KUIU Motive Workgrade Work Pants Review: Built to Beat the Heat

As KUIU continues its expansion in the workwear sector, their Motive Workgrade work pants are purpose-built for summer temps. I’ve been wearing them for the past couple of months around the shop for tool testing and for some heavy landscaping duties around my home. In this review, I’ll share what I’ve learned from pouring a ton of sweat through them and help you decide if they’re worth it.

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KUIU Motive Workgrade Work Pants: What They Say

Before we jump into my experience, let’s take a quick tour of what KUIU has to say about their warm-weather work pants.

“The Motive Workgrade Pant charges into warm-weather jobs without breaking a sweat. Built from a lightweight, yet tough-as-nails double ripstop nylon, it strikes the perfect balance between rugged durability and all-day comfort.”

Key Features

• 4-way Stretch: Moves with you as you walk, bend, and crawl
• Gusseted Crotch and Articulated Knees: Improves mobility and durabilty
• Double-Layer Knees: An extra layer of material to improve durability at the knees
• Knife Clip Reinforcement: Protective material lining the full length of the right pocket top
• Hip Vents: Zippered, mesh-lined vents to allow more airflow
• Antimicrobial Treatment: Fights odor buildup
• DWR Treatment: Shed light precipitation and moisture
• Brushed Interior: Improves comfort against your skin

Specifications

• Material: 94% double ripstop nylon, 6% Spandex (172 g/m²)
• Sun Protection: UPF 50
• Zippers: YKK
• Weight: 17.2 ounces
• Pockets
  • Left/right hand pockets
  • Left/right rear pockets
  • Right thigh utility drop pockets
  • Left thigh zippered cargo pocket
• Colors: Asphalt, Rodeo, and Tobacco
• Sizes: 32 – 42 waist, 34-inch inseam

KUIU Motive Workgrade Work Pants: What I Say

In the initial stages of my review, I wore these pants when Josh and I were pounding nails to determine the best framing hammer. We were on our feet, toenailing on our knees, and moving material around. Movement was easy, and the 4-way stretch let me focus on the work rather than fighting back as I kneeled down and stood back up again.

But the real test came the following weekend. I had granular pesticide to apply on the half-acre around my house and then descend the steep hill on my property to reclaim the hillside with my Milwaukee M18 Fuel Quik-Lok brush cutter.

Oh, and the temps were headed to 97° with absolutely oppressive levels of humidity.

All in all, it was about 5 miles of walking and hiking, and several things stood out to me. First, the material has a really nice balance of weight and durability. My movement wasn’t hindered on the elevation changes, yet the material brushed off branches, soil, and thorns without an issue as I bushwhacked my way through the overgrowth.

Heat and moisture management were big keys. On days like this, my sweat rate is extreme, but with the side vents open, the heat around my legs was able to escape better, and the material wicked away sweat more quickly than I expected for its weight. The Motive’s material didn’t stay as dry as something like Truewerk’s ultra-lightweight Cloud AV pants; however, they released moisture better than Truewerk’s T1 WerkPants and far more effectively than any cotton-based work pants.

One detail that’s easy to overlook is the knife clip reinforcement. Some brands just use an extra layer of the same material as the pants, but KUIU used a more durable material that extends the full length of the right pocket top. It’s a little thinner than most of the reinforcements I’ve seen, helping my knife clip on and off more easily. It also feels like it’s going to hold up better over the long haul.

Pay close attention to the sizing on these. I typically wear a size 36 waist, and these fit a bit more like a 35 (which is unusual in men’s sizing). It’s definitely not so tight that it feels like it’s a full size down, though. So, if your normal waist measurement doesn’t give you some extra wiggle room, I’d order a size up.

Also, KUIU only offers these in a 34-inch inseam at the moment. While that works for me at 6 feet, 2 inches tall, they might bunch up more than you’d like if you typically wear a 32-inch inseam or shorter.

Should You Buy Them?

KUIU Motive Workgrade work pants are a solid summer choice when you need to balance lightweight comfort with durability. They’re not the lightest work pants you could buy (that crown still belongs to Truewerk’s Cloud AV pants). However, they’re tough enough to be the go-to option for most every trade.

Unlike KUIU’s Groundwork pants, there’s no option to insert knee pads, and that’s something to consider if you’ve grown used to that level of convenience. Since the Groundwork uses a thicker material, it wears a little heavier and warmer, and it’s more than I want to manage on hot summer days. So, if knee pads are a critical part of your job, you’ll need to wear an over-pant set or look to something like Truewerk’s T1 Pro as an alternative.

For most Pros, that’s a minor trade-off, especially when you weigh it against the quality and refinement of the Motive’s design. That quality comes at a higher price than most other workwear brands, though. At $149, these are premium warm-weather work pants. But if you can swing it, they’re one of the most comfortable options you can hope for without sacrificing durability.