Sugoi Espresso Pant
(Women's)
Owner Review by Andrea Murland
November 1, 2010
Tester Information
Name: |
Andrea Murland |
Email: |
amurland AT
shaw DOT ca |
Age: |
25 |
Location: |
Elkford,
British Columbia, Canada |
Gender: |
Female |
Height: |
5 ft 2 in (1.57
m) |
Weight: |
125 lb (57 kg) |
I began hiking frequently in 2006 and have
since hiked in Western Canada, Australia, and spent 2 months
backpacking in the Alps. I spend most weekends either day-hiking or on
2-3 day backpacking trips, with some longer trips when I can manage
them. I also snowshoe and ski in the winter, but don’t have a lot of
experience with winter in the backcountry yet. Elevation is typically
500-3,000 m (1,600-10,000 ft), in the Canadian Rockies and the Selkirk,
Purcell, and Monashee ranges. I try for a light pack, but I don’t
consider myself a lightweight backpacker.
Product
Information
Manufacturer: |
Sugoi |
Manufacturer's
URL: |
www.sugoi.com
|
Year of
Manufacture: |
Assumed 2009 |
Model: |
Espresso Pant
(Women's) |
MSRP: |
CAD $110.00 |
Colour: |
Grey |
Other Colours
Available: |
Black |
Sizes
Available: |
XS, S, M, L,
XL, XXL |
Size Reviewed: |
Small |
Listed Weight: |
None
|
Measured
Weight: |
466 g (16.4 oz)
|
Description
The Sugoi Espresso Pants are midweight, loose-fitting tights which are
lightly insulated. The exterior of the pants is smooth, and the inside
feels slightly fleecy. The pants are constructed from 90% polyester and
10% spandex, so are quite stretchy. They have an elastic drawstring
waistband. There is a zip pocket on each side seam, and a 16 cm (6.3
in) long zipper on the outside of each ankle. There is a stitched rib
down the front of each leg that appears to be decorative.
There is a tag on the inside of the pants which tells me the size and
fabric content. As well, there are symbols for the care instructions,
which, when deciphered, tell me to machine wash in cold water and
tumble dry low, without ironing, bleaching, or dry-cleaning. It also
says to avoid contact with abrasive surfaces. My favourite part of the
tag is where it says “Made in Vancouver, B.C. Canada”. I can’t complain
about clothes that were made in my own province.
Field
Conditions
I purchased the Sugoi Espresso Pants in late 2009 and have used them
year-round since then. I started out using them for cross-country
skiing down to about -10 C (14 F), and used them for that purpose about
15 times, either alone or with long underwear underneath. I have also
worn the pants while cycling several times, as they are tapered at the
bottom and don’t catch in my chain. This fall I have discovered that
they are also excellent for hiking in, so have worn them for several
days of hiking within a few degrees either side of freezing.
Review
Comfort & Fit:
The Sugoi Espresso Pants are very comfortable. The fit is snug, but not
tight. They are described by the manufacturer as a loose-fitting tight,
which I think is very accurate. The pants are tapered at the ankle like
a pair of tights, but they are not skin-tight.
The fleecy inside of the fabric is very soft and comfortable. I don’t
find the seams to be uncomfortable, and the ankle zippers have never
bothered me. The waistband is comfortable, and I have never found that
I needed to use the drawstring.
Since I’m so short, the pants are a bit long for me. They bunch up
around my hiking or cross-country skiing boots slightly, but it’s not
really a problem. I also find them slightly long crotch-to-waist, so I
sometimes look like my pants are falling down when they’re really not.
Again, not something that I worry about too much when I’m out in the
woods.
Warmth, Wind & Water Resistance:
When cross-country skiing, I have found the Espresso pants to be warm
enough on their own down to about -5 C (23 F). Below that temperature,
I
wear lightweight long underwear underneath them and am comfortable down
to about -10 C (14 F). At below -10 C (14 F), I start looking for a
more heavily insulated set-up. I was surprised the first few times I
wore the pants that they weren’t very wind-resistant. I believe that it
is due to the breeze that I need to put on another layer rather than
the true temperature, because they always seem warm enough when I’m
standing still.
When hiking, I wore the Espresso pants alone (around freezing
temperatures), but added a pair of long underwear underneath once I was
at camp for the evening and no longer active. I found this combination
to be very comfortable, and I was warm enough when sleeping in the long
underwear and Espresso pants.
The Espresso pants are not waterproof, but they are slightly
water-resistant. They shed light snow, but will wet out in very wet
snow or if the snow sits on the surface of the pants and melts.
Sugoi Espresso Pants on an
overnight trip in the Canadian Rockies
|
Durability:
I have consistently washed the Espresso pants in a regular wash cycle
and hung them to dry. They are still in excellent condition. There is a
small amount of pilling at the side seams (next to the pocket zippers),
probably from my waterbottle waist-pack that I carry when cross-country
skiing. There are no snags or loose stitching.
Summary
The Sugoi Espresso Pant is a midweight pant that is lightly insulated
and somewhat fitted. It offers good warmth and allows for layering
underneath, but is not wind-resistant. I find these pants to be an
excellent outer layer at moderate temperatures.
Thumbs Up:
Light insulation
Slim, but not tight, fit
Sheds light snow
Thumbs Down:
Not very wind resistant
Read more reviews of Sugoi gear
Read more gear reviews by Andrea Murland
|