Review: Prospect Pants Classic Lite (cotton work pants from Freeride Systems folk)

[MarcusBrody]

Review: Prospect Pants Lite Cotton Pant


I won a pair of these pants at Ullrfest (NE version) a month or so ago. They were 35/32s, though so I wasn't sure I was going to be able to wear them. They seemed like great quality pants though, so I PM'd MiCol and asked if I could exchange them. He was incredibly accommodating and I shipped mine back and a few weeks later when a batch with my size was made up, a new pair showed up on my doorstep. I’ve really liked them so far so I thought I’d throw up a review


Size: 32/(34?) (this is my general pants size – I washed in cold and they didn’t shrink much).
Color: Brown

Material and construction:
The material is a light to midweight cotton canvas. Feels rugged and has been very comfortable. The knees and back of the cuffs have a double layer and that looks like it will add substantially to the durability, but the material is light and flexible enough that the doubling doesn't make them feel stiff in the knees. All the seams look good and they're reinforced a few places that I assume are traditional stress points. The pocket edges in particular show some really nice craftsmanship and that makes me feel good about the places I can't see.

Fit:
This is where I'm most pleasantly surprised. I'd heard good things about Freeride Systems' jackets, so I figured the construction would be good, but most casual outdoor pants are cut a bit boxier than I'd like being a tall skinny guy so I only end up wearing them for working or playing outside. When I tried on the 35/32s I thought that would be the case with these, but getting the smaller waist size seems to have come with a narrower cut through the leg. The top block is not overly big, but gives you plenty of room to move and then it tapers a bit through the leg. The cut is kind of similar to a pair of Levis 514s if they had a higher waist and slightly more room at the top. I wouldn't wear these in a business casual situation given the sewn on the outside pockets and double knee material, but I've worn them twice already to go to work/class with a sweater and they’re fine.

Function:
Great so far. I haven’t really put them through their paces, but they’re light, comfortable, seem breathable, look good, and give me a full range of motion. I’ve done a good chunk of biking and that seems no problem. Casual hiking as well. Nothing yet where I’ve been testing the abrasion resistance though like outdoor work or scrambling.

Durability:
Don’t know yet. It seems like it will be good, but time will tell.

Things I don’t like:
The openings on the bigger front pockets are cut rather low. This makes it easier to get your hand in than some sewn on the front pockets, but it makes me a little nervous about what I have in there falling out, especially if I’m slouching or leaning back like I would in a movie theater or on a Nicaraguan bus (the last place I lost something in this manner) and they seem like they’d make an easier than average target for a pickpocket. This is partially made up for by the fact that I can get my wallet into what is essentially an oversize coin pocket on the right front. The left has a similar, but smaller pocket.
On an extremely minor note, I keep thinking the little white made in the USA tag coming off the back of the pocket is a sticker I forgot to take off. I would have either preferred the pants without it (the logo patch already says made in the USA) or the tag a less contrasting color. It really catches the eye against the dark brown.

Overall:
All in all, I love these pants. I tend to really like casual cotton pants (Mountain Khakis, etc) in place of jeans in a lot of situations and these fill that niche perfectly. They’re lighter and probably more comfortable than most of my jeans, but they seem like they’ll be at least as durable, and likely more. I’ll wear these very frequently as casual wear, to work outside or for dry day hikes (being cotton I wouldn’t wear them for longer trips or day hikes where they might get wet as they take a while to dry). They seem like they’ll be great travel pants and I’ll likely be wearing them when I leave in a week for a month in India. My only wish is that the pockets were a bit deeper (or there was a second larger sub-pocket). Overall, highly recommended.

Material and inside pocket:

[Micol]

The little white USA label can be trimmed off with small scissors. Originally that was the only tag on the back of the pants. During the manufacturing process certain parts get put together before the whole pant is sewn together. (Kind of like automobile assembly line) I have about 3 to 4 different sets of mass cuttings from different times. The white label indicates it was from the first batch ever constructed. Now, we have the blue prospect label and we have discontinued the small white one.

Pockets:
7 pockets in our Classic Lite. The outside the leg pocket (sans internal pocket bags) are great for putting large cumbersome items like sunglasses in while walking. You really have to be diligent about not putting coins and small key sets in those pockets when sitting down. Use the other 3 pockets available to you for sensitive 'no loss' items. The external pockets are really nice for keeping things from being pressed against your leg. There is one pocket on wearers right that is perfect for smart phones. It just inside the large front pocket (easy access) and provides the perfect area for a phone to rest against the leg so you can feel it vibrate yet not interfere with leg motion. Also, the phone pocket terminates above the bottom of the main pocket so there is very little weight felt. I call it a floating pocket. It is very nice.

Also note that rear back pockets have doubled up fabric and bar tack stitching for strength.

We will be launching a 2nd style of pant in 2nd quarter of 2012 that will have traditional half moon front pockets with internal pocket bags (like most brands are constructed).

Also, I am sewing some ski pants right now for sampling . Using some 3 layer polartec windbloc fabric. May offer custom waist and length ski pants on limited basis at some time in future.

[Micol]

Duribility
Also, note I have been wearing 2 pairs of Classic Lites for the last 6 months. Washing and changing out day by day. The pants have proved to be extremely durable. We did make a design change to the coin pocket where it pulled away from seam. But, I have only seen 2 of those occur. And, we will exchange any pants with manufacturers defect durability issues for a new pair. Period