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Aug 30, 2023

Gnara Go There Hiking Pants Review: First

Not only are the groundbreaking Gnara Go There outdoor pants wildly comfortable

Not only are the groundbreaking Gnara Go There outdoor pants wildly comfortable — they easily and efficiently let women go to the bathroom outside.

Gnara Apparel (formerly SheFly) launched a patented zipper technology for ladies’ pants that allows gals to quickly squat and discretely pee in nature without needing to disrobe. Launched in 2018, the women-led brand has since refined the revolutionary zipper. The pants received the 2022 Outdoor Retailer Innovation award and officially hit the market this spring.

The progressive pants have a traditional zipper fly in the front that helps users pull on and off the pants. Below the traditional fly zipper, a second patented zipper reaches from between the legs all the way up the backside to the waistband, allowing folks to unzip and open the pants like a clamshell to relieve themselves in nature, without pulling down their pants. Or, say, while in a climbing harness!

We’ve been testing out the hiking pant on day treks around the mountains on sunny, overcast, and drenched, drizzly days. While wearing them, I’ve gone pee many times. Beyond liberated bathroom breaks, the design has performed in more ways than expected.

In short: Built for the outdoors, the Gnara Go There Pant ($165) is comfortable, durable, very pliable, and loaded with well-designed pockets. It has an adjustable pant leg and waistband, and it offers the benefit of having protection, coverage, and more privacy when you need to go pee outdoors.

Cofounded by Georgia Grace Edwards, the concept for the avant-garde SheFly ‘second’ zipper was born on a glacier in 2016.

Edwards, at age 26, spent the summer guiding glacier treks in Alaska. Every day, she needed to travel further and for longer periods of time than her male peers for bathroom breaks — avoiding risky crevasses along the way — that required peeling down several clothing layers in sub-zero conditions. Ultimately, she stopped drinking water to avoid the risk and hassle.

Edwards returned to college at Middlebury, enrolled in an entrepreneur class to develop a prototype, and started presenting the pants at various pitch fests and events. The initial design was unanimously well-received — including by male allies and investors.

In spring 2019, Edwards and cofounders Bianca Gonzalez and Charlotte Massey launched an iFundWomen crowdfunding campaign to officially kick off the Colorado-based business. To date, the pants have been through nearly 100 iterations, and improving the product is an ongoing goal, according to Edwards.

Let's get right to the core of these special outdoor pants.

As mentioned, the design has a traditional zipper fly in the front, which helps users expand the waist circumference and pull on or off the pants.

Below the traditional fly zipper, a second zipper starts, which reaches from between the legs all the way up the backside to the waistband at the sacrum area. That patented zipper allows wearers to unzip and open the pants like a clamshell to go to the bathroom. So you can leave your pants on while you urinate.

Behind the front zipper is a wide, soft interior fabric flap that shields the zipper from the body. That textile strip is seamless but thick enough to block any sensation of both zippers. In one single piece, the fabric shield stretches from the button closure above the front zipper all the way through the second patented zipper and to the backside's waistband. Picture a rainbow.

That fabric shield makes both zippers unnoticeable and comfortable. The YKK zippers are durable, smooth to operate, and functional, and we never experienced any snags.

So, how does the patented zipper work?

First, I had to teach myself to not undo the button and traditional front zipper, which is habitual. Instead, you unzip the patented zipper as far as you want — but in general, the further the better. Then, assume your pee position; usually, I’d assume what SheFly calls a "full squat." You use your hands to pull the fabric and your underwear to the side. Then you pee. It's that simple. Mostly.

There is such a thing as user error. I rushed once, didn't open the zipper far enough, wasn't angled right, and totally got pee on my garments. Whoops. Good thing I was near the end of the hike!

SheFly even has suggestions and tutorials for different pee positions on their @sheflyapparel Instagram account:

I thought the full squat was most comfortable (and less work for my quads than a partial squat). Once I trusted the zipper, I kneeled at times, which worked well. It's all personal preference!

In addition to privacy, I really appreciated the presence of fabric around my cheeks on chilly, damp mornings and when the mosquitoes were out.

I’ve been holding onto the same pair of prAna hiking pants since 2008, because I’m obsessed with the stretchy, comfortable, water-resistant fabric and the overall design. I don't use them much where I live now, because the cooler fall season is so short and I prefer wearing shorts in the heart of summer.

But I’ve used my prAna pants trekking across the jungle in Belize and through the Himalayas and summiting dozens of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks. I would buy another pair, but they’re discontinued.

The four-way SheFly textile blend is the closest mark I’ve found to how my favorite pair of prAna hiking pants feel. The Go There Pants are super flexible and don't hinder any movement at all. The fabric thickness keeps you free of scratches from the surrounding brush — and dry. It's been a heavy monsoon season this summer, so we can attest that the water resistance works.

Compared to my prAna pants, the fabric feels a tad denser and more insulating (a bit of a downside for me, because I tend to get warm and sweat while ascending a slope regardless of the ambient temperature). Overall, I wish there was an interior thigh zipper for ventilation or an option for a slightly lighter-weight fabric.

That said, these pants ultimately provide mega freedom of movement, and for most women and activities the fabric weight is just fine.

These SheFly outdoor pants elevate the standards for functional pockets, too.

Both hand pockets are spacious and have zipper closures. What a thought!! (If you’re a woman, you know why that's worth an extra exclamation point.)

The two backside pockets are deep, stretchy, and have a flap of fabric that folds over the top. The sides of the flap are stitched down, so the pockets do a good job of securing items without having a snap or zipper that makes sitting down uncomfortable.

On the right quad is a deep pocket with a zip closure, which can fit a large phone. I started hiking with my device there, and it's a very comfortable placement to carry the weight — I don't even notice it. The one drawback: again, I sweat. So my phone typically gets moisture all over it. It’d be sweet if that pocket was waterproof yet still seamless to better protect the phone.

The waistband is wide and doesn't sit too low or too high on the waist. It's just below the belly button. It's well-paired beneath a pack with a hipbelt.

A simple button secures the front. There are belt loops if you need them. Every time I wear the pants, I use the two smooth, elastic drawstrings inside the waistband to snug up the waist, which I appreciate.

The svelte pant legs are cut straight, which I also like, so they don't get caught or flap around when I move. The hems also don't get caught beneath my shoe (a problem with other hiking pants I’ve worn).

The hems have a small elastic cinch, so you can tighten up the pant leg bottoms. Inside, there's a snap socket, so you can roll up the bottommost portion of the legs and secure them via a snap stud at the calf. Then you’ve got a Capri style.

My favorite prAna hiking pants are convertible with a zip-off option, making them knee-length. That’d be a great option to see SheFly explore in the future.

Beyond being super comfortable and movement-friendly, the SheFly Apparel Go There Pants feel durable and are well-made with high-quality materials. The seams are strong but pliable. The zippers are top-notch. I don't see any reason why these pants won't last as long as the old prAna pair I have.

The pockets offer a fair amount of space for goods and they’re functional. The designers could even add a second zippered thigh pocket and that would be a great addition.

The golden trait of the pants — that patented zipper for going pee outside without dropping your drawers — works really well. As long as you unzip that long zipper all the way, there's ample space to pull the fabric aside and go.

Having your pants on when you go pee is not only convenient and efficient, but it also preserves privacy and safety. It protects your skin from the elements and insects and prevents unintentional exposure.

In situations where you are wearing a harness, climbing or rappelling on the job like bridge inspectors, these pants allow you to stay secure in that harness while managing a basic bodily need — which also leads to a social, economic, and performance shift for female professionals that need to be safe and efficient while on the clock.

The cut is streamlined, making these outdoor pants even more functional, and the silhouette is flattering and attractive. These pants look good.

When I consider the price tag of $165 and how long I’ve had my 14-year-old prAna hiking pants and how sad I’ve been thinking I’d never find another adequate design, that's hands-down the easiest money spent. The investment for a well-made, long-lasting pair of women's outdoor pants you can wear doing anything is worthwhile — and these pants elevate the experience in more ways than one.

After months on the trail, we found the best hiking pants for women. Pick a pair and get ready for adventure. Read more…