Pnuma Outdoors recently sent me two of their products to test, the Pathfinder Pant in khaki and the Renegade ¼ Zip in Caza Camo.
BLUF
While these didn’t get to me in time for my trip to Africa this summer, but they will definitely go with me on my next trip. These are the first Pnuma products I have had and after wearing them hunting, fishing and hiking, I am a fan. I even wore them for 12 + hours of travel through multiple car rides, airplanes and shuttles in temperatures from the 90’s down to the 50’s all on the same day. They were perfect.
Pathfinder Pant
According to Pnuma, “The Pathfinder is your ultra-durable, everyday tactical khaki pant. Engineered with durable 4-way stretch fabric and articulated patterning for maximum range of motion, these pants are perfect for the city and the mountains. The Pathfinder pant features fast wicking and fast drying fabric as well as a convenient back pockets to safely house your valuables.”
While not water resistant, the nylon fabric doesn’t seem to hold water and dries very fast. The fabric definitely stretches with my movements, enabled too by the articulated patterning. It never feels constraining on my range of movements. I’m waiting for colder weather to see how they do on warmth retention, but this is a perfect fall/early season pant and holds up to hot weather use too.
Looks like durability on these will be very good as well. Reinforced knees and wide belt loops fix weaknesses seen in other manufacturers pants. I expect them to wear well through hard field use. The reinforcement on the pocket for your knife is a welcome addition as well. Even the button seems bulletproof, sewn on with what looks like 550 cord, making it easy to button but secure.
After a few days in the upland game fields, full of briars and tangles, I am encouraged that these will hold up to hard use.
Should something happen to them during use, it is important to point out that Pnuma backs up their products with a lifetime warranty to repair or replace any item that fails to meet expectations. There are some restrictions on that, but basically it means don’t abuse them or use them in ways not intended.
It is worth noting too that in addition to wearing them in the field, I have worn them to the office and church, where they fit in equally well. A truly flexible pant for multiple uses.
The only changes I would make would be the addition of a magazine or cellphone pocket on the hip. And I would add more colorways, as these only come in tan. A camo version would be particularly nice in my opinion. Additionally, if you are border line on a size, go up a size. These fit a little tight in the waist. I’m a 32 in most other manufacturers and wish I had a 33 in these.
Renegade ¼ Zip
The Renegade ¼ zip is one of Pnuma’s base layer options. According to Pnuma, “If you’re looking for an ultra-light go-to performance shirt, then look no further than the Renegade. The Renegade line is highly breathable and has one-way moisture transfer. This means you get superior wicking and moisture dispersion for more efficient evaporation. Translation…you stay dry under pressure. We designed this shirt with a loose fit for comfort and an antimicrobial treatment that keeps you fresh in the field. For early-season or warm-weather hunts, this will be the one you reach for every time.”
I really like this shirt. Super comfortable, cool and breathable. It really is a great early season option for deer or goose hunting, and should be good for spring turkey as well. Works well as a base layer by itself, or over an undershirt. Over anything more than a t-shirt though, you’ll want to go up a size.
I wore this a lot fly fishing in the mountains this summer, and I stayed comfortable, while still having my arms protected from the sun at altitude. If the shirt got wet, it dried almost instantly with the sun and a light wind.
It is worth noting that, as with most base/mid layers, this shirt will snag on thorns and branches. Not a surprise as it would happen with almost any synthetic shirt.
Overall I’m impressed with Pnuma’s products and definitely intend to try some more.
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
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