I was made aware of the Viktos brand about a year ago. I was meeting friends to cook up some of our wild game and talk about future hunting plans. While I wear jeans 99 percent of the time for everyday activities, a few of my buddies often choose high-tech pants instead — think KUIU and Sitka Gear.
One friend was grilling burgers (elk!), and I noticed he wasn’t wearing his usual hunting pant brand. Of all my buddies, this guy is the one who stays the most current on the latest outdoor gear, so I began asking questions. Turns out he was wearing the Viktos Range Trainer pant.
Hiking Many Miles During SHOT Show
I followed my buddy’s lead and have owned the Viktos Range Trainer pant ($95) for several months. Long story short — I love them! Not only do they look good enough to wear to Sunday mass, but they are just as comfortable as my favorite jeans, yet they weigh much less.
I really appreciated the Range Trainer pant during the 2025 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada (January 21-24). If you haven’t heard of this trade show, it’s the outdoor industry’s biggest annual event. (SHOT stands for Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade). You could walk several miles of aisles each day on the Show floor and never come close to seeing every exhibitor. In addition, many visitors to the Show (like me) choose to walk from their Vegas Strip hotel to the event (Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum). Add it all up and it’s like hiking a half-marathon each day.
I wore the Range Trainer pant every day during SHOT Show 2025, and as I said before, I loved them. I wear size 34/32 jeans, so I chose 34/32 Range Trainers. They fit perfectly, and appreciated the fact that they’re feather-light. Like a big game hunt in the mountains, every ounce matters when taking on SHOT Show. Other features I really liked include: four-way stretch fabric; alloy G-hook adjustable waist closure (strong and super-convenient); smart pocket placement; zippered front pocket (peace of mind); and padded waistband (crazy-comfortable).
Thus far I haven’t put the Range Trainer to any serious outdoor performance test; I’ve simply chosen them whenever I want to wear something nicer than jeans. The pant is now my No. 1 choice for everything from church to dinner with family and friends at a nice restaurant. In fact, I’m hesitant to torture-test them outdoors (serious hikes) because I don’t want to beat them up. The smart solution: I need to buy a second pair.
About the Brand
While at SHOT Show, I visited the Viktos booth and learned about the company. It’s headquartered in south-central Wisconsin (Janesville), and was started by a combined force of industry and United States military veterans in the fall of 2017. Its stated mission is to “produce innovative gear for the tactical user.” Obviously, I haven’t been wearing my Range Trainer for tactical use, but I’m confident they’d perform well in that regard.
This statement fleshes out the company’s mission: “Our product transcends the typical boundaries of conventional tactical companies and addresses the entire black gun lifestyle, from combat to training (below), and everyday carry to R&R. It is a decidedly unique approach from a decidedly unique brand.”
During my conversation with staff in the Viktos booth at SHOT Show, I also learned that a portion of all company’s sales goes to the Gun Owners Foundation to fund its continued legal fight to protect constitutional rights for all Americans. Outstanding!
Viktos Range Trainer Pant Features
Below is a summary of the features found on the Viktos Range Trainer pant. As I said previously, the fit is true to size, and my online research indicates that this opinion is shared by the vast majority of other consumers.
