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Ex Officio BUZZ OFF
Convertible Pants
| Long-Term Report |
November 16, 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 to bring the necessities but cut down on weight in other ways. I
also feel strongly that backpackers should always have good food. I have camped
all my life and backpacked regularly for 3 years. I backpack year round but not
so often in the winter months with snow. I also participate in other activities
such as adventure racing, kayaking, and caving.
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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
Measured Weight: 3.0oz (85g)
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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Long-Term Report
The overall performance of
these over the past 6 months has been above expectation. The durability, comfort
and insect repellency have proven to make these pants ideal for hiking and the
ability to convert them to shorts allows them to be worn for more months out of
the year than normal pants.
The insect repellent properties of these pants are in the fabric making it
possible for me not wear insect repellent and still not have bugs bothering me.
This repellency is said, by Ex Officio, to last for 25 washes, I was only able
to do 16 washes in the past 6 months and the insect repellency still works.
These pants have stopped no-see-ums, mosquitoes, ants, spiders, gnats and
possibly a raccoon. On one of the trips a raccoon got in to the bag that was
sitting next to mine at night but didn't even touch mine. My Ex Officio pants
and shirt were on the top of the bag and I think stopped the raccoon from going
in my bag, this is however just a theory. During the warmer months while wearing
them as shorts most of the time I still didn't experience bugs on the lower half
of my exposed legs. Overall these pants have protected my legs from bugs of all
sorts, even while in shorts mode.
The comfort of these pants is great. After a few washes the pants softened up
and were more comfortable. I have worn these pants around the Midwest during the
summer in temperatures up to 100 F
(38 C). In these temperatures I almost always wore the pants as shorts with the
legs removed. During the past couple of months the temperatures have dropped and
I have been wearing the pants to see how warm they will keep me. For me I was
able to wear these pants alone down to 35 F (2 C) (with low wind) while
backpacking and still be comfortable. Below those temperatures I would wear long
underwear. If just running errands around town of going to a football game 45 F
(7 C) would be the cut-off point where I would begin to wear long underwear.
However, I do believe I am more immune to cold weather than the average person.
These pants are also breathable and while backpacking in warmer temperatures
with the legs on my legs would sweat only a little bit. This could have been my
favorite part of the pants as I don't like to be sweaty. However, when I did
sweat, or go for a swim, I would not have to wait long before the pants would be
dry again. The material did not hold extra water weight or stay wet for long.
These pants were definitely quick-dry. I also wore these pants off the trail and
around the city. I like how these pants fit me, They are not too baggy but loose
allowing a free range of motion. I never felt like I couldn't move a certain way
because the pants were too tight. This is important to me on the trail as I like
to do a lot of peaks and scrambling up rocks requires pants that are not to
tight. This is my other favorite part of the pants.
These pants have proven to be durable. I feel that the pants will be with me for
years before they give up and wear down. I have crawled on the ground and under
cars with these pants on and they don't show signs of wearing at the knees. I
have also played sand football in these and sliding in sand has not seemed to wear
the fabric down nor the zippers. The zippers still slide like they are new;
however, when dirt does get in the zippers they begin to stick but a wash seems
to solve the problem if it begins to stick. None of the stitching has come out
on me yet. The partial elastic waistband still stretches like new.
Overall I am happy with the construction and design of these pants. They will
continue to be worn by me backpacking and day hiking, even after the bug
repellency wears off. They have shown to be very comfortable pants for me and I
have enjoyed testing them the past six months.
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Likes and Dislikes
Likes
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The pants are very comfortable.
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They repel insects well even on exposed skin close to the fabric.
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Construction has held up well after 6 months.
Dislikes
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Read more gear reviews by Michael Herman
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