Tested on the trail, the women’s Protest collection, featuring an animal-print design, does more than just dress you for a walk: it adds character to it. With its PRTDear 5-panel cap, PRTVester zipped outdoor jumper, PRTAnise stretch shorts and PRTFriz sleeveless gilet, this outfit creates a feminine outdoor look that is technical, comfortable and visually striking.
On the trails, every detail has its place: the stretch fabric moves with you, the zips allow for ventilation, the pockets add practicality, and the Bamboo Beige and True Black colourways create a modern silhouette that’s easy to wear in the mountains. The leopard print detail, subtle yet bold, adds that fashionable touch that sets this outfit apart from a more traditional hiking ensemble.
A range designed for women who want to walk, move, breathe and enjoy the mountains without having to choose between performance, comfort and style.
A design built for movement
When hiking, a successful outfit isn’t just judged when you’re standing still. It needs to work when you’re on the move – when your body heats up, when you lengthen your stride, when your arms are working, when you sit down under a tree, or when you set off again after a refreshing break. In this respect, the Protest range is impressive, as each item seems to serve a specific purpose.
Whether you’re planning an active hike, a day in the mountains, a walk around a resort or an outdoor outing in stable weather, this selection meets a real need: to have clothing that is comfortable, versatile, technically advanced and pleasant to wear.
The Protest PRTDear cap: the accessory that sets the tone
In this design, the Protest PRTDear 5-panel cap immediately sets the tone: a feminine, modern outdoor style with meticulous attention to detail. Its main fabric, made from 100% polyester, gives it a certain lightness, whilst its regular fit and adjustable drawstring fastening ensure a simple and precise fit.
During testing, the cap proved to be comfortable on sunny stretches. It protects the face, reduces glare and makes walking more comfortable when the route leaves the forest and heads into more open terrain. Its soft-touch finish, reminiscent of peach skin, gives it a more premium feel than a standard hiking cap. This detail is important, as it reinforces the item’s lifestyle positioning.
The animal print is one of its key stylistic features. It is subtle enough not to overpower the outfit, yet prominent enough to tie the other pieces together. In Bamboo Beige, the cap blends naturally into the mountain landscape: it evokes the earthy tones, rock, light wood and dry vegetation frequently found on summer trails.
Protest PRTVester: the active, technical and feminine range
The PRTVester is probably the centrepiece of this outfit. Marketed as a zipped outdoor jumper, it actually functions as an active mid-layer. Its composition, 92% polyester and 8% elastane, gives it a level of stretch that is very welcome when hiking. From the very first few minutes of walking, you can feel that the garment moves with the torso, shoulders and arms.
This flexibility is essential on the trail. Whether you’re using poles, stepping over a small rocky step or adjusting your rucksack, a top that’s too stiff quickly becomes a hindrance. Here, the stretch fabric allows for natural movement. The regular fit also enhances comfort: it is neither too tight nor too loose, making it easy to layer under the PRTFriz sleeveless gilet.
The PRTVester is part of Protest’s PVRE Green range and is made from a recycled stretch fabric featuring GEOTECH thermo-stretch technology. In practice, this delivers a good balance between lightweight warmth, breathability and freedom of movement. Worn zipped up on a morning ride, it provides a welcome sense of protection. On the ascent, the full-length zip comes in very handy: you can open it gradually to ventilate without having to take the layer off completely. During breaks, the high collar provides welcome protection for the neck when the wind picks up.
The absence of a hood is also a logical choice. It prevents bulkiness under the gilet and gives the silhouette a cleaner line. The long sleeves, piped cuffs, regular length and front and chest pockets enhance the garment’s practicality. You can slip a small item inside, keep your hands warm for a moment or simply enjoy a garment that retains true functionality without weighing down the overall look.
Visually, the PRTVester is a real success. Its animal print features the signature leopard detail that adds personality to the outfit. It’s not an overly flashy pattern, but a graphic design that breaks up the monotony of a classic outdoor top. It’s a piece that appeals to active women who value comfort but don’t want to compromise on a certain level of elegance on the trails.
Protest PRTAnise: comfortable, breathable and stylish outdoor shorts
The PRTAnise is the garment that offers the greatest freedom of movement. In True Black, it provides a simple, versatile base that is particularly well-suited to hiking. Its black colour has a clear advantage: it pairs perfectly with the Bamboo Beige tones of the other garments, whilst remaining visually clean on dusty or dry trails.
Made from 90% polyester and 10% elastane, they’re incredibly flexible. Protest describes them as shorts made from recycled, four-way stretch fabric, and you can really feel this quality when you’re on the move. On the ascent, the shorts don’t restrict your stride. On the descent, when your legs are working harder and you bend your knees to stabilise your footing, they move with you naturally. This is exactly what you’d expect from outdoor shorts: a lightweight, breathable, comfortable garment that you forget you’re wearing whilst you’re active.
The regular fit, combined with an elasticated waistband and a drawstring, is another key feature. The support remains good without causing excessive compression. This is particularly welcome when wearing a rucksack with a hip belt, as the waist area can quickly become uncomfortable if the garment is too stiff. Here, the fit is easy to adjust and comfort remains consistent whilst walking.
The pockets add a real practical touch. With front pockets, a side pocket and a zipped pocket, you can keep small items close at hand. For a short or medium-length hike, this is a real bonus: a handkerchief, a key, a small map or a mobile phone can be accessed quickly. The zipped pocket offers added peace of mind when you want to keep an item secure whilst walking.
The animal print detail on the PRTAnise is also worth highlighting. Although the shorts remain black and very easy to wear, the leopard print ensures the piece fits seamlessly into the silhouette’s stylistic continuity. This avoids the plain look of a simple pair of black shorts. The garment gains character whilst retaining its practicality. It is precisely this balance that makes the ensemble so appealing: technicality does not overshadow style, and style does not compromise functionality.
Protest PRTFriz: the sleeveless puffer jacket that ties the whole outfit together
The PRTFriz is the sleeveless layer of the outfit, and it plays a key role in maintaining overall balance. When hiking, this type of garment is often very useful, as it protects the torso without restricting the arms. It provides extra warmth where the body needs it most, whilst maintaining excellent freedom of movement.
Made from 100% polyamide, the PRTFriz features a regular fit, a high collar, a full-length zip and a standard length. Its colour-block design gives it a sporty, modern look, whilst the Bamboo Beige colour ensures a colour-coordinated look with the cap and the PRTVester. This is the piece that gives the silhouette the most structure. It adds volume, defines the upper body line and gives the whole outfit a more polished finish.
During the test, the gilet proved particularly useful at the start and during breaks. At the beginning of the hike, when it’s still a bit chilly, it helps you stay warm without needing a heavier jacket. During the ascent, you can easily take it off if the going gets tougher. During breaks, you can quickly slip it back on over your zipped jumper to stop you getting cold.
The high collar provides excellent protection against the wind. The front pockets, chest pocket and zipped pocket enhance its practicality. The design follows a simple yet effective principle: the garment remains lightweight and comfortable to wear, yet functional enough for outdoor activities.
A Protest outdoor jacketthat can be adapted to suit the temperature
One of the great advantages of this outfit is its ability to adapt to the pace of the hike. At the start, when the air is cool, the combination of the zipped PRTVester and the PRTFriz works very well. The torso remains protected, the neck benefits from the dual protection of the high collars, and the arms retain good mobility.
When the going gets tougher, you can unzip the jumper, take off the gilet or adjust the layers without disrupting the whole outfit. This versatility is essential in the mountains, where you often move from a shaded area to a sunny stretch, or from a steep climb to a break in the wind. The outfit allows for these quick adjustments without compromising on comfort.
The PRTAnise shorts embody this spirit of freedom. They allow your legs to breathe, move with you, and are particularly suited to mild to warm days. For cooler hikes or routes where you want more protection for your legs, this style could also be extended with a pair of women’s trousers in the same design, featuring a leopard or animal print detail to maintain the outfit’s visual identity. But in the version we tested, the shorts remain the best option for an active summer outing.
Our verdict after testing
This women’s Protest design successfully combines three elements that don’t always go hand in hand in outdoor wear: style, technical performance and comfort. The style comes from the combination of Bamboo Beige and True Black, as well as the leopard-print detail, which gives the outfit real character. The technical features are based on smart choices: recycled stretch fabric, GEOTECH thermo-stretch technology, 4-way stretch, full-length zip, high collar, practical pockets and clever layering. Finally, the comfort is evident in how it moves: nothing gets in the way when walking, adjustments are simple, and the outfit remains comfortable for hours on end.
The PRTVester is the most technically versatile piece. The PRTAnise offers the greatest freedom of movement. The PRTFriz provides protection and structure. The PRTDear completes the look with a very stylish touch. Together, these four pieces form a cohesive, modern outfit that is truly suited to accessible outdoor activities for women.
Here, Protest presents a women’s collection that doesn’t compromise on style or functionality. The leopard-print detail adds character, the stretch fabrics ensure comfort, the zips and pockets enhance practicality, and the whole outfit is effortlessly wearable. A silhouette designed for women who want to walk, breathe, move and enjoy the mountains, without compromising on their personal style.
