Helly Hansen Women’s Hild QD Pant

After swimsuit shopping, finding pants that fit is one of my biggest nightmares. So I was very happy and surprised by Helly Hansen’s comfy, versatile Hild QD pant.

Made out of stretchy, quick-drying nylon with UV50+ protection, the Hild QD pant is perfect for tall, active gals like me. I love the low-rise style, which I believe is still plenty modest while being much more comfortable than 95% of women’s active pants I’ve tested. I also appreciate the long-length. I’m 6′ tall, and this is one of the few pants I have that is long enough for me. The wide, cottony-soft waistband does an excellent job of holding the pants in place without any binding….ever. The gusseted inseam is a must for any activewear pant, and the stretchy fabric is superb, giving me a perfect fit and freedom of movement. Unlike some trail pants I’ve tested in the past that keep stretching until they’re baggy and chafing, the Hild QD pant has the perfect amount of stretch and still holds its shape. Yea!!!

When I first received the Hild QD pant, I wore it every day for about five days before I washed it. I didn’t want to wear anything else because the pant fits perfectly. The first time I put on the pant I thought it was snug (not tight, but body-hugging), but, like magic, the material quickly adjusted to my body and just hovered over my skin so I didn’t feel like I was running around town in a revealing pant. I’m not normally a fan of nylon pants because I often don’t like the feel of the fabric against my skin, but the ultra-thin and lightweight fabric used in the Hild QD pant feels fine. Between the perfect fit and the high-performing fabric, I don’t even feel like I’m wearing pants, which probably sounds funny, but it’s a lovely feeling. I never have to pull up on the waistband; I never feel binding or bunching; I never feel like I can’t wait to get home and change into something more comfortable.

I have worn the Hild QD pant on hikes, on daily power walks, for resistance training, as a daily casual pant, and as my favorite travel pant. I wore the Hild QD pant for almost three weeks before I realized that it has tabs inside each pant leg and snaps on the sides of each pant leg that allow me to roll up the pant legs and snap them into place. This is a handy feature for me because when I’m outside and find myself near water, I have to wade in. It’s also a nice option when I want to wear the pant with my Birkenstocks.