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Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Mountain Hardwear Traverse Lite Pant > Test Report by Brian HartmanMOUNTAIN HARDWEAR TRAVERSE LITE PANT CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA. In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker. I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than the bare essentials with me while on the trail. INITIAL REPORT PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Mountain Hardwear Fabric / Material: 94% Nylon, 6% Elastane in Ultralight Stretch Plain Weave INITIAL IMPRESSIONS My first impressions of the Traverse Lite pants were positive. They were lightweight, and I liked the color and the design which is simple, not gaudy. I don't like the look of cargo pants that have large, baggy exterior pockets all around them, so I was happy to see the pockets on the Traverse pants were more subtle. In my opinion Mountain Hardwear's design allows these pants to be much more versatile. When not backpacking, I could easily see myself wearing them around town or while traveling without feeling under dressed. The fabric is smooth and has a tight weave which I'm hopeful will hold up well to abrasion. The pants are lightweight and stretchy thanks to the addition of Elastane, and they appear to be well constructed. They have no loose seams or threads, and the snap and zippers operate smoothly. I like the zippered pockets. I could easily see myself stowing my wallet and or pocket knife in them. The pants should also pair well with a backpack thanks to their smooth waist band. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS The cleaning instructions are provided on a tag that's sewn into the waistband of the pants. Mountain Hardwear recommends mashine washing them in cold water on gentle cycle, separate from other clothes. They suggest tumble drying on low heat and removing promptly from the dryer, or even better air drying. Iron on low heat. Do not use fabric softener and do not bleach or dry clean them.
Mountain Hardwear describes the Traverse Lite pants as 'Standard Fit', not too baggy and not too loose. I ordered a size 32 based on my waist measurement and found them to be loose fitting in the waist, seat, and thighs. They're only available in a 30 in (76.2 cm) inseam which works fine for me when wearing hiking shoes, but I'm surprised they don't come in longer lengths. They're comfortable and have a slight stretch which I like, as it makes them feel less restrictive. The waist button snaps securely and after adding a belt, I was able to keep the pants securely in place on my hips. The interior fabric is comfortable against my skin, and they're so light feeling that I don't think breathability will be a problem at all. The pockets are nicely placed and they're deep enough to store about anything I'd want handy. SUMMARY So
far, I really like the Traverse Lite pants. Although I wish they
weren't so baggy, they look nice and they appear to be well made.
They have lots of features
including a UPF50 rating, DWR finish, lightweight stretch fabric, and
plenty of pockets. They're also comfortable to wear and they look
good. I'm anxious to put some miles on them during
the next few months and see how well they hold up. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS During
the past two months I wore the Mountain Hardwear Traverse Lite Pants on
four overnight trips for a total of seven days. I also wore them on
numerous day hikes and around town on evenings and weekends.
During the past two months temperatures were consistently warm, with
only a few days in the 70's F (24 C). I would
normally have worn shorts, but the Traverse Lite pants afforded me
sun protection, protection from biting insects, and protection from
briars and poison ivy. A trifecta I couldn't pass up. I
wore them both on and off trail, and even engaged in some bushwhacking and creek crossings. 3.
Franklin County, IN: While visiting family in Southern IN I camped
overnight, and went on two day hikes. The first was a 3 mi (5 km) hike
while the second was a 4 mi (6 km) scouting adventure. The
temperature both days was in the upper 70's F (26 C). 5.
Various day hikes in Central, IN: Six to eight day hikes in
varying temperatures, with total distance hiked of approximately 32 mi
(51 km). PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The Traverse Lite pants performed exceptionally well during the past two months of Field Testing. They were slightly baggy in the waist and thighs, as noted in my Initial Report, but they were a good length, lightweight, and comfortable to wear. Undoubtedly I sweated a lot while wearing them, due to the heat, but the benefits were worth it: no sunburn, no bug bites, and no torn up flesh. The pants never binded or pulled when I lifted my legs or stretched out, thanks to their gusseted design, and they weren't scratchy in the least. The fabric breathed well, always eventually drying out despite the high temperatures and humidity. Despite lots of sweating while hiking in the Hoosier National Forest the pants never felt heavy or water laden. They simply released the moisture I generated over time without making me feel hot and sweaty or cold and clammy. And they never smelled or developed stains. They also did a good job of shedding dew from brush I rubbed up against on the trail in the morning, without soaking through. and the bottoms dried quickly after traversing through streams. For the most part they dried out within a few hours of getting wet. I
was initially concerned the fabric might tear or rip because it was so
thin but it proved to be rugged and able to handle repeated abrasions
from tree limbs and rocks, as well as scrambling up hills without ill
effects. It never snagged
or unraveled despite walking through briars and getting caught on tree
branches. When hiking at the State Park near Somerset I decided
to go off trail for awhile to shorten the distance I needed to hike to
get back to my boat. Even though the woods was overgrown with
briars and prickly vegetation, the pants were no worse for wear.
The only downside to ordering them in the dark color was I
couldn't see ticks that tried to hitch a ride on my legs. SUMMARY The
Traverse Lite pants were so lightweight and comfortable they were
a joy to wear. They were warm for sure and there's no doubt I
sweated in them whenever the sun was out and beating down, but they
kept me from getting sunburnt and I got virtually no bug bites on my
lower extremities while wearing them. In addition I got no cuts
or abrasions on my legs from the brush. Finally, the pockets
proved useful for carrying small items I wanted to keep close by for
easy access. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS During
the past two months I wore the Traverse Lite pants on two more
backpacking trips for a total of five nights. I also wore them on
numerous day hikes through local parks and around town on weekends.
Although temperatures were hot most weeks, we got cool
weather and lots of rain one weekend and that gave me a chance to test
the pants in a different set of conditions than what I'd done so far. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The
Traverse Lite pants performed wonderfully during Long-Term Testing.
They were comfortable, durable, and did a good job protecting me
from the perils of 'the outdoors', including sunburns, mosquitoes,
poison ivy, and foul weather. On
all my outings the pants were comfortable and didn't
restrict my motion in any way. In fact, the pants were loose
enough that I had to wear a belt with them to keep them from falling to
my ankles, but that wasn't a problem. I also liked that the fabric stretched which allowed me to step over downed trees and
scramble up slopes when I went off trail. As for protection, the Traverse Lite pants kept my legs scratch and itch free. I used to wear shorts in the summer and lather up with sun screen and bug spray, but my preference now is to wear long pants (and a long sleeve shirt) and forego the chemicals. Some other benefits to this approach are that I don't have to carry spray bottles and containers, it's less messy, and I don't risk staining my clothes. The pants also protected me from the weather. When it got cool and windy, the pants blocked the wind and kept me warm. And a few weeks ago when it turned cold and rainy, the pants did a good job of repelling rain and keeping my socks and shoes from getting soaked. Eventually they wetted through, but even then, they were warm, and loose enough around my legs that they didn't cling to my thighs. I spent last week day hiking and found these pants to be quite comfortable in the early morning hours before it got too hot and muggy. And whenever I got sweaty or the pants got wet, they dried quickly and didn't retain odors. Although I haven't tested them in cold weather, I could easily see myself wearing them in 30 or 40 F (-1 to 4 C) temperatures, in conjunction with thermal bottoms.
SUMMARY The
Traverse Lite pants were a joy to wear during the past four
months. They provided excellent protection from the sun, bugs,
poison ivy. They were also extremely comfortable, provided good
wind protection in cool weather, and dried fast when they got wet.
After months of testing, they're still in excellent shape and
have no tears, frays, or stained fabric. As far as I'm concerned
Mountain Hardwear has come up with yet another winner. Read more reviews of Mountain Hardwear gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Mountain Hardwear Traverse Lite Pant > Test Report by Brian Hartman |