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You are probably wondering, why is a gear site reviewing a pair of jeans? Well, prAna not only makes amazing yoga pieces, they also make lifestyle garments that can have you ready for adventure in minutes. The Kara Jean is a prime example of this, as they are not your typical skinny jean that restricts your every move, which is a wonderful thing!
prAna Kara Jean Performance and Fabric
The Kara Jean is ready to move with you thanks to soft stretch denim, a combination of polyester (19%), spandex (2%), and organic cotton (79%). The denim doesn’t take a break in period and is soft and stretchy from day one. Depending on the color of the jean, prAna recommends washing in cold a few times to prevent transferring of dye. I washed mine twice before wearing for the first time and haven’t noticed any issues with color transferring. Another bonus about the fabric is that you can wash the jeans and hang dry, they don’t wrinkle or become stiff like your traditional 100% cotton jean.
The Kara Jean is also light weight, making it versatile for many seasons and active pursuits, such as a bike commuting, hiking, or even a quick scramble. The Kara Jean features a five pocket design with rivet accents. The front pockets are quite shallow, making it difficult to carry much more than a chapstick or house key in them. My large smartphone fits in the rear pocket, but isn’t very practical due to its’ large size.
Fit and Style
Roll ’em up for a cuffed look or roll em’ down and wear with a pair of boots. The slim cut, tapered leg, and low rise of the prAna Kara Jean make them versatile for just about any occasion. In a mountain town, wearing jeans is considered, “dressing up”, so these pants have really fit the bill this spring.
prAna offers the Kara Jean in size 00 to 14. The inseam with the cuff is 28.5″ for a size 4. I’m 5’9″ and 135 lbs and found the size 6 to fit perfectly. The inseam rolled for a size 6 is also 28.5″ and unrolled they are 32″.
To help you get a great fit, prAna utilizes two measurements to assist you with the ordering process; low waist or 2″ below your belly button and hip width or fullest area around your hip. If you are in between sizes with these two measurements, I recommend going with the higher value. I have read that the sizing of these pants varies slightly between the various jean colors. I tested the jean in Indigo and felt they were true to the size guide.
prAna Kara Jean for spring
prAna has added some spring ready colors to get you excited about the changing season: Neon orange, Cool green, White, and Stone diamond. Black, Denim, Indigo, and Charcoal diamond are standard colors that can carry you through all the four seasons. I personally loved the Kara Jean in Indigo, due to its’ versatility, but really want to get my hands on the Kara Jean in Cool green.
Prior to trying out the Kara Jean, I wouldn’t call my self a skinny jean guru, as they are often restricting and overall not that comfortable. The Kara Jean is the exact opposite and is ready for just about anything in my day. The prAna Kara Jean retails for $85, which is reasonable considering it’s inclusion of organic cotton.
For years, I was jealous of my husband and his prAna jeans. Thankfully, now I have a pair of my own! For more information, please visit prAna.