s no built-in belt, drawstring, or elastic—just standard belt loops. Since the waist ran large on me, I found myself needing a belt constantly, which is not something I ever want to wear while backpacking, due to the pressure points it causes underneath a backpack hipbelt. Functionally, it’s a fine system if the pants fit you off the rack, but if not, it’s a hassle (I’ll likely need to get the pants tailored for a better fit). One final nitpick: I wish Rab would experiment with more adventurous colorways. The current options feel a little too safe for a pant that’s otherwise trail-ready and versatile.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
PFAS-Free DWR
Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are used in outdoor gear for their strong resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product uses a PFAS-free DWR, while a red X means the DWR contains PFAS.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption, though programs vary widely. Some brands offer comprehensive repairs for a range of issues, while others provide limited or no repair support. A green check mark indicates a robust repair program, a yellow check mark indicates limited repair services, and a red X indicates the brand does not offer repair services.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
I’m 5’5”, 120 pounds, with a 28-inch inseam and 27-inch waist, and I tested the women’s XS in the Rab Incline. I typically wear a size 0 or small in bottoms, but since Rab tends to run large, I went with the XS. The fit through the legs was great—streamlined without feeling tight—and I had plenty of room to move and even layer long johns underneath during a snowy, 30-degree evening and morning.
That said, the waist was surprisingly big. Despite the XS being listed with a 27-inch waist (which should have been spot-on for me), the pants sat awkwardly unless I wore a belt. And with no built-in drawcord or integrated belt, that meant constantly fussing with a hipbelt and regular belt on the trail—not ideal. For others considering these, I’d recommend either sizing down (if possible) or planning to tailor them if you’re between sizes.
Black Diamond Alpine Light ($149): Not Worth It
The Rab Incline and BD Alpine Light fit the same use case for climbers and mountain-minded hikers, but we think the Incline pulls it off a bit better (and for substantially less $). The Alpine Light has just one zip pocket (compared to the Incline’s four), which is enough to justify our point. But durability and build quality are the true disappointments here—our Alpine Light pant hasn’t endured heavy use nearly as well as our Incline, with pilling, inches-long tears, and undone seams to prove it. It does feature a built-in webbing waist belt, which we wish the Incline had. Both pants are fairly compromised (you could solve all of these issues with the Arc’teryx Gamma pants or Mountain Hardwear Chockstone Alpine Light), but the savings might be worth it for some. For more, read our review of the Black Diamond Alpine Light.
Outdoor Research Cirque Lite ($155): More Mountain-Ready Features
For notably more than the Rab Incline, the Outdoor Research Cirque Lite offers a slightly burlier feature set with a few key trade-offs. Both pants use similar fabrics—88% synthetic and 12% elastane—and are comparably breathable and durable. The Cirque is a bit heavier at 14.1 ounces (vs. the Incline’s 12 oz.), but that extra weight brings perks like scuff guards on the inner ankles, gusseted zip-adjustable cuffs, loops for gaiter, and a built-in belt—all missing from the Incline. Both pants are excellent picks for hiking, climbing, and backpacking, but your final decision may come down to whether you desire features or simplicity. For more, read our Cirque Lite review.
The Incline is a function-first mountain pant for a very reasonable price. Its four zip pockets are a highlight, but unfortunately, the Rab’s waistband lacks a belt and is finicky to secure.
Comfort & Mobility
Durability
Breathability
Weather Resistance
Features
Sustainability
The Alpine Light offers a Goldilocks combination of fabric weight and stretch for fair-weather hikers. However, the pant lacks a refined finish, and the material is not particularly durable. For the price, it’s not a long-lasting option.
Comfort & Mobility
Durability
Breathability
Weather Resistance
Features
Sustainability
Technically minded hikers will want to check out the Cirque Lite pants, which offer impressive durability and features for much less than the competition. The fit and finish aren’t as premium as what we see from Arc’teryx, and not everyone will want the scuff guards and lower leg zips.
Comfort & Mobility
Durability
Breathability
Weather Resistance
Features
Sustainability
Is the Rab Incline for You?
The Rab Incline is a strong pick for hikers, backpackers, and climbers looking for a versatile mountain pant with solid durability, mobility, and weather resistance. They strike a great balance between stretch and structure, making them just as suited for scrambling over granite as they are for hiking big miles or lounging in town post-trail. If you value ankle drawcords, zippered pockets, and a streamlined design, the Incline delivers—just be ready to bring your own belt if the waistband doesn’t fit you perfectly. However, if you prefer a hiking pant with an integrated belt or stretch waistband or you want a bit more breathability in hotter climates, there are better-suited options out there.
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