Winter hiking pants

[dirtbag]

Just wondering what your favorite go to pants are for winter backpacking trips..while hiking, not around camp. What about snowshoeing? I am in the North East and i know it will be very cold, possibly snow for a trip I am going to do in January. I have my base layers and rain/snowshells. I was wondering if a softshell type of pants would be a good investment.

[Rick M]

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[rOg w]

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[James holden]

Softshella are the way to go for winterduranle and breathable, just keep the DWR in good condition

I use the dead bird gammas … And im not exactly the biggest dead bird fan out there

;)

[Serge Giachetti]

The Marmot scree pants are an excellent winter hiking pant:
http://www.backcountry.com/marmot-scree-softshell-pant-mens

The material is is breathable and stretchy and has a brushed interior that wicks well and adds just enough warmth with a light base. I like something a little thinner for fast paced skiing, but I think the scree's are just about perfect for cold weather hiking.

[hwc 1954]

I wear the Marmot Scree pants, too. Stretchy, unlined nylon soft shell material. If I need warmer (very seldom), I wear baselayer underneath. Material is super durable and really comfortable because it's stretchy. Fantastic for hopping up on rock with the knees. Short zips at the cuffs for getting over boots.

I like that Marmot offers them in different lengths. I get the SHORT (30 in inseam) so my cuffs aren't dragging in the mud. They also make a REG (32 inseam) and, I think, a TALL (34 inseam).

Definitely tech, not style. Articulated knees, lots of zipper pockets.

Marmot Scree Pant photo

I wear them for winter hiking in the White Mts and for snow shoeing. If it were really wet, I could always add a rain pant over the top or I do have a some waterproof unlined ski pants. But, for a little snow or moisture, the Scree pants are water resistant enough with a DWR finish.

I like this stretchy unlined softshell material so much that I found some hiking shorts (REI) in a similar material.

[hwc 1954]

Those Patagonia Knifeblades are made with Polartec PowerShield soft shell. That's a fleece lined soft shell. I have a hoody of that material and I would only wear it for hiking/snow shoeing on a really, really cold day. I think it would be too hot for temps in the 20s or 30s.

I think unlined softshell offers more flexibility because you can amp it up with baselayer or power stretch fleece tights underneath for super-cold days and still wear it in the 30s or 40s with nothing underneath.

I just don't find that my legs get that cold when I'm huffin and puffin on snow shoes. The bigger problem is getting enough breathability so I don't sweat too much.

Not to mention, $299 for a pair of hiking pants is a pretty hefty pill to swallow. You could do get Scree Pants and a nice pair of PowerDry baselayer pants and a pair of Power Stretch fleece tights for way less than that and have a much more flexible system.

[Paul Magnanti]

For ski touring, I actually prefer wool pants. The original softshell.

Warm, breathable, repels snow, durable.
http://wintertrekking.com/clothing/insulating-layers/
http://www.pmags.com/in-praise-of-the-original-soft-shell-wool-pants

Please note this is for the colder, drier conditions found out here in the Rockies.

(For more technical, usually "done-in-a-day", type skiing, I wear the plastic pants. Mainly due to my (lack of fine) ski skills :) )

[Ryan Bressler]

The knifeblade pants are power shield pro without a fleece lining. It comes either way…the northwall pants and jacket from patagonia and lodestar pants/jacker from or have the lining.

I believe the guide pants are unlined powershield (not pro). The pro version of the fabric has a perforated membrane that is getting great reviews for breathability and weather resistance compared to previous clammy membrane softshells.

I mostly ski tour in the winter but my most used pants the last couple of years have been the Rab Exodus. They are a thicker/heavier fabric then some of the options listed here but have nice thigh vents. I like that I can open these with climbing steeply and quickly zip them up when needed. For any ski oriented pant like this i'd make sure the cuff isn't too baggy for your footwear choices. THe OR trailbreaker is another well regarded ski touring pant with hip vents.

This year I'm trying out the rab stretch neo pants and they have been good so far. They are lighter then the exodus and have nice long zips for venting. Zipped up they feel almost as warm, offer better wind protection and breath fairly well .

[Michael Wainfeld]

REI Acme pants, Schoeller Dryskin fabric. Had them about. 2 yrs now , good product.

[hwc 1954]

Here's the Polartec PowerShield info page:

PowerShield Pro

It's and almost waterproof/windproof membrane sandwiched between an outer soft-shell fabric and a soft thermal insulation layer on the inside. I've got a hoody made of it. Great stuff. In fact I'm wearing it today around town: 37 degrees and raining. Cold enough for a little insulation, but not cold enough to go with a thermal layer under a rain shell.

But it would be way too hot for snow shoeing or hiking uphill unless it were seriously cold and windy. I'd be drenched in sweat in minutes in temps from 30 to 50 degrees.

For active hiking/snow shoeing, a completely unlined softshell fabric jacket is the most I'll wear. In fact, a stretchy unlined softshell jacket is what made me give the Scree pants a shot — same material.

It's so hard to figure out the right weight, because hiking/snow shoeing is such a different thermal demand than just hanging out in the cold.

The PowerShield Pro pants might be fantastic for chairlift skiing, where you get wet from being in the snow all day combined with the cold problem of sitting on the chairlift. Then, the little bit of insulation would be great.

[Dale Wambaugh]

Softshells are great. "Softshell" is a very loose term and they vary a lot. For me, it is a matter of ease of movement– you can get some that are like wearing armor. I like the REI Mistral myself; the REI Acme pants are a little heavier (and discontinued). From there, everybody and their brother makes some sort of soft shell pants for winter snow sports. Layer 'em up like you would with any other pants.

There's nothing wrong with rain pants and a good base layer (or two) under, especially when conditions are on the warmer and wetter (read slushy)side. The R1/Power Dry long johns are great for cold weather and double as pajamas. The military version is a real bargain– search on GEN III L2 ECWCS long johns or drawers; I size down one size. Cabela's and REI have their own versions. Power Stretch bottoms are good too.

Don't forget gaiters. They can really keep things dry and clean when it's sloppy and they add another layer to your feet and lower legs.

[Ryan Bressler]

hwc, What power shield pro jacket do you have though?

For power shield pro The thickness of the inner liner varies from garment to garment. The knifeblades use a tricot while the northwall uses a fleece.

Polartech will even sell it with different liners for MYOG gear. See the last two on this page:
http://www.millyardage.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1632

Here is Colin Haley's review of the knifeblade that stresses they are a lighter fabric then the guide:
http://www.thecleanestline.com/2013/04/two-new-products-i-want-to-rave-about-m10-jacket-knifeblade-pants.html

I'm also primarily an unlined non membrane softshell user but the latest generation of fabrics from polar-tech are worth considering.

[Richard Fischel]

and for a lighter version rei has the mistral in schoeller dynamic. i'm a big fan of schoeller products and think they work just as advertised. a question to ask yourself is how hard will you be working and how cold will it be. what works for me might not work your you.

is this a leisurely stroll through the wood on rolling terrain or are you planning on a fast-paced forced march. if it's in the teens and above and i'm carrying a pack with any weight, at a quick pace, i'm wearing running tights and nylon shorts. if i were to wear a base layer and soft shell pants at that temp i'd cook. while on the move. i prefer my legs to be cool/cold, not warm. should i need to take them a a little colder, i have light wind pants that add much more warmth compared to what they weigh. i have pants to go over my tights when i stop. an alternative to the tights would be soft shells in dynamic like the mistrals. going colder/less active would be mistrals with running tights as the base layer or something like the acme's in dryskin by themselves. going colder/slower again would be the acme's with a base layer.

i've watched many people go layer-for-layer from the waist down the same as from the waist up, which results i your lower half being way to warm. there's a study out on the interweb somewhere comparing cold weather efficiency between girls in skirts and pants and the skirts won.

[hwc 1954]

There's a place for membrane fabrics: when you are in a situation where you are going to get soaking wet or cut to bone by a chilling wind. But, I have not found myself wanting to wear them while actually hiking or snow shoeing on a nice winter day (i.e. not a blizzard or not freezing rain). GoreTex Pro, Polartec PowerShield, Polartec NeoShell, Goretex Windstopper. I think these fabrics are great for staying dry in nasty conditions, but none of them are very comfortable for every-day decent weather aerobic activity. At least for me. None of them are even close to being breathable enough for comfort when working hard.

Most of these membrane softshells seem to be marketed for ice climbing. That's a completely different activity than below-treeline hiking or snow shoeing.

I think we are talking two different products: everyday winter hiking pants versus bad weather (freezing rain/blizzard/wet) pants. I just don't get that wet while winter hiking or snow shoeing (although I do carry a rain jacket and pants if I get caught out in nasty weather).

It may be just me, but I find that I'm better focusing on a range of lighter weight stuff for winter hiking and snow shoeing. I've been known to hike (uphill) in just a long sleeve tech T shirt in 35 to 40 degree weather. My most frequently used winter hiking setup is a long sleeve tech t and a Marmot driclime wind shirt hoodie. I go to a down jacket when stopping. I go to a softshell jacket going downhill when I'm not working very hard.

[Rick M]

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[hwc 1954]

I was just reporting what I have found winter hiking and snowshoeing in New Hampshire. Now, I will be the first to admit I don't climb Mt. Washington in the winter. But, for below tree line hiking/snow shoeing in NH, the vast majority of days are going to be somewhere in the 20 to 30 degree range. For the first pair or two or three of winter hiking pants, I would recommend something that will cover the range from 15 to 40 degrees, with or without a base layer underneath. If you get something that is going to be warm enough for a 10 degree day without a base layer, you are going to boil most of the time.

It's like those GoreTex Pro ski shells. Fantastic, but way overkill, much too hot for hiking or snow shoeing around here unless you are out in a blizzard or above tree line with the wind howling.

If you need more wind or water protection, it's easy enough to throw on rain pants over the top, but I have not found that necessary.

There aren't that many days when I would even put on a membrane softshell hoody while snow shoeing around here. I don't know. Maybe I just sweat more than most people? :)

[Richard Fischel]

for your 15-40 temp range the rei mistrals in dynamic or running tights would be perfect. the guys i know that ice climb and spend time on mountains for the most part avoid membrane soft shells for the same reason you do, the material is not sufficiently breathable for their activity level. as an example, cottage manufacturer nw alpine and wild things (not sure if wt still fits the cottage description) both uses non-membrane materials for their climbing soft shells and most if not all the big names will have soft shells in both a membrane and non-membrane fabric.

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