Thread: Poll: Would you purchase custom waist, inseam, fabric ski/ride pants?

I would definitely pay $275-300 for a bib that had full leg zippers (must be able to put pants on with ski boots on), inside leg vents, and were waterproof. Anything else, I'll keep rocking my Arcteryx bibs.

Originally Posted by MiCol

1. I have had others ask for inside vents. I can deliver.. How long a vent and how far down from crotch are you talking?

Just on the upper leg, starting 1-4" above the knee and a similar distance below the crotch seam. I like netting here. The vent doesn't have to be huge, but 6" seems the minimum to (My numbers seem a bit odd, even to me).

Originally Posted by MiCol

a. Outside vents currently 13 inches from top of waist band down before starting. Vent runs 12 inches. The vents have no nasty netting to catch zippers. The vent is behind a small flap of main body material. see pics when i get them up.

On the outer vent I need it to go right to the bottom (and separate so the leg opens up) and then come up close to the top/waist. If I can fit my ski boot through the waist opening then out the leg then it's good. If there was netting here I would cut it out. One of my pairs has a flap with a snap at the bottom that helps prevent the zipper from accidentally opening up.

Originally Posted by MiCol

d. I am still working on scuff gard materials. Even if I go ballistic nylon , they will still get cut up. ballistic stops blunt force type objects and not blades slicing...chain mail anyone??? I dont think we can stand the weight. Positive is most of that slicing when it happens is below the powder inside leg gaiter . so its really more of a visual thing. (btw i did not get the current sample scuff gard positioned correct. its more of a boarder style on back so ignore that when photos get posted.

Personally, I don't think it needs to be very tough. Mostly I just want it to be something I can replace when there is extensive wear in the area.

Originally Posted by MiCol

pics coming. also, there may be some pants once I reach my 2nd to last (last before final) sample run that people can buy for cost of fabric and labor only. (Neoshell +++$30 a yard/3 yards per pant)

This makes me excited.

i think taping is CRITICAL for me, at least on the butt crack seam. why chance getting wet? course I'm PNW/Tahoe so there ya go...

also, the scuff guard could be kevlar weave, like steep tech?

heh, and this is the problem with custom. i'd like outer vents from hip to knee (~18-20") and inner vents at the knee (6"). seam taping is nice, but not a deal breaker. mesh behind the vents can be cut out. i don't really shred cuffs, but the keprotec stuff that arcteryx uses is the best i've used. (haven't used trew's superfabric)

I'd jump for a pair if I can still dress to the left.

I absolutely would. I'm bigger than the average skier (did not say taller, sadly), and just a bit bigger than the average XXL stuff available from the major manufacturers.

I realize that people my shape/size don't get this way by being active, and clothing manufacturers are not going to build gigantor sizes for the handful of us that DO get out and do shit, but it'd be really pretty cool to have some good bibs in my size. Snowmobile brands do have sizes (hell, too big for me - that's saying a lot, and not a normal feeling...), but the sled-specific crap is either over-insulated or really bulky/stiff feeling. And ugly. Or all three.

I'd be stoked for a pair of my-size pants that don't suck.



Iain

I'm going to hold up on the pics till I sew the next sample. I have added and or deleted the following based on suggestions, comments, my own thoughts and engineer's recommendation:

Added 8" interior leg vents, no netting.
Retained the outside 12" leg vents no netting.
Made the front pockets with pocket bags inside instead of outside
Zippers for front pockets no velcro
Added loops inside to attach suspenders

Could be a bit before I have the next one to sew and show. Thanks for everyone's input.

nothing more irritating than skinning on the uptrack, all vents wiiiide open, and a pound of snow falls into your pants from a low-hanging tree limb moved by the wind and/or your shoulder. therefore mesh across the vents has been a good thing in my experience...and can be cut out for people that don't BC ski near trees.

Originally Posted by frorider

nothing more irritating than skinning on the uptrack, all vents wiiiide open, and a pound of snow falls into your pants from a low-hanging tree limb moved by the wind and/or your shoulder. therefore mesh across the vents has been a good thing in my experience...and can be cut out for people that don't BC ski near trees.

Ahh, good point. I'm either/or on the netting. I"ve liked the netting inbounds for when I do ski with them open as it helps keep the now out and it also keeps me from stovepiping.

Mike - I love the jacket and I can't wait to see the pants. I would also favor at least one cargo pocket on the front with a zipper and velcro.

My issue has always been inseam length. I am a pretty standard 36 waist but I am 6'3" and mostly legs. So far the only pants I found that work in the length are Volcom. I would be stoked to match a pair of your snow pants with the jacket. I also snowboard so a seam-sealed arse would be preferable.

Have there been any developments in the last 5 months? Is it still likely to happen?

Originally Posted by saxon

Have there been any developments in the last 5 months? Is it still likely to happen?

Yes, it will happen.

2 versions

external pockets
internal pockets

difference in price about $125
internal pockets have approx. 40% more time and additional fabric requirements.

Final cost tba later. Pictures will be posted later in summer. I put about 40 days on a test pair of external pockets. Customers will be pleased. stay tuned...

I want pink pants that fit like my favorite pair of jeans.. can you make me those?

Yes, count me in, PLEASE! The ONLY pants I have ever found that work for me (15 years in outdoor retail, so I have seen a lot of pants go by) are Arcteryx Thetas in xxl short. I am a 44 waist, 29 inseam. I want a highly breathable pant. I am thoroughly self-insulated, somewhere between Emperor penguin and walrus, so I need NO fuzzy stuff or lining on the inside. Thus, the ability to spec fabric would be great. I want something stretchier and more breathable than my Thetas for touring/everyday. Plus, I will want an embroidered logo so I can schill my company (it can be smaller than yours, though ;-) I don't really care much about pockets, more likely to carry things in my jacket or pack.

^^^ I will keep you both updated. Check this thread periodically as we get closer to winter. Pink may not be in the stars for this year

Different colors/patterns might be a good niche market. Can you buy small amounts of odd color fabric?

Originally Posted by Todds

Different colors/patterns might be a good niche market. Can you buy small amounts of odd color fabric?

its just too hard to manage. the cutting process still will require stacking even though i am trying to cut custom sizes. (smaller will be cut down from larger). if you made an individual pair for each person it would be made to measure like a custom suit. the price to cover time and materials would be well beyond what i am talking to do custom waist and inseam. this is going to be trial year for these pants. so, very soon I will be asking people to get on board and make an order. there will be a finite number made. i cannot guarantee that I will do this after this season. we will just have to see how it goes.

here are the colors available


Charcoal
lighter charcoal

i know.... subtle hues....but this is all 3 layer stuff. water proof breathable . one color is neoshell, the other one is not. i tested the neoshell fabric this past season. it is kick ass. but suffers from edge cuts. I am working on this....

Which shade is the neoshell, and how light is the lighter one?

^^^ I will post some photos in next few days. I have in hand the samples for both outer and inner pocket models. Last season I spent some time in the outer pocket model. I thrashed them hard. They kicked ass. I will report these findings and review shortly.

Today, I got the inner pocket sample finished. There are a few screw ups but im going to the snow with them when I get back to Leadville. They are extremely bad ass!

Here is what I need. I am needing to get sizes from people who want custom waist , custom inseam. I am going to start a build list. No deposits or money at this point. Simply send me an email to express interest with sizes. mcollins@freeridesystems.com


I will try to fish through this thread and pm's and start letting people know that I am in the information gathering phase.

I will post some pics when back in Leadville in about 2 days where my good camera is stored.

Looks like it may be the two charcoal colors only as I ended up cutting all the black for jackets.

If there is a demand for black, I will source some more.

Originally Posted by Bean

Which shade is the neoshell, and how light is the lighter one?

the neoshell is the lighter charcoal. I have the polartec color code if you can translate. pm me for that.

the non neoshell is a blacker based gradient gray

I am going to try to upload some color scans with the sample pics in a couple of days

This by the way is going to be the new freeride systems logo

hell , here's some camera phone pics till I get to my good camera
(These pictures are low quality and definition)
Note any stiching that does not look straight is camera, this is highly
professionally sewn garment.

Front of knees have double fabric
The overall feel and look of the pant is much like the schoeller cloudveils of the past. the back pockets are easy to open and because of design help camoflage anyone with giant ass. big complaint about look of many pants is that most dont really take into consideration large swaths of fabric with interior rear pockets make your ass look like blue whale landed. these do not. the rear pockets break up the swath. so we have a little bit of fashionista going here on top of great features.

here is what is missing, not finished, or changing

1. interior leg vent will have wind flap (does not have one in this picture)
2. bottom of pants cuff will have snap (no snap shown)
3. zippers will have different pulls. these are ykk zippers
4. misc


This is best color representation for this photo set. This also shows outside vent with flap, and pocket with zipper (note wrong zipper pulls)

These inner leg vents will have flaps so you will not see zipper (note outer leg vents are longer 12")

Outside bottom cuff note no snap on this sample (not doing velcro down here for snap. it causes pain in ass problems on the mountain)

shot of the leg powder skirt

this pic is best representation of the true color on the neoshell

front fly and closer shot of front interior pocket with zipper ( pull will be different)
The vent zipper goes all the way up to bottom of pocket. (12")

Better Pictures

Also, Looks like I will have more fabric choices available for these pants.

This pant will run approximately $275 with custom waist and inseam. If you are a bigger guy like me, you can count on probably an increase of 10% or so for more fabric and more sewing time. These are being sewn in a domestic professional industrial setting.

These pictures are of the outside pocket model that I wore all last year season and thrashed as hard as I could while, skiing, skinning, bootpacking, falling, sliding down suncup boilerplate, and overall just general beating them as much as possilbe.

This is a polartec neoshell. It is not going to take thrashings quite like a heavy hardshell. But, most of the marks you see are from 1) falling on boilerplate with skis that did not release 2) from my use of asterisks knee braces under both knees at all times i.e. skinning, falling , dropping to knees to pack skis or remove skins. You pay for premium breathability.



will be using beefier cuff liners for edge strikes


Rear end and pockets same as Interior pocket model

This model is the Inside pocket Version

Better pictures than my previous post.
Again, more fabrics will be available than just charcoal.
Beefier cuff guards. Zipper pulls different than shown. Flaps that will be covering inside vents.

Approximate price range of $375 with custom waist and inseam. Again, more if you are bigger person because of more time to sew and more fabric.

Inside and outside leg vents.




rear end and pockets same as outside pocket model