Has anyone tried Beyond Fleece’s Steel Convertible Pants (Schoeller Dynamic)

Anyone try these?
I've seen Dynamic pants mentioned in the fall/winter thread, but I think those are a heavier/thicker version.

I've used REI's Mistral convertible pants, which are made of Schoeller Dynamic for 3-season hiking for a while now. The stretch is great, they are surprisingly cool in the heat for the relatively thick (compared to supplex) fabric, very breathable. The durability was another pleasant surprise. Despite the stretchiness these are pretty tough pants, snag-resistant and almost undetectable abrasion from sitting on Sierra granite. I don't hesitate to use them for mild bushwacking. Water beads right off initially but the DWR wears off in the wash of course and needs to be renewed. They aren't as light or compressible as supplex (by a good margin) but since you'll be wearing them it's not weight on your back.

All in all I've been pretty impressed with the fabric, just wish the Mistral pants had better a pocket design.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Dylan – based on your experience, how do you think they'd be in a lighter weight for summer, late spring and early fall?

http://beyondclothing.com/customize/steel-shock-convertible-pant/

I have the older version of the steel pants. As posted on the other thead, I think they are great, really perfect, for spring, summer, and fall use. They are too thin for winter use in Vermont. I have quite a bit of piling on the butt, and so that is disappointing, and I don't really remember sliding on rock that much with them. The fit is perfect. I don't really like the cheap and small belt that comes with them, and the belt loops are small and too spread out. But overall, I think BF is great and I definitely recommend them (I have had a cold fusion jacket for several years and just love that and wear it year round).

I don't llke convertable pants, and I wouldn't want that in a softshell particularly, since I think the zipper around the legs would take away from the stretchy soft feel. But I like the design (at least from the pics) of the Shock steel pant a lot better than the older version. The belt loops look larger, the pockets better placed, and you can get a double reinforced seat (I guess I need that). So I would love a pair of those. But I really want softshells for winter, so if or when I get another pair, I think it will be the heavier dryskin version.

Michael, I currently have Mountain Hardwear Convertible Pack Pants which I believe are a form of supplex. I hate the cut and would prefer stretch. How would the Steel pants compare for warmth, weight and breathability with the kind of supplex used in summer weight/3 season pants?

I'd agree with you about not being anywhere near sufficient for winter in Vermont. I typically use Ibex Guidelite and Backcountry pants for cold use, Acteryx Gamma LT for very windy conditions, and for very cold and windy conditions I use Mammut Castor Pants (WB400 membrane, bombproof durable, totally windproof and I believe waterproof as well, though in that cold waterproof doesn't matter much).

I don't think all dynamic is the same; certainly not all supplex is the same. BF might have changed their dynamic material since I bought mine (2-3 years ago). But the simple answer is that I think dynamic is more comfortable for summer wear than any supplex or nylon pants I have ever seen. I have a very light nylon "splash" pants (maybe supplex) from early winters/sahalie that I also wear a lot in the summer, mainly for canoeing/kayaking. For sitting around, I am not sure if I would notice a difference, but for hiking, I would much rather be in the BF pants. I have hiked in the summer (in Vt that may mean 75 degrees or so) comfortably in them, and they may not be much warmer than nylon shorts (and better then on top in the wind than shorts).

Spring/Fall they would be comparable, although the soft stretchy material is more comfortable generally. Light supplex will dry faster and is definitely lighter. Supplex is more wind resistant and probably more water resistant, although given the hard use pants get, I don't really have either of them DWR coated(never on my nylon pants, once a year or so on the BF pants). The material is light enough, and the weave is open enough, that I am not 100% sure they are bug proof; it is possible a mosquito could bite through. That has never happened to me, but for an artic trip I may want something heavier and/or would spray them with Deet.