Insulated Pants Fit and Features

Any opinions on Aerogel or Stellar Equipment?

https://www.stellarequipment.com/product/guide-aerogel-hybrid-pants-2-dkgrey/?color=6968&gad_source=1

looking at the aerogel pants – 8 ounces for a pair of pants.  Not that light weight

they have a merino wool fleece liner that’s not lightweight.  Maybe if they wanted to do a cutting edge light weight garment they should have had a lighter weight lining

I have a pair of nature hike down pants.  I used them this weekend and I’m really happy.  They cost under $50 and weight 8oz.  It is difficult for me to equate them to other higher priced items but I think they are pretty warm.  With regular hiking pants, should be warm in the 20’s, maybe lower.

My Torrids finally wore out a few months ago. A well deserved retirement of some very abused pants. Looking at the Apex, its streched and torn with thin spots. It did its job, but I’m looking for a few more features anyway. I’ll pay a higher price, but they need to last me. Within reason. I think primaloft or plumafill may be a better choice. I think i want to stay with synthetic insulation. Specifically looking at the Patagonia DAS pants, but open to cheaper options. Possibly Rab or Montbell.  I liked my DAS light hoodie, but felt the fabric was a bit fragile. Are the pants the same? Rab has reinforcement in the critical areas, though I think a bit heavier. Any new thoughts?

I have the Ghost Whisperer pants. They are a game changer for me between sundown and the hour I crawl into a sleeping bag and then the next morning too. I wear a pair of Houdini pants over them.

I should add I got these pants ( Ghost Whisperer pants) on sale and were easy to buy. They are fully featured with pockets, snap closure, crotch and leg zippers, all of which not really needed if your goal is to be warm at the end of the day and morning. They aren’t that puffy and wear like regular pants, not like something from Western Mountaineering. Strictly three season.

If you’re just exploring the concept, consider grabbing some simple, cheap down pants from Amazon to see what you like. Just remember to size up.

Amazon has a pretty decent selection. The Naturehikes look good for the price.

The Ghost Whisperers were half price for the XL. I’d probably wear a large. For the price it might be worth sizing up.

Kuiu’s look interesting. Maybe a little heavy. A bit pricey.

I think I got the Naturehike pants. They are warm, light, pack small. Odd feature is that they have front snap and zipper even though they’re elastic enough to just slip down.

Naturehike’s information is a little skewed. They have 2 very similar looking products. The first has down fill listed at around 40 ounces. I presume they mean grams. The other pair is listed at 90 grams at twice the price. The second pair had no sizes to choose from. Free shipping and returns from Amazon. At the price, I at least have to try them. I can see the Ghost Whisperer at REI. See if the sizing works. I did order another pair of the EE Torrids. Rather than spend a lot on one pair, I can get a couple pairs. I wear them most everyday in winter.

For the price, I’m impressed with the Nature Hikes. I bought a pair from each listing as mentioned in my last post. Their more expensive pair was no different than their cheaper ones. They’re getting returned. They do run small in the waist. I’m glad I sized up. Enough room to layer under. Tapered enough to get rain pants over. Not a Michelin Man look. With a zipper, a snap, and a drawstring, a bit redundent. The drawstring was too short. The fabric seems decent. Maybe a 15D?  The stitching was good. Adequate amount of filling. With pockets, the  XL came in at over 10 ounces. The ones I’m returning were a medium at 2 ounces less.

I’ll have the Ghost Whisperers today. Half off for the XL. Hopefully they run small.

My XL Natirehike pants are 234g/8/25oz without pockets. I took out the drawstring because the elastic is tight enough. I’ll admit it hurts my feelings a little to see the XL on the tag as I’m usually a M.

The Ghost Whispers weigh a couple grams more than the Nature Hikes. I feel that they’re not quite as warm. With that, the GW’s have a nicer feel to the fabric then the NH’s. Nicer looking. They appear to be better quality. Leg zips, but no zippers on the pockets. The Nature Hikes with pockets have zippers. Otherwise the same closure with a longer elastic drawstring. Perhaps less down shifting with the smaller baffles. More tapered. I’m really not disappointed in either pair. At least at the sale prices. I might have a hard time paying full price for the GW.

Weights:

XL Nature Hikes 275 grams

note: runs small

XL Ghost Whisperer 282 grams

note: runs small. Tightest of the group.

XL EE Torrids 205 grams (Custom 20D/10D)

note: the XL are huge. More like a XXL. Much too big for me. I’d return them except for the restocking fee on custom orders.

Briefly tested at 40*f over Brynje baselayer. 90gsm Alpha top with Brynje base layer. R2 zipped up. Standing still. Slight breeze.

All warm with the Nature Hikes slightly warmer. The Torrids  and Ghost Whisperers were a close second. The Torrids don’t have sewn through baffles giving them a slight edge.

GW,s were the most comfortable with the most features with Nature Hikes a close second, but lacking leg zippers. Torrids were comfortable but I found the elastic cord used to hold them up less desirable than the elastic band on the other 2 brands. I’d be more likely to wear the GW’s in town.

GW’s on sale…$136 (XL and small only) listed price $275.

Torrids with 10% discount with e-mail….$126.

NH’s $55.

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note: these things are huge. Much larger than the large.