WESTERN RISE DIVERSION PANT: REVIEW
FOREWORD
Western Rise has been on fire. In 2020 alone, the small innovative brand has launched two incredibly successful Kickstarter campaigns, introduced 13 new products and expanded their existing lineup with new colors and sizes.
Since its inception in 2014 the brand has been releasing one hit after another, consistently appearing in the top charts of the best travel and everyday clothing. Their limitless merino shirt, airloft jacket, evolution pants and other products have quickly become the default option for those seeking the trifecta of comfort, performance and timeless look.
Western Rise is making big waves in the clothing industry by introducing brilliant performance apparel that looks equally great in the boardroom and on the hike.
I personally supported multiple Western Rise Kickstarter campaigns and was delighted when the company offered an opportunity to review one of their most iconic pieces: the Diversion Pant.
At the time of writing this review the pant had over 120 reviews on the website with an average of 4.8 star rating, which is very impressive.
Do these pants live up to the hype? Read on to find out.
WHO IT SUITS
Anyone seeking a versatile pair of pants that can work well in a business or casual setting.
Those who value comfort, mobility and durability of their garments.
Anyone already invested in Western Rise products would appreciate how well it goes with basically all of their product line.
WHO IT DOESN’T
The pants might be outside of the budget for some people, but considering their versatility, durability, comfort and overall quality, they are arguably a good investment. However, if you are not willing to (or simply can't) spend more than $50 on a pair of pants, there are other decent options on the market.
ABOUT THE PANTS
PRICE: $148
COLOR OPTIONS: Flat Black, Dune, Blue Gray
COMPOSITION: 94% nylon, 6% spandex
First things first, I got the Diversion pants in Flat Black, size 34. For reference, I am 176cm, 93 kg and 33 years old.
The cut is definitely contemporary with the pants sitting right on the waist, not too high or too low. Definitely a slimmer fit, the size 34 was a good fit on my waist, even though I normally wear size 33. After checking with the team at Western Rise I found out that the stretch is taken into account for sizing the pants, so they do run a bit small. Simply put, when ordering Diversion Pants I recommend sizing up.
As for the length, I did hem the pants as they are a tad longer than I normally wear.
Pairing the Diversion with another Western Rise product, the StrongCore Merino t-shirt, I immediately noticed that despite both being marketed as black (called Flat Black and Black respectively), their colors are very different with the pants looking more like graphite/dark grey and the t-shirt being true black. I hope my pictures help illustrate this. Overall, I actually enjoyed this color very much, just keep in mind that it is not really black.
COMFORT
The pants are extremely comfortable and do not restrict movement thanks to their 4-way stretch. Having a heavier build, my constant concern for any pants or shorts are my thunder thighs, which make many of the offerings on the market not suitable for me. I am happy to report that this was not the case with the Diversion pants. The pants fit slim on me but not at all suffocating or limiting my mobility. I was equally comfortable wearing them on the hikes in Turkey, as I was whilst sitting in long business meetings. The more I wore the Diversion pants, the more the comfort shifted from “good pants” to basically “I can wear them 24/7”.
I would not call them as comfortable as sweatpants, but compared to other pants I tried, the Diversion pants definitely come out on top. Especially when you take into account how equally great they look dressed up and dressed down.
DESIGN & FEATURES
Despite looking like a regular pair of pants, I was pleasantly surprised by the features offered by the Diversion pants:
A phone pocket is confidently replacing the small “watch pocket” found in the majority of jeans. I rarely use the watch pocket on my jeans, mainly because of how tight and limiting it is, even for something like an AirPods Pro case. But the phone pocket on the Diversion pants easily accommodates my iPhone 11 (with case!) and I quickly got used to how generous, stretchy and convenient it is.
6" gusset makes wearing the pants all day a joy and does prevent “the important bits” from getting crushed...
Zipper security pocket is located on the right side and offers extra security for sensitive items like a wallet or a passport. The YKK zipper used on that pocket actually has a plastic cover to ensure that items like your phone are not scratched when put inside the adjacent pocket. Very thoughtful of you, Western Rise team!
Water and stain resistant! I have yet to find any marks on my pants after wearing them extensively for over 10 weeks. They don’t absorb the liquids as fast as a regular cotton pair of pants or jeans, but do not expect them to be waterproof. They do get wet, just not as fast. I am sure the wizards at Western Rise could have made these pants waterproof, but that would have come at the expense of another critical feature: breathability.
All in all, Western Rise has hit the perfect balance in look, comfort, durability and useful day-to-day features that never feel like a gimmick or a marketing ploy.
Another thing I simply cannot leave out is how great Western Rise’s support is. I have received invaluable feedback and recommendations on color, sizing and model of the pants in a record time. Not the feature of the pants alone but something true for every single product in the portfolio, Western Rise excels in making each customer feel supported and appreciated.
WHAT’S HOT
Brilliantly designed to work equally well as casual, active, travel and work/office-appropriate pants.
4-way stretch and a gusseted crotch result in supreme comfort.
The modern fit and lack of flashy branding make these pants great in any scenario you can imagine.
Zippered back pocket and phone pocket on the front are surprisingly useful and handy.
Outstanding support of the Western Rise team throughout the ordering process and beyond.
WHAT’S NOT
The sizing and the color of the Diversion pants were not 100% obvious, perhaps adding more accurate information and pictures of the Flat black version of the pants would help manage customer expectations better.
The asking price might not work for all, but I recommend subscribing to a newsletter to stay informed on the promotions and specials Western Rise offers.
VERDICT
I have to admit, the Western Rise Diversion Pants ruined many pants for me. It’s very easy to get used to the comfort and versatility of this pair, making it nearly impossible to go back to my old pants.
After 10 weeks of owning these I noticed that the pants from beloved brands like Uniqlo, Lululemon and ACT1 were basically collecting dust on the shelf. Beyond the impressions about the pants, I was smitten by the care and support offered by the Western Rise team, who patiently walked me through the options and features of the pants, helping me make the right decisions when it came to size, fit and color (I live in Ukraine so shipping back the product for replacement is not really easy or fast).
If you are a minimalist who is looking for ‘The One Pair’, the Diversion Pants should be on the very top of your list. For all others who are looking for top-notch pants that can work equally well in formal and informal settings, pants that look great and feel even better, look no further! And if you have questions about the product and are not sure which model, size or color works best for you, rest assured, the folks at Western Rise have your back.
