Winter pants for Search & Rescue

Chuck, I do winter SAR here in MT alpine/hasty. I wear Arc’Teryx Gamma MX pants, which are $$ but very durable and weather resistant. No problem bushwacking or wallowing through snow in them, but slogging through very wet snow at 35 degrees is not so fun, they are too warm for that and at those temps water will start to seep in and wet the pants. These are usually my only bottom layer I take for backcountry SAR missions.

I use the neos overshoe shoe here in the cascades north central washington state, lots of big wet snow,you might want to add a felt insulating insole, I think neos offers one. And remember these are only as stiff as the shoe inside,any mukluk user will tell you how tired your feet get at first.
I really like black diamond’s alpine pant,schoeller dynamic fabric with reinforced patches and articulation…but these are not a rain pant,but they work well with gaiters or neos..

I went with the REI Alpine Lakes pant ($99). These are full zip, breathable and waterproof. Construction seems real good with taped seams.

I bought the size larger than I need to layer either the cocoon pants or if unavail till spring I’ll get fleece full zip REI 200 weigth Polertec.

This combo should keep me toasty.

PS, I was on search last night till about 4 am (status 2 find) and I really could of used the Neos. Ordering them today.

Thanks

Chuck