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Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Stonewear Designs Liberty Tight Capri > Test Report by Theresa LawrenceSTONEWEAR DESIGNS LIBERTY TIGHT CAPRI Test Series by Theresa Lawrence Initial
Report
- September 12, 2016
Field Report - November 27, 2016 Long Term Report - January 24, 2017 TESTER INFORMATION
I have more than 15 years of backpacking experience. Day hikes and 2-3 day backpacking trips take place on most weekends throughout the year while longer trips are only occasional. I backpack predominantly in mountain terrain (Coast Range, Cascades and Canadian Rockies) with the goal of summiting peaks. Activities I use my gear with include mountaineering, ski touring, rock climbing, kayaking, biking, trail running, Search and Rescue and overseas travel. I like my gear to be reasonably light, convenient and simple to use though I would not claim to be a lightweight hiker. PRODUCT INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION & FIRST IMPRESSIONS The Liberty Tight Capri are an athletic style of tights with a Capri length. They have a high waist and fitted design. The waist offers a wide compression waistband. A few claims from the website include breathable and 'supersoft'. I agree that the material is 'supersoft'. I'm not used to such a high waist, but I can see the benefit as they would be unlikely to ride low. When I tried them on I found the high waist uncomfortable especially when sitting. I found it dug into my middle below my ribs. This isn't from being too tight because I actually have an inch and a half (3.8 cm) of extra room in the waist. This space is just at the very top, they are perfectly fitted everywhere else. The material is very robust and the seams are all flawless. I was surprised at the heaviness of the fabric. They are by far the most heavy duty tights I have worn. They also sport a small pocket on the inside of the waistband at the back to carry a small electronics device.SUMMARY So far my impressions of the Liberty Tight Capri is that they represent a durable athletic Capri. On first fit I wouldn't call them especially comfortable with the high waist digging in to my middle. On the flip side, the fabric is 'supersoft'. They feel quite heavy and I am wondering how well they will breathe during intense exercise. I plan to use them for hiking while backpacking, but I will also try running and yoga. Check back in about 2 months to see how they fared in the field.  FIELD CONDITIONS
 FIT & COMFORT For the above uses I have found the Liberty Tight Capri to be fairly comfortable. They are quite heavy, but for the colder temperatures that I have encountered, I have welcomed this feature. On the indoor treadmill they were rather hot and as such they would not be my preferred outfit, though they did function well for the activity of running. The fit is almost perfect, I find the gap in the back a bit undesirable, however, they do not ride down at all and move well with my movements. The waist band cuts right into the middle of my gut when I was sitting or bending. Therefore, the only time that I didn't like the Capris was when I was sitting length of time. I chose not to 'lounge' in them at camp for this reason. But, for any upright activity like hiking and running, they have been very comfortable. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The Liberty Tight Capri have been very functional in the cooler hiking weather that I have encountered. Their heavy fabric has held up well to the abrasion of foliage and offered protection in this regard as well. I have found them to wick well and breathe well in cooler outdoor climates. However, during indoor strenuous activity this was not the case. I have found that they dried fast while wearing them, which was appreciated, but they dried slowly on the drying rack after washing or hanging in a tree at cool temperatures. I was pretty happy with the range of motion they offered when scrambling and hiking. I've never had the urge to hike them up as they were always where they should be, which was much appreciated. Even in the more frigid temperatures the Capris length performed really well. To cut down on the draft on my uncovered calves, I just pulled up my wool socks or wore gaiter. I've also used them under my hiking pants as a base layer when temperatures were at their chilliest (below freezing) and that worked really well too.I have thus far been impressed with the quality of this garment. No pilling or pulling of the fabric, seams or threads. They look as good as new. I've washed them a half dozen times and I've never noticed an odor after two days of vigorous use. SUMMARY To date I have very little to complain about with these Liberty Tight Capris. I like the Capri length for hiking, the material was sturdy, durable and performed well outdoors. Wicking and breathing in cooler temperatures was well managed and I was happy with the fit, comfort and range of motion without slippage that they offered. In the coming months, more snow is expected and I anticipate switching to ski-touring mode, in which case my plan will be to use them as my base layer. My hope will be that the Capris length will actually complement the ski boots and save me from hiking up my base layer to above the boot or tucking them in to the boots. Check back in a couple months and I will have an accurate comment for those conditions.  Likes - Capri length (easily covered by socks or gaiters if needed in cooler temperatures) - Color, look and feel is desirable - Wicks and breathes in cooler outdoor climates - Durable, high quality craftsmanship - Easy to wash Dislikes - Too warm for vigorous indoor running - Waist band cuts into my middle making them uncomfortable when sitting for any length of time (not ideal for 'lounging' at camp) LONG TERM FIELD CONDITIONS Over the last two months it has been wicked cold averaging -20 C (- 4 F) and reaching as cold as -30 C (-22 F). We have also had an abundance of snow. In this time I used the Liberty Tight Capris on three ski hill days, two backcountry ski touring days and a three day backcountry avalanche training course involving both snowmobile and backcountry ski travel. Other uses included local avalanche training nights with Search and Rescue and gym use (treadmill and rowing machine). PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD I must say I was grateful that the thickness of these Capris made them warm enough for the temperatures I had to endure. In these well below freezing temperatures, I wore the Capris as my base layer and then wore fleece pants or another base layer over top depending on the activity and temperature. On top of all that I wore a pair of Gore-Tex shell pants or bibs. The Capri length worked really well with my ski boots. Much to my delight I was able to avoid tucking them into my boots or awkwardly pulling them above the boots having to leave an excess of material around my knee and top of boot. They retained warmth as well as any base layer I've used and they were comfortable for the activities I was doing (ski touring, snowmobiling, digging avalanche pits and digging in avalanche debris). They worked well for high intensity activities such as skinning up hill. Any sweat was wicked well and dried fast. Multiple days of use without washing did not produce any undesirable odors. As previously mentioned in my field observations, they were almost too warm for indoor gym activities. But, they were fantastic for outdoor winter pursuits, especially with my warm, wool ski socks, which are knee high. They pair well with knee high socks. DURABILITY These Capris continued to wash and wear well. I have been machine washing and hanging to dry. All seams remain intact with no evidence of pilling. They look just like new. I would say they are made from high quality materials that are highly durable. SUMMARY Overall I give the Liberty Capris a thumbs up for a highly durable outdoor garment that offers warmth, wicking and quick dry features. They worked brilliantly for winter activity because of their warmth and thickness. The length coupled brilliantly with my ski socks and touring boosts. I plan to continue wearing them throughout the ski season. My likes and dislikes remain the same as above with the addition that they make fantastic ski wear. I'd like to thank Great Trango Holdings Inc. and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to take part in this test series. Read more reviews of Stonewear Designs gear Read more gear reviews by Theresa Lawrence Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Stonewear Designs Liberty Tight Capri > Test Report by Theresa Lawrence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
