Winter hiking pants?

if you are going to wear hard shell pants, i'd skip the second layer of pants. depending on how hot you run, you might want to think about mid-weight fleece. you can find soft shell pant from retailers for under $100 and on some of the heavy discount web sites, ebay, the sales forum here or on some of teh climbing web forums in the $50 range. they really make a comfort difference.

what do you plan on wearing when you are stopped. in the temperature range you are talking about, at any prolonged stop your legs could get cold. i'd be carrying a pair of pants with synthetic (primaloft) insulation that fit over everything if my plans included any amount of mileage, traveling alone, etc. they weigh about a pound, but are worth their weight in gold if you need them.

Light weight (3/4 or full) wool (150 or 200) OR Capilene (Expedition Weight) base layer. What you choose will depend on your tolerance to the cold, the location you are visiting (mountains, forest or open areas), temperature range of the area that you can expect and physical exertion you are planning (XC skiing, snowshoeing, and mountaineering). Add a top layer consisting of wind pants (breathable or Gore Tex type material) to your base layer and you should be very comfortable.

At those temperatures I wouldn't wear waterproof shell pants. No liquid water to keep out, but they would keep sweat in. I'd wear powerstretch fleece pants under uninsulated softshell pants like the Patagonia Simple Guide Pant to keep snow and wind off the fleece. This is what I wear between -15 and 15 F. I would carry puffy pants for emergencies. If that's not warm enough you could get an insulated softshell. I don't wear a hardshelll unless liquid water is going to get me wet. That could include melting snow, but in practice it seldom does. Good luck!

I wear TNF insulated Freedom pants ($100 or so) almost all winter, with Ibex Woolies ($50 or so) underneath if its going to be really cold (i.e., below 0). This combo keeps me plenty warm even when I stop for a few minutes, and zips on the outside of the thigh from hip to knee make for really easy thermal regulation, so it doesn't get too hot and sweaty.

The only issue is that they're too bulky for gaiters, so if I'm going to be using crampons I usually go wit something else: usually Woolies and REI Mistral soft shell pants (about $100). I that ca ill often carry a pair of old, cut-off rain pants for high winds, sitting in snow, and longer breaks.

Hope this helps… Have fun!

Whatever you wear get synthetic material for the outer (shell) layer. It dries very quickly. Wool is OK for a base layer, and fleece or quilted synthetic like Climashield for middle insulating layer. Even inexpensive quilted underwear
(think K Mart) are amazingly warm.

I use "5.11" brand nylon hiking pants W/ GTX gaiters over polar weight polyester long johns.
The 5.11 pants are tightly woven and keep out the wind.

For bitter cold (below 10 F.) or high winds I wear eVent rain pants over 200 weight fleece pants with a base layer of Cabela's polar weight polyester longies.

eVent is the only WPB hardshell that breaths well enough (IMHO) for using in medium exertion activities like snowshoeing.

I would go with the two inner layers you have, but cover with your summer hiking pants. This should be enough down to about –5F or so, if it's windy and warm(above zero) trade the hiking pants for hard shells. If it's windy and cold, wear all four layers.
This way you don't have to buy much gear and you are set for weather from 30F down to about -15F with and without wind.

Don't wear a hard shell unless it's windy! Moisture will accumulate quickly at those temps. Below zero, even my non-membrane shells get quite damp inside when working hard.

I would second the suggestion for some insulated pants or a synthetic sleeping bag in the pack for breaks/emergencies, along with an insulated parka.

1) Base layer: Ibex lightweight merino Woolies long johns OR midweight merino long johns

2) Midlayer: If you are very cold, wear Powerstretch pants (slim fitting or tights) as a midlayer over merino long johns.

3) Outer Layer – Soft Shell Pants: Arcteryx Gamma MX Pants – very wind resistant and lightly insulated with just a very thin soft layer of fleecy material yet highly breathable and stretchy. Favorite winter soft shell pants for colder conditions.

4) Insulated puffy pants that you can get on and off easily at rest stops (and also useful in case of emergency overnight).

Insulated footwear and a gaiter or light overboot like the Forty Below Light Energy TR overboots will also help you stay warm: https://40below.com/products_detail.php?ProductID=13

Have used the above for -5F with windchill to -25-30F up to 15-20F.

Also even though you are day hiking, in winter it's very important to bring the gear and skills you need to make it through an unplanned overnight. A 7 oz emergency SOL bivvy that can get you through the night, albeit not comfortably, is good thing to bring along.

I really like fleece-lined soft shell pants. I recently got a pair of "Yumalino" pants on clearance at Mountain Hardwear. I think they were $55 shipped. They are not "too" heavy, and will be great in any sub freezing hiking or camping I might do this winter. Prior to these, a pair of discontinued Sierra Designs soft shell pants with a fleece back side have been my go-to britches for snow play. Otherwise, and typically, a mid base layer or light fleece under a shell pant, like the aforementioned TNF Freedom pants, are great when you are spending time in over-the-ankles snow.

Having purchased a pair of their fleece pants this year, I can't say enough good stuff about "Outaware". Their pants are 100% custom – pick your color, pick your trim color, pick your length. Built in belt on the waist, drawstring cords on the ankles (removable if you don't want them) and zipper pockets (closed when down). I got a pair for Christmas and I love them. Weather that would normally have me wearing layers, I wear these pants alone and so far have not had cold legs. I've been out for prolonged periods down to 3 degrees with no other layers, plus as the sole layer in wind, rain and blowing snow. For colder weather or high wind chill (such as when I go snowmobiling) they are the only layer I wear under my snow pants even in below zero weather.

http://outaware.com/Soft%20Shell%20Fleece%20Clothing.htm

I wear the "Original Madison Pants" – all the way at the bottom of the page.

Dena:

Thanks for posting this! I have been looking for a good pair of fleece pants for a long time, and these look great.

I'm going to order a pair…thanks again for posting this.

Rob P-

You are most welcome. I can't say enough good things about these pants, I love mine! Oh, FYI- don't buy them long, you won't need to. They have a long rise in the crotch, so just get your actual inseam and they'll be plenty long even when seated.

Got my Outa Ware items…I really like them!

The Fleece pants are great, as Dena mentioned.

I also got a pair of fleece lined soft-shell pants. I had Andy put some thigh zips in them. With full zip gore tex shell pants over them you can get great ventilation when both sets of side zips are open.

They are comfortable…I told him I like my outdoor pants with a loose/relaxed fit, these fit the bill…they are a lot like comfy sweat pants (which I love). Very good service too.