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Ex Officio BUZZ OFF
Convertible Pants
| Initial Report |
May 11, 2004 |
Personal Biographical Information
Name:
Michael Herman
Age: 20
Gender:
Male
Height:
5' 11'' (1.8 m)
Weight:
195 lb (89 kg)
Email: Backpackman (at) mailbolt (dot) com
Location:
Northwest, Indiana
Backpacking
Background
I am an semi ultra-light backpacker, but I do not go to the extremes. I
always attempt bring the necessities but cut down on weight in other ways. I
also feel strongly that backpackers should always have good food.
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Product Information
Product: BUZZ OFF Convertible Pants
Manufacture: Ex Officio
Year of
Manufacturer: 2004
URL: http://www.ExOfficio.com
Listed Weight: Not Listed
Material: 100% nylon (3.0 oz/square yard 101 g/square
meter)
Description: A pair of pants that has zippers on the legs so they can
converted into shorts by removing the lower part of the pants. The material also
has BUZZ OFF technology which repels bugs without using bug spray.
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Initial Impression
I first read all I could from the
Ex Officio's website. The pants also arrived with information about the BUZZ OFF
technology that agreed with the website. They made it clear on the website and
with removable and permanent tags on the pants, that they should not be dry
cleaned. This removes the active ingredient from the pants making them
ineffective. I also read on the website, as well as on the tags of the pants
that the BUZZ OFF technology will last for 25 washes. The active ingredient in
the fabric is Permethrin which is EPA regulated and approved. The pants also
arrived with information regarding the effectiveness of the pants and other
information. It claims to repel mosquitoes, ants, chiggers, flies, ticks and
midges.
The pants have two pockets on the back with Velcro to keep them closed. It then
has two normal pockets on the front/side where pockets normally are on jeans.
These two pockets do not have any type of device to keep things in the pockets.
These pockets are large but they are not deep. The right side pocket also has a
smaller pocket within that has Velcro to keep it closed. The left side pocket
has a hidden zipper just on the outside of the pocket that can be opened to
reveal a rather large pocket. There are no cargo style pockets on the legs. All
pockets are lined with the same fabric the pants are made out of, and not mesh.
The waist has two buttons and a zipper fly. The pants also has some elastic
parts along the waist. The belt loops are big enough to fit a 1.5 in (4 cm) belt
through. The pant legs
come off after unzipping a small zipper. I can take them off without removing my
boots because there is a zipper at the bottom of the pant legs that comes up 10
in (25 cm). Putting the legs back on while wearing the pants or while they are
off is a bit tricky but it seems after a few times it becomes easy.
The material feels very light and cool while wearing it. It is very thin but
soft. I have been unable to test to see if the pants will block the wind or if
the wind will go through the fabric.
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Test Plan
Testing
Locations
I will be testing these pants in Indiana
during the summer and fall. Insects start to come out in May so I should start
being attacked by bugs. The weather is very humid and hot, up to 100 F (38 C). I
will also be testing these pants on my backpacking and outdoor adventures. This
may include West Virginia, Texas and Colorado. The exact conditions of these
locations will be provided after I have gone there. I will also use these on the
trips I do not have planned yet.
Some of the things I want to test:
The durability of the pants and the
sewing.
Will they dry quickly?
Will the pants repel all the listed insects? and
more?
Will they keep me cool in the summer heat?
Will insects land on my exposed leg when the pant legs are taken off?
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Read more reviews of Ex Officio gear
Read more gear reviews by Michael Herman
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