Stretchy wind pants?

del

Jen, I don't think nylon stretches, BUT fabrics are woven using mostly nylon with a bit of lycra or spandex (95%/5%-ish) so that the result is a "stretchy nylon".

Same as "stretch denim" — 100% cotton jeans have no elasticity; but if you buy 95% cotton 5% lycra jeans, they'll have lots of comfortable stretch.

Actually Valerie, that's exactly what i mean – anyone know where I buy some? Would I look for a nylon/lycra blend then?

I'm new to this MYOG stuff and am still compiling lists of suppliers…I finally got my hands on my sewing machine!

Yes, the dynamo pants are available at the US store, but only mens. And that means in order for me to get pants to fit over my hips I need an XL or something, which have a 35" inseam. Yikes! I can wear men's tops all day long (they actually seem to fit better sometimes), but pants? Not so much. I have a girly butt you know…….

So I was going to try (at some point this summer…) to make my own stretchy ish nylon wind pants.

del

I own 2 pairs of the womens stretch wind pants and one jacket ,the fabric reminds me of the fabric used in my Houdini (not exactly the same but it is the best comparison I can think of at the moment) and not at all like Montbell's other UL wind shirts and pants that they used to make or the Tachyon they make now . It is not super stretchy you can barely notice it but it does have a slight stretch to it and I do really like the pants. I wear a womans size small in the stretch wind pants and wanted to try the Dynamo pants thinking that since their sizes run on the small side I might get away with a size small mens(they don't make womens sizes for purchase in the US which is too bad) and have them be a little big :0 They were huge clown pants on me I couldn't believe how huge they were.I can get away with a mens size small wind shirt from them which leaves room for layering but doesn't look crazy big . I gave them away to a guy I know for a trip and he loved them , the material on the Dynamos are definitely thinner than the stretch wind and doesn't have that tiny bit of stretch that the stretch wind pants have , it's too bad they stopped making them, they were a good compromise between regular and wind pants.

Jen,

Yes — I'd look for a nylon/lycra or nylon/spandex blend. You really don't need more than 3% – 5% of the stretchy stuff in the mix.

And I think I should warn you that sewing well-fitting pants is one of the most challenging things you can do, so you'll want to either work from a commercial pattern, or use your favorite pair of pants to MYOG a pattern that imitates them. Otherwise, you'll have weird gaping and pulling around the crotch and thighs. (uncomfortable and unsightly)

One other possibility would be to look for a pair of VERY lightweight softshell women's pants. Stretchy and wind-resistant by nature…maybe OR or Kuhl?

And since you're a girl, IMHO it's FAR preferable that you have a girly butt than a manly one! ;^)

Hmm, well I would like to see some stretchy windproof material made into tights for winter hiking, but I don't know if it's possible to have something that stretchy and still be very windproof.

Jen,
Try spandexhouse.com — search for nylon spandex. They have all sorts of athletic fabrics like supplex and tactel, etc., so you should be able to find what you want.