Best light 3-4 season softshell pants: Cloudveil Prospector and Intertia Peak, Patagonia Simple Guide Pant or other

Railriders makes a pant called the Winter Weatherpant which might be up your alley.

You might look at the Arcteryx range. I know that they produce at least one exceptionally light model. They also tend to be quite expensive, Check out their website. The Peak looks good but I have no experience w/ it. I have a pair of Prospectors which are comfortable over a very broad temp. range but I wouldn't use in hot temps. 60's and below, down to mid 30's when hiking. In hot temps., I wear running shorts and only put on pants for bushwacking.

Don't discount an alternative layering system such as windpants over running pants over a very light baselayer like Patagonia Capilene 1 or 2 tights. This offers more versatile comfort over a broader temp. range than any single layer system. Good for me for much of my 3 season backpacking in the West.

The Patagonia Simple Guides are 14.5oz for an XL, compared to 11.3oz for the Cloudveil Peak (last year's version, not the current Inertia Peak.

I find the Simple Guides noticeably warmer than the Peaks are, possibly due to the tighter cut, so my choice would be the Cloudveil offering. I also prefer a belt to a drawcord, despite the weight penalty.

Thanks for the comments, especially on the Prospector in warm weather – I found quite a few comments on its use in deserts (with no qualification on the season), and I found that surprising considering how hot it can get. I was pretty sure the Prospector and Patagonia Simple Guide Pants would be too warm for summer use when not above treeline.

Anyone have any experience with the current Cloudveil Intertia Peak Pants, which are listed as much heavier than the Prospector? I'm fairly certain they would be too hot for summer use below treeline as well but curious about them for cooler weather and alpine use.

For warm weather, my old Patagonia Jackalopes are better than anything I've seen so far (I say old, because the material this past 2 seasons was lined, heavier and warmer than the material in my light and breathable Jackalope pants). Unfortunately I use those pants for easy to pack, carry and wash travel pants on business and casual trips because they look so respectable and I'm reluctant to use them on the trail. I think the current Patagonia version still doesn't use the material in my pants, though I'll check them out.

I have been using the same Mountain Hardwear convertible Pack Pants for years which are highly breathable, wind resistant and quick drying but : 1) no stretch 2) they have a terrible habit of twisting on my hips after walking for a while so that I have to pull them back to zipper in front middle position. Probably has something to do with the placement of the rise (perhaps it's slightly off center). A poster said he had the same problem with them, but that it went away after a while. 3) they could be lighter 4) couldn't pass for regular pants when walking into town (not necessary, but a plus if I can find a pair like this – love dual use). I also have a pair of old Sportif Convertible Truckee pants which are made of a nylon cordura and are super tough, but not as comfortable as the pack pants.

As I mentioned, the Golite Journey would have been perfect for me except for the awful cut (Golite is pretty uneven that way – some great products with terrific fit and quality which I appreciate and recommend, like my Propel Pants, and others are just off). If anyone knows of any pants like them (light 93% nylon 7% spandex), please let me know.

I used to use light baselayer (capilene) plus shorts/wind pants, but I much prefer hiking pants for the sun and bug protection and breathability + wind resistance. There are many occasions where capilene pants are too warm for me and shorts are not good (for sun and bug protection).

I'm going to check out RailRiders as well.

I'm really surprised there aren't better light warm weather to cool weather stretch softshell pants available.

You could look at Beyond Fleece's "Steel" pants. They are made from schoeller dynamic extreme. Their wieght is listed at 14 oz. You should probably be able to wear them well into the 80's comfortably, plus you get a custom fit. Of course Beyond Fleece isn't taking orders right now because they are changing their product line.
Just a thought…

I think they would be ideal, especially as convertible pants, so they could be zipped off if very hot. Beyond Fleece used to have them available as zip offs. I hope they bring them back after May 15. I've emailed them about the zip offs and will post what I hear.

this is the thread:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/7293/index.html

SUBJECT Can anyone recommend light softshell stretch zip off convertible pants? ON 04/13/2007 10:21:20 MDT POST REPLY
Has anyone seen a zip off pant made of Dynamic or a good light softshell material? The only example I know of nown is the Golite Men's Journey pant, which I just checked out. Great material, nice features and terrible cut which will not work for the vast majority of men. The cut is all over the place – huge leg width, shallow rise – makes you look like you are wearing chaps (the women's version however has a good cut and my wife is very happy with them).

Another available model used to be availabe from BeyondFleece – the convertible Steel Pant (Dynamic). BeyondFleece hasn't had them in a while and won't be taking orders until May 15, but someone there told me they might bring them back.

Appreciate any suggestions – I find pants made of light softshell material like thin stretch woven nylon to be more comfortable and versatile than non-stretch poly pants.
Edited by mountainwalker at 04/13/2007 10:22:41 MDT.

Sam, the Winter Weatherpant looks heavy and on the warm side – have you ever seen anything from RR that's light and stretchy?

EJ,
Another Railriders offering you might want to investigate is
the Eco-Mesh pant. light(~10 oz.), very breathable, quick drying, good sun protection, not too pricey(mid $60's). Good desert and Sierra pant.

> 1) Temp range of prospector pants?

Slightly wider than the standard supplex nylon pants. Maybe gives up 5-8F on the low end and approx the same on the high end because while slightly warmer, the wick better.

For me, I like Inertia pants in 30-55F temps with slightly-heavily active. About 50-55F I want to be in shorts. I have warm Intertia pants when the temp hit 85F. They were too warm IMHO… but it was better than getting eaten alive by the sqeeters.

When the Prospectors wore out I picked up a pair of Cloudveil Spinner Pants sold at some fly fishing stores. I am generally happy with them, but I think my supplex pants from Mountain Hardware have almost as much comfort, and more durable, and were around 20% the cost of the cloudveil pants since I picked them up at STP.

> 2) Difference between inertia and inertia plus?

Inertia plus is more durable… which is good. My Rodeo pants made from first generation Inertia looked more tired than my 10 year old ex officio… and each year of the ex offico pant's like had more use then the Prospectors. I haven't use

> 3)Patagonia Simple Guide Pant

Seen them, but don't own them. They seems a bit heavier / warmer than Cloudveil's Inertia.

–Mark

I have both a pair of the simple guide and the guide pants. I use the latter for winter and the Simple Guide for spring thru fall. I find the simple guide warm enough for the 3 seasons, somewhat water repellent and they seem to breathe well to me. I like both the stretch and the fit. As for the drawcord, it is a waste and I had belt loops sewn on. Also, the pockets are too short so I had them lengthened about 2 1/2 inches with a microfleece material so now I don't have to worry about my car keys getting caught in the material and I can actually fit all my hand into them. I am seriously considering them for backpacking trips into the Canadian Rockies, especially during September.