Rab's Incline Pants

Preface

As always, we're looking at the Rab Incline trousers from the point of view of long distance trekking over tough terrain.

Test subject: Chest 42", Waist 33", Height: 5ft 8"
Test item: Dark Ink (Blue), Size = 34" (Waist), Short Leg
Kit Tests: Spring, Summer
Disclaimer: None required (item not provided by manufacturer)

Datasheet

Manufacturer's Page

 

Scramble Review

Contents

• Introduction
• Overview
• Performance
• Features
• Any Negatives?
• Conclusion, Rating & Product Images

 

Introduction: A Cunning (Modular, Money Saving) Plan?

In our review of Mountain Equipment's Ibex softshell trousers (the introduction of which we recommend looking over as it provides some useful context for this review) we noted, in the section "A Flexible, Modular Approach":

A modular approach is both possible and desirable for outer legwear that has to be flexible enough to deal with a broad range of winter conditions: rain, hail, snow, gale-force winds and biting windchill, sodden marsh, icy peaks and snowdrifts. With a few simple accessories available to deploy when required, rather than a patchwork of reinforced panels and patches, what is needed to complete this ensemble is a far simpler, more spartan proposition: a durable, simple and effective softshell trouser ...

Our plan is to see if we can take this modularity a step further and have a single pair of softshell trousers for all seasons. In winter, I'll be wearing (as I always do) a light pair of polypropylene half shorts, this time from Löffler (Midway Transtex Light Boxershorts) and over those a pair of Odlo's Active F-Dry Light 3/4 Tights. Rab make a very lightweight (100g) pair of genuine softshell shorts (Momentum Light Shorts). The idea is, if the Inclines can't quite handle freezing blizzards, then the shorts can be worn over the Odlos and under the Inclines providing dual softshell coverage for the thighs. So rather than needing a pair of winter-specific softshell trousers, we may manage perfectly well with knee length gaiters and some softshell double-glazing (Incline+Momentum) above the knee.  At least that's what we'll be testing.

In summary, we hope to be able to recommend just one pair of softshell trousers for all seasons; with our winter recommendation referring back to the Inclines while running through the modular add-on accessories required to armour-up for sub-zero conditions. That's our cunning plan. 

We may also do a special mention review for a specific hot weather trouser for those in genuine scorching heat (as opposed to what we've been getting in the UK recently, despite the dark red, "burning up", colourised met office weather / heat maps - it's not actually been that hot of late).  We're looking at a pair of trousers from climbing brand Rafiki which break all our rules, but look very promising and we'll be testing these in our 2026 Summer Kit Test.
 

Overview

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's have a look at what we regard as a classic pair of softshell trousers, one that to a degree hearkens back to the good old days of Rab's excellent Vertex Pants.  Rab haven't attempted anything ground-breaking or novel-for-no-reason, instead they've kept it nice and simple: tough enough, stretchy enough, breathable, a good non-billowy cut, three leg lengths (S, R, L), belt loops (no integrated belt nonsense - yes, we're talking to you Mountain Equipment), zipped pockets and drawcord hem adjusters. 

Now that wasn't too difficult was it?  (It is for many).

Rab kept it simple and made a classic pair of softshell trousers.

A Theme Inclined to Variation

Before we take a closer look at the Incline Pants, it's worth noting that Rab clearly view the Incline as a range; there are currently three versions which vary in weight, price and intended climatic conditions. We'll refer to the product under review simply as the "Inclines" (this is the standard, mid-weight version of the "family").

• Incline Light Pants (RRP £90): Single weave and ultralight; approximately 100g lighter than the Inclines and with no adjustment option at the ankle hem (we've written to Rab suggesting they update their misleading copy, which states "Tethered drawcord hem" - this is incorrect.
• Incline Pants (RRP £100): Double weave, standard version (under review here).
• Incline AS Pants (RRP £110): The same double weave fabric as the Inclines but with a brushed lining. The AS (All Season) model weighs about 90g more than the standard Inclines. In our view, you can use leggings / tights to achieve better results than an integrated lining which limits choice. These are a fraction lighter than ME's non-lined Ibex trousers, but also not quite as rugged.
   

Performance

In 2025 we ran what turned out to be two wet weather kit tests, one in late spring and one in late summer. Conditions were generally wet with cold winds in May and wetter yet warmer in September, however there were a few hot days sprinkled throughout.  When the sun did come out and it got reasonably summery (high twenties Celsius) there were no overheating issues when pushing hard in the Inclines (while wearing my nearly omnipresent waterproof shorts which were on throughout).

I would feel comfortable wearing the Inclines up into the low thirty degrees Celsius. The Incline's mesh-backed zipped hand pockets allow a little venting and obviously it's easy to roll up the trouser legs and have them function as 1/2 shorts.  That said, in seriously hot conditions, a lighter softshell trouser would be welcome and that will be the focus of a future review. But for the UK, the fabric weight of the Inclines is just about spot on (somewhere between Mountain Equipment's Comici and Ibex, a heavy weight version of Rab's light Vertex trousers) making the Inclines both light enough for summer, yet heavy enough to function as the backbone of a modular trouser, fortified internally and externally to function in harsh winter conditions.

Rab's Incline Pants have a great cut, roomy enough at the thigh and slightly tapered at the ankle.

What we're looking for in a piece of kit is something we barely notice.  The Inclines have been that kind of item, a quiet and efficient performer that just gets the job done. Let's have a closer look over the Inclines and hopefully by the time we're done we should have a decent definition of what we mean by a "classic softshell trouser".
 

Features

As we often do, we'll start from the top and work our way down.

Belt Loops and Poppers

Rab have sensibly rejected the idiotic fad of integrated, non-removable belts and instead provide large belt loops that will accommodate belts up to ~38mm. Standard 25mm webbing belts, like Scramble's TR25 (pictured below), work equally well. So, well done to Rab for not over-thinking and over-engineering things and instead keeping to the tried and tested.

As a brief aside, if I were designing softshell trousers, at the back of the waist line, I would have a single panel covering about 40% of the waist circumference with belt loops only featuring at the side and toward the front. Similar to what Mountain Equipment did on their earlier Ibex trousers.

Rab avoided the integrated belt fad, so we have choice restored, with belts loops and poppers.

The Inclines use double mini popper fasteners at the waist (pictured above) which work fine. No issues here.
 

Pockets

Rab's Incline trousers feature four zipped pockets.  Two hand pockets, one back pocket (pic #3 below) and one medium sized thigh pocket (pic #2 below). 

I use the back pocket for the day's toilet paper in a zip-lock bag. When trekking, the hand pockets remain empty (as I don't need access to cards or cash). All the pockets have a nice perforated mesh inner and, if empty, can be used as vents if required.

Rab's Inclines have four mesh-lined zip pockets

The Thigh Pocket

Pictured below, the thigh pocket doesn't look that substantial, but you can actually fit quite a bit in it, largely due to the stretchiness of the Matrix softshell.

The thigh pocket can handle quite a few accessory items.

Similar to the Ibex, the Incline's thigh pocket can hold quite a lot. I was able to pack it with the following:

• Alpkit Kantju Running Gaiter (Black, L)  [ pictured below ]
• Scramble Waterproof 1/2 Overshorts (Grey, S/M 30-34)
• Scramble Waterproof 3/4 Overshorts (Grey, S/M 30-34)
• Karpos Lavaredo Vest (XL, 92g)

Each of these items pack down quite small; I had them packed inside an Osprey 2L Ultralight Packing Cube (S) which then slid easily inside the Incline thigh pocket.

Rab's Incline Pants paired with Alpkit's Kantju Gaiters and Bestard's Gobi trekking shoes.

Most of the time I was wearing the Waterproof 1/2 Shorts, so that made for a less bulbous thigh pocket, but with 12% elastane in the Matrix softshell mix, the Incline's pockets have enough stretch to hold quite a few supplemental items.

No complaints at all when it comes to the pockets on the Inclines; the right number in all the right places.
 

Ankle Hem Cord Adjuster

Finally, at the ankle are some very well implemented friction shockcord adjusters which employ a cord-end anchor point to prevent the cord spilling out below the hem.

Rab's Incline Pants have excellent cinch cord adjusters at the ankle.

An excellent design which works very well.  This cinching method is something OMM could employ in their (recently reviewed) Halo Smock.
 

Any Negatives?

By resisting the temptation to scratch that niggling design department itch that wants to fix what is unbroken, Rab kept it simple and have made in our opinion a straight-forward, functional, classic pair of softshell trousers. Clear-headed design, excellent fabric, finished to a high standard. As a result we have no negatives to report. 

 

Conclusion & Rating

To conclude we'll simply re-iterate what we said at the beginning:

Rab haven't attempted anything ground-breaking or novel-for-no-reason, instead they've kept it nice and simple: tough enough, stretchy enough, breathable, a good non-billowy cut, three leg lengths (S, R, L), belt loops (no integrated belt nonsense), the right number of zipped pockets in all the right places and well implemented, unfussy drawcord hem adjusters. 

Rab's Inclines are light enough for a standard UK summer, yet heavy enough to function as the backbone of a modular trouser, fortified internally and externally to function in harsh winter conditions.

A mix of clear-headed design, excellent fabric and quality finishing are the key ingredients that go into creating classic outdoor apparel. We're very glad Rab didn't stray far from the beaten path; as a result they've given us nothing to complain about.  We just hope, as we often do, they don't get bored and decide to break things for no reason, or give up on a product line that, like the Borealis, deserves a long run.

Rab's excellent Incline Pants are Scramble's top pick in the Lightweight Softshell Trousers category. A category we may need to rename to the Modular 4-Season Softshell Trousers category. We'll see what the winter brings.

 

Product Images

 

Rating (out of 10)

* The value score is derived from two factors:
1) Competitive Market Price (CMP). This represents our judgement of a competitive online price point if we were to stock the item. e.g. if we feel we would need to sell an item at 40% off (i.e. 60% of its full RRP) to be competitive, then our CMP score will be 6/10.
2) Customer Value Price (CVP). We then make an honest appraisal of the maximum price we would be willing to pay for the item (and we're mean). So if we'd pay 80% of its RRP our CVP score would be 8/10.
We then average the two scores to get our final value score, which in our example would be 7/10.

 

 

Last Updated: 10/12/25