Proof Rover Pant (Slim) Review

Plenty of gear can make or break your trip, but topping the list has to be your pants. Pick a pair with the right color and material (plus the right attitude), and you can breeze through your destination without feeling like your legs want to detach and book the next flight home. That’s why we always go out of our way to pick light, stretchy, and comfortable pants that we find ideal for travel.

That begs the question: is the Proof Rover Pant good for travel? While we do like its overall rugged looks, toughness typically also means stiff and rigid. That said, there are always nuances and details to discover when searching for the best pants, so let’s jump into the review!

The Rundown

Right off the bat, the Anthracite colorway really appeals to us. Yes, this is the usual Pack Hacker style of picking the black colorway because it’s easy to match with other pieces. However, Proof’s choice of black buttons and rivets is the cherry on top that seals the deal for us. More so than this particular colorway, the entire range (at the time of writing) of Rover Pant colorways is quite tasteful. They’re all in the brown-black range, but for those who’re into lowkey styles like us, this is more than enough to cover the bases.

We also like the offered size range for the Rover Pant (again, at the time of writing). Some members of the Pack Hacker crew are on the taller side of the spectrum, and finding lengthy pants is usually challenging. Fortunately, the Rover Pant goes up to 34-inch lengths (the sample we’re testing is 36-inch waist x 34-inch length), which is lengthier than we need. As for the waist, you also get plenty of choices from 28 inch to 38 inch, plus you can supplement that with a belt if you order a size too big. Your mileage may vary, of course, but it’s encouraging to see Proof covering the bases.

The blacked-out buttons and rivets tastefully match the subdued colorways. It’s a small touch, but we like it when brands go the extra mile with accents and garnishing like these. They’re also pretty sturdy l, and the rivets have stood their ground despite the occasional rub against the wall and plastic seats. The zipper is on the thinner side, but the teeth are not so fine that the smallest thread strands jam it; it’s pretty smooth to operate and stays in place.

There are also the expected five belt loops scattered around the waist. There’s not much to say here, really. Each loop is sufficiently strong to hold onto even thick leather belts with real heft. That said, our travel-oriented ways lean towards lightweight belts like the Arcade Ranger, so we’re not stressing out these belt loops regularly anyway.

It also has a conventional pocket layout of two at the sides and two at the back. The most noteworthy feature here is the watch pocket. We often find pockets like these too small or just the right size for an AirPods case. In the Rover Pant’s case, though, it’s wide enough to fit a Max-sized iPhone vertically. That said, you probably would still want to place that in the adjacent main pocket. It’s good news for those with large wireless earphone cases, though, as some of them can get really chunky, depending on the brand. But it can be easy to confuse the pockets, given the watch pocket’s proximity and size.

Now, we’ve arrived at the Rover Pant’s biggest downside: its fabric. Mind you, its 73% cotton, 25% Repreve Trutemp 365, and 2% Lycra (quite the mouthful to say in one breath, right?) blend is by no means “weak” in the sense that it’s flimsy. In fact, it’s quite tough to the touch, and it certainly looks rugged. Its relatively coarse texture is very fitting for jeans, and it has that American outdoorsy vibe to it that we dig—although the pants are made in Indonesia, in case you’re wondering.

However, this toughness translates to a rigid feeling when wearing it. It’s not at all like the Flint and Tinder 365 Pant, which is notably light and soft. Interestingly, the Rover Pant does have a gusseted crotch, which, combined with the 2% Lycra material, made us think the Rover Pant would be more pliable in everyday use. Specifically, we prefer more stretch around the rear and the crotch area. Apart from comfort, the fabric’s relative rigidity makes it harder to compress when packing. It’s not substantial if you’re only bringing one spare. However, once you bring two, three, or even more, this begins to have a domino effect on the space it occupies in your bag.

In other words, the Rover Pant isn’t optimal for sitting comfortably in the tight confines of economy class or packing spares for a lengthy trip when you want to avoid repeating a pair or doing laundry. On the other hand, it’s still a trusty, rugged pair of pants you can count on when you take it with you.