softshell pants for winter mountain: what and why

[lorcar]

hi everyone,
i guess this might have been asked in the past, so apologies.
i see that many prefer softshell pants for splitting/touring, so today i went to the local Salewa store and checked some of those pants. I saw a pant that was both insulated and waterproof, and i wondered why would you buy that over a hardshell. Then i saw another pair which was not insulated, but it looked more for snowshoeing/hiking rather than skiing.

So can you experts kindly explain what are the characteristics for a softshell used on the snow? what makes a softshell to be preferred vs a hardshell (waterproof/windproof)?
i do have a softshell pant from NorthFace, but i use that for summer/spring (it has detachable lower legs) and i wouldn't even think to use that for winter.
I can understand why you would buy one if you go snowshoeing, but i do snowshoeing in hardshell also.
finally i checked some websites (Salewa, Norrona, Arcteryx, Ortovox, etc) and there are plenty of models to choose from... any brand/model considered a reference?
thanks a lot in advance.

[stealurface831]

softshell provides stretch and breathability for high output activities like skinning. waterproof softshell is pretty stupid imo. they only need to be water resistant. if it starts really coming down, you throw on your hardshell.

i recommend the OR Cirque and Arc Gamma AR/SK if you can find a pair.

[GoSlowGoFar]

hi everyone,
i guess this might have been asked in the past, so apologies.
i see that many prefer softshell pants for splitting/touring, so today i went to the local Salewa store and checked some of those pants. I saw a pant that was both insulated and waterproof, and i wondered why would you buy that over a hardshell. Then i saw another pair which was not insulated, but it looked more for snowshoeing/hiking rather than skiing.

So can you experts kindly explain what are the characteristics for a softshell used on the snow? what makes a softshell to be preferred vs a hardshell (waterproof/windproof)?
i do have a softshell pant from NorthFace, but i use that for summer/spring (it has detachable lower legs) and i wouldn't even think to use that for winter.
I can understand why you would buy one if you go snowshoeing, but i do snowshoeing in hardshell also.
finally i checked some websites (Salewa, Norrona, Arcteryx, Ortovox, etc) and there are plenty of models to choose from... any brand/model considered a reference?
thanks a lot in advance.

https://www.just-fucking-google.it?s...ng&e=fingerxyz

[MHSP1497]

I had been touring in my Picture Organic waterproof pants (20k/20k), and they were simply too hot and didn’t breathe well enough. So, I grabbed a pair of Mammut Tatramar pants and have been really happy on the 2 tours I’ve used them on so far. The 1st was a sunny but cool day and they were great, the 2nd was a warm windy, snowy day (31*) and again they were exactly what I’d hoped. I wear 3/4 length 250 weight Merino tights under them as a base layer.

[XXX-er]

Touring is aerobic so I need pants and shell that breath or I sweat,

I wear a thin base layer and soft shell jacket, I start out wearing a puffy and I take it off after 5 min, put it back on if I stop for very long

Nothing under the soft shell pants until its colder than -10 when I wear a baselayer under the pants as well

if i sweat i am doing it wrong


lift riding is compeletly different, I want to be well insulated and much more waterproof

[ntblanks]

Nothing under the soft shell pants

damn, i don't want to know that

[NorCalNomad]

Non-membraned, non-insulated softshell pants are imo the best thing for touring for the reasons XXX-er brought up. From pacific to continental snowpacks they work great. With the only exception being PNW snain where you're either getting wet from the outside in with softshell or inside out with hardshells .

Both of my softshell pants that I love are from TNF and aren't made anymore :/ But OR, Mammut, and Arcteryx certainly make some great softshell pants.

[lorcar]

thank you very much, understood.
Should the softshell pants have the reinforced patch under your ass for when you sit on the snow? is see that some models have it while other models (also top level) don't.

[nickinbc]

thank you very much, understood.
Should the softshell pants have the reinforced patch under your ass for when you sit on the snow? is see that some models have it while other models (also top level) don't.

Why sit on the snow? I always sit on my pack!

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Just buy some Eddie Bauer Guide Pro touring pants, they’re perfect and really affordable.

If you want to sit on your break, sit on your pack.


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[MHSP1497]

Why sit on the snow? I always sit on my pack!

^^What he said!