Snow Hiking Pants Needed

Over this this temp range I prefer nordic ski pants with a stretch breathable back and wind block nylon front which makes a notable difference in cutting wind chill.

Second place has been convertible hiking pants that provide some wind blocking.  I use older Columbia silver ridge lights down to maybe 20F.  The convertible aspect lets them vent at the knees helping compensate somewhat for the lesser breathability.

For snow up to knees, OR Helium gaiters.  I tried the OR Rocky Mountain Highs but they have no breathability.  Post-holing in knee height snow turned my pants into soup under them.  Have to be a bit more careful bushwacking with the Heliums though

I’ll leave the expertise up to David. I have a pair of Kuiu brush pros that I’m testing in those conditions. Soft shell with a lining. Side and inner leg ventilation zips. Returning a couple pairs of OR Cirque 2 and lites. Wasn’t impressed for the cost. I’ve had a pair of the Silver Ridge convertibles for many years. I hardly ever take the legs off. I vent the same way as DD. Didn’t know that was a thing. Good pants at a good price. I’ve used them over a wetsuit, over a pair of Bjorn’s and find them quite versatile. I don’t wear them much in public as they’re a light color and thin fabric.

Thanks. Didn’t consider how much of a heat trap gaiters would be.

I love my winter pants from SportHill, a small Oregon company (although production is outsourced)

I have some cross country ski pants that I also use for hiking. I haven’t hiked too much in wet snow; ours is super dry. When it is really wet, I just put my rain pants over top of whatever is comfortable.

I’ll second Helium gaiters, as long as you’re not going to cut them on rocks, briars, or with crampons. In addition to being less warm, they pack lighter and smaller than other gaiters, too. They double as “legs” for (long) shorts.

A short gaiter, over the top of your socks and tucked under your pants,  will help with moisture running down your pants leg.

Snow to knee deep+,  short gaiter is not so useful

I have the short OR gaiters. When in deeper snow they don’t do much other than stop my shoe/boot from filling. I will be getting some of the Heliums. I was looking at the Crocodile but that seems like overkill for what I need.

That’s why I use the short gaiters. They keep my socks dry. Peax makes a pair of eVent tall gaiters, a bit more durable. They can get sweaty though.

I really like my DULUTH TRADING fleece lined nylon cargo pants. Excellent design and features and less $$ than Rail Riders’ version.

BTW, may I recommend knee high gaiters like OR sells. Not only do they keep snow out of boots and pants but they actually keep your feet warmer. I’ve worn my old Gore-Tex gaiters for 2 decades and they are a necessity even if you have ski pants with “powder cuffs”.

Sit by a winter campfire, take one gaiter off and in 5 minutes you will definitely have a colder foot. They do keep feet warmer.

Not really doing snow based backpacking anymore.  In the past I really loved pants made from Schoeller Dryskin (the heavier variety) and soft shells made for cross country skiing like from SportsHill. If snow was deep I would put on a pair of knee OR high gaiters.  The other thing that worked really well was a combination of a light base and the long discontinued BPL Thorofare pants.  I expect the modern equivalent would be some nice wind pants with moderate CFM.

I know Fjallraven makes lined cold weather pants, but I was thinking maybe my Vidda Pro pants would be an upgrade to softshell pants in colder or wetter conditions. I know you can wax them for more water resistance. Has anyone had experience with them?

I know Fjallraven makes lined cold weather pants, but I was thinking maybe my Vidda Pro pants would be an upgrade to softshell pants in colder or wetter conditions. I know you can wax them for more water resistance. Has anyone had experience with them?

The cotton/polyester mix in G-1000 will hold on to more moisture and dry slower than the nylon/lycra mix in my estimation.
Both fabrics can be treated with a water repellent, but waxing G-1000 will be a much more time consuming and involved process than using e.g. a Nikwax wash in or spry on repellent on a Ferrosi pant or similar material. Oh, and I feel like the wax wears off quite quickly.

I have nothing against Fjällräven’s G-1000 garments (and similar fabrics from other brands) for use in snow, and use them a lot myself, but for the specific properties the OP is looking for, I think he might be disappointed by a G-1000 pant.

There are many suggestions for gaiters, and in deep snow they’re indispensable.
Personally I shy away from gaiters made from WPB or any type of coated fabric unless I’m moving through very wet terrain. Otherwise sweat will accumulate under the gaiter, soak into my socks and eventually gravity will push some of that moisture down into my shoes.

I only have a Ferrosi hoody, but have tried the pants in a store, and while they seem like nice warm weather pants for those who it fits, I’d want something less malleable with less (or no) lycra for winter use. Lycra holds water and soft materials are more prone to cling to your body whereas a stiffer material will be more prone to create air pockets under the fabric.
My overall favorite pants for extended use in snowy conditions is a pair from Trang world, but I don’t know the model name and they’re close to 20 years old, so it probably wouldn’t help if I knew. Great mix of hydrophobic materials, great cut and nice features.
Klättermusen also has some good winter pants, I have the Dvalin pants, but Gere is a similar pant that seems to be the more popular choice. I had an older version of the Gere pant and personally I like the Dvalin pants more (though these are also quite aged at this point and could have seen some design updates).

For day trips I’m more likely to choose more specialized pants for the activity and prevailing conditions, e.g. cotton/G-1000 in very cold weather with low intensity and or plan to make a fire for warmth and cocking, WPB in wet weather with low to mid intensity activity and some kind of cross country/work out pants for high intensity in most weather conditions.

Anyone know how much adding another DWR affects breathability? I have this-https://atsko.com/silicone-water-guard-10-5-oz-aerosol/ Was thinking of really coating a pair of old Ferossi’s from mid thigh down and seeing how they did in the snow.

I’ve been a steady proponent of Ferrosi pants, shorts and jackets. Granted I’m often in relatively warm and dry weather.  It’s light and airy and never seems too warm.  I’ve lately been questioning its performance in certain scenarios because of  how it seems to hold onto moisture.  No idea how a DWR treatment would affect it.  I’m still leaning toward soft shells or a stiffer fabric with venting options.

My Sporthill soft top is 30 years old and still gets a lot of use (just 2 days ago).  It looks almost new but I baby it.