Who makes the perfect softshell ski pants??

[Benneke10]

Why is absolutely no one making these type of pants with normal fucking belt loops?? Are belts really something the average consumer does not want to use? I just want to use my own belt damn it

I have 2 pairs of softshell ski pants with regular belt loops, the original OR Cirques and Dynafit Transalper "Jeans"

The Dynafits are pretty rare, they have the belt loops, fly and pockets of regular jeans but are made of softshell skimo pant material. They pop up on ebay every so often.

[SoVT Joey]

The answer is still adidas. Check new schoolers. They will fill you in.

[wilcox510]

who makes soft shell pants in long lengths? My son is something crazy like 30x36 now...

[plugboots]

who makes soft shell pants in long lengths? My son is something crazy like 30x36 now...

I have these and I think Norse does too:

https://www.malojaclothing.com/khesa...-0560/product/
On sale now. I’m 31 x 35/36 fit about perfect and the side Velcro can go tighter, length is perfect for my F1LT’s, diameter a little tight to fit over the boot tops but works fine. On sale

[wilcox510]

I have these and I think Norse does too:

https://www.malojaclothing.com/khesa...-0560/product/
On sale now. I’m 31 x 35/36 fit about perfect and the side Velcro can go tighter, length is perfect for my F1LT’s, diameter a little tight to fit over the boot tops but works fine. On sale

What size do you have? Do they have cuff gaiters? You like the fabric?
Thanks!

[plugboots]

Sorry, I thought I linked the size, anyway medium long. They’re really lightweight (kinda OR Ferossi weight), and they do not have an inner cuff gaiter, they’re just gripper elastic and when you loosen the zipper there’s fabric behind the zipper. This is what I prefer. The inner ski edge Kevlar style material is pretty durable.

[whyturn]

Strafe recon has been great for summer hiking and will be perfect for fall. A lot of people tour them. Super comfortable and some side zips


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[Get.Kronk]

Strafe recon has been great for summer hiking and will be perfect for fall. A lot of people tour them. Super comfortable and some side zips


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Seconded - the best pants for late spring touring. Blocks enough wind that a slow transition on a windy ridge doesn’t suck too much but minimizes the swamp ass during the hot bushwhack out

[Fred Pabst]

https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/3883245...sp=1&rrec=true

These are nice. They use to be called the Nail Driver pant.

[kootenayskier]

Continuing the discussion from
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...y-Touring-Pack
here:

I wear hard-shell bibs when riding lifts, and for side-country tours. I wear softshell pants for 100% touring days, because I value their mobility and breathability over weather proofing.
Unrestricted mobility is key. Fighting against the fabric is an inefficiency I don’t need on big days breaking trail in deep powder. Fit that is tight enough not to sag (and catch) but that anticipates movement is seems difficult to achieve. Using a higher elastic content than optimum in the fabric doesn’t compensate for poor fit, will sag when damp, and will stay damp longer. Designing knees that flex is relatively easy, but getting the crotch and hips right seems elusive. A high tapered waist Dynafit Chugach) can stop them slipping down can work, and belt loops for an Arcade belt are essential. Integrated waist closure systems all suck. sales will be higher with regular waisted pants, but I’ve loved pants with integrated suspenders (Patagonia Dimensions and Knifeblades), which just seem easier to get the fit right with.
Most softshell pants I’ve owned have been adequately breathable, but I don’t run hot. Laminates (Powershield Pro, Windstopper, Infinium, whatever OR was using) don’t last. Finer weaves (Patagonia Dimension) can be more windproof and hold the DWR longer. Thigh vents are essential on mild days. A mesh liner (Patagonia Backcountry Guide) covering the vents prevents snow working its way into your boots.
I need to adjust my buckles at the top and bottom of every run, so the relative ease of accessing them makes a big difference. I like pants that are long enough and tight enough (snug but not tight over my boots) to keep snow out without requiring a powder cuff (Dynafit Mercury Pro). I want my pants optimized for ski touring, not some do-it-all adjustable compromise. A simple burly 8” zipper is the easiest way to access buckles. I haven’t tried one, but I imagine a rear zip would work well with my Hoji Lock.
The inside cuff takes a beating from edges, so use patch of the burliest (Schoeller-Keprotec) material you can find.
Put a beacon pocket where it won’t interfere with your stride, and include an attachment loop.

Some softshell Pants I’ve owned:
Patagonia Dimension Pants:
• Still my favorites. Great fit and features, and the perfect (not too stretchy, fine weave, very weatherproof) fabric. The zip through crotch was great for expeditions, but overkill otherwise.
Patagonia Backcountry Guide Pants
• Burly workhorse pants. Very (too) heavy, stretchy, and warm (light fleece backer). Weird cuff gusset.
Patagonia Knifeblade Pants
• Incredible fit and fabric, integrated suspenders and drop seat. Worked so well i disn't care about the basic cuff, just that Polartec’s Powershield Pro didn’t last worth shit. Warrantied.
Outdoor Research Trailbreaker pants
• Typical OR boxy fit, Waterproof lowers ripped to shreds. Warrantied.
Dynafit Chugach Pants
• Excellent long, high-waisted fit. Fabric sagged and the Windstopper laminate didn’t last.
Dynafit Mercury Pro Pants
• My current pants. Good fit (with a belt, and without suspenders), and are lasting well. The fabric (with a light fleece backer) covers a good range of conditions. Beacon pocket isn’t located perfectly, and needs an attachment loop.
Dynafit Beast Hybrid Pants
• Junk. Terrible fit, with resistance in all the wrong places. Delicate laminate fabric. Returned.
Patagonia Upstride Pants
• Seemed like great feature and fabric, but they’re grotch grabbers. Returned.

My perfect pant:
Copy the Patagonia Knifeblade low cut bib design, with no waist adjustment.
Use a non-laminate, fine weave, softshell fabric somewhat similar to the current Patagonia Upstride or Arcteryx Rush softshell pants.
Add a mesh gusset inside the zip from knee to mid thigh.
Fine tune the cuff dimension to fit the most popular touring boots in the relevant sizes. Add n 8" rear zip and burly inside patch to the cuff.
Position the beacon pocket carefully on the right thigh, and include an attachment loop. Put a basic hip pocket on the other side.
Make them in black.
Offer two length options in each size.
Make them available with free shipping and free returns.

[rod9301]

I climb couloirs and my knees freeze up when i touch the snow, almost every step.

I sew waterproof patches on the knees, solved the problem

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[bodywhomper]

Rod, the bd brand tele knee pads worn under the pants would also work great for what you describe. They provide a lot of insolation and dexterity.

[John_B]

Patagonia Backcountry Guide Pants
•Burly workhorse pants. Very (too) heavy, stretchy, and warm (light fleece backer). Weird cuff gusset.

Funny review. In the other thread I got some skepticism about my ~15 year old softshell pants. From some brief googling these appear to be what I've got. I love the stretch and typically tour sans long undies if temps are >20F. They are a bit heavy but goddamn its nice not trashing your pants after some ill advised high speed bushwhacking.

I tried a set of Mercury Pros and it felt like the crotch was lined with sandpaper after a day of touring. Those things sucked for me.

[plugboots]

My favorite pair is an old pair of Arcteryx that I’ve sewn and Aquasealed a bunch. Anyway they’re basically just kind of bellbottoms at the cuff with a Kevlar patch and a cinch. You don’t need anything more than that.

[enginerd]

At least I’m not the only one who has owned too many softshell pants…

I’ve long held that the Patagonia snow guide is the best backcountry touring softshell ever to hit the market. Suspenders don’t let your pants fall down, proper button closure and nice fitting waist also just work and don’t suck (like so many designs do). Zip thigh vents that really show off your upper UPPER (!) rear thigh area as they have no mesh. Two properly sized and oriented hand pockets, two properly sized and oriented thigh pockets (why do so many people think one is enough??) properly sized cuffs and inner gators and no stupid zippers down there to make transitions even slower. Reinforced kick patches. Good backcountry style cut. Perfect.

Except if it’s really warm you’d like something a little thinner…and those thigh vents…wow.



Enter the Norrona lyngen flex 1. All of the above minus the redundant suspenders, plus privacy mesh in the thigh vents plus paper thin fabric. Plus a very light sun reflective cool blue/grey color option. Love at first sight. They are absolutely awesome.

Ok, one gripe is they’re almost a little baggy if you’re wearing crampons.

Get’em.




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[davjr96]

+1 to the Norrona lyngen flex 1. Doesn't have everything everyone asks for, but has ended my search for the perfect pant.

[kootenayskier]

Patagonia just released a new version of their Upstride pants. There’s very limited info, a few pics on retailer’s websites, and no reviews, but they’re using a heavier fabric, have added belt loops, and appear to have a slightly more accommodating fit than the previous model (which were crotch grabbers, and are being heavily discounted everywhere).

https://www.als.com/patagn-ms-upstride-pants/p

[axebiker]

This thread really makes me miss my OG Cloudveil RPK pants...

[hick]

Patagonia just released a new version of their Upstride pants. There’s very limited info, a few pics on retailer’s websites, and no reviews, but they’re using a heavier fabric, have added belt loops, and appear to have a slightly more accommodating fit than the previous model (which were crotch grabbers, and are being heavily discounted everywhere).

https://www.als.com/patagn-ms-upstride-pants/p

Ya, the OG upstrides were some shitty shit, that’s for sure! I’ve never seen a pair of pants pop holes so quickly. Like cheese cloth.


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[bennymac]

+2 on the Norrona Lyngen Flex 1 pants. The fabric thickness hits the right balance which to me is the next most important feature after fit.

[ptavv]

I bought a pair of the new OR Trailbreaker pants and as far as I can tell in my bedroom they seem great.

I am a big fan of having four pockets on my pants because I put my beacon in one and then use the rest for various bits of my kit. Shocking how few companies put four pockets on pants these days. Anyway, they seem good, my track record with OR pants durability-wise has been iffy lately, but hopefully these hold up. They also have suspender loops sewn in. The hamstring vents are a little shorter than I'd prefer but that's a minor gripe.

https://www.outdoorresearch.com/coll...r-pants-300459

[Get.Kronk]

I liked the fit and fabric weight of the trailbreaker, but they really annoyed me in soft snow. That lower heavier fabric that starts just above the knees was like a magnet to anything but the driest snow, my pants were always covered. Made transitions pretty frustrating and a puzzle to not get covered and eventually wet out

[plugboots]

Shocking how few companies put four pockets on pants these days.

Well, anyway, from my point of you, I only use one pocket and that would be high on my left side to put my beacon in. Even then, on 99% of my excursions, I put the beacon in a chest pocket. Otherwise I want no pockets on my backcountry pants. Similarly, I never use those side pockets on bike shorts, I don’t want anything on my legs. I just constantly can feel the weight of whatever moving back-and-forth and I can’t stand it.

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

who makes soft shell pants in long lengths? My son is something crazy like 30x36 now...

I am 32x36 in pants, and Mammut 32 long fits me great, so I would assume 30 long would be a great fit for him.

[Fred Pabst]

Recently got a pair of the Eddie Bauer Mountain Ops Ski Tour pants. I don't know if their perfect, but they are going to be good for my purpose, mainly lift served skiing and cold weather chores around the house.

They are heavy duty and would not be the best for touring. No thigh vent zips. Plenty of pockets, two zippered beside the thigh, two wallet pockets, even a small "leatherman" pocket. Belt loops and gaiters. Side zipper outside the ankle. Double layered over the knees. No issues fitting over alpine ski boots. Think if Carhartt built a ski pant, this is what they would be.

At 6', and 215lbs, I got the XL. Inseam is perfect. EB advertises them as athletic fit. They have no snugness IMO, as I am not built for anything euro-fit. I have an older EB Nail Driver pant. They are not really anything like that. Nail Driver's you could tour in, these I wouldn't.

Personally I like a softshell pant for most of my ski days, and save the expensive gore-tex gear for when you really need it. These would be good for you peeps that snowmobile-tour.

two thumbs up!