Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible Pants > Thomas Vickers > Field Report

Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible Pant- Field Test Report

July 9, 2004

Thomas Vickers
36 years old
Male
5 ft11 in tall (1.8 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
redroach@pobox.com
Southeast Texas, Houston Area

Background: 
I grew up in the piney woods of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the mosquito-infested woods behind the house.  I started hiking in my college years and my style has evolved over the past 17 years - from my discovery, heavy gear period (internal frame packs, sleeping bags and tents) to - believe it or not - heavier, more expensive gear.  Over the last 3 or 4 years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping bags and tents, just lighter versions) and I have rediscovered the pleasure that can be involved in being outdoors with your gear.  While I have flirted with lightweight hiking, I feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one of comfort, while carrying the lightest load possible

Manufacturer Details:
Website:www.exofficio.com
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Size: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Colors Khaki, Cigar
Weight: NA

Details from Tester: (all measurements are approximate)
Size: Medium
Color: Khaki
Weight (as pants): 10 oz  (283 g)
Weight (as shorts): 6.5 oz (184 g)
Inseam (pant): 32 in (81 cm)  
Inseam (shorts): 9 in (23 cm)

Additional Tester Measurements: (all measurements are approximate)
Inseam: 31 in(79 cm)
Waist: 33 in (84 cm)

Test Locations:
This item has been tested in two locations:

Southeast Texas - Little or no altitude. Nighttime temperatures ranged from 70 degrees F to 85 degrees F (21 degrees C to 29 degrees C). Daytime temperatures ranged from  80 degrees F to 100 degrees F (27 degrees C to 38 degrees C).

Arkansas (Eagle Rock Loop Trail) - Altitudes of 500 - 2000 feet (152 meters to 610 meters). Nighttime temperatures ranged from 60 degrees F to 80 degrees F (16 degrees C to 27 degrees C).  Daytime temperatures ranged from 80 F to 90 F (27 C to 32 C).

These trips have been 1 to 3 days in length during the field test period.

Test Conditions:
The shorts have been worn during a variety of activities. So far I have day-hiked, geocached, mowed the yard, and taken one extended hiking trip with the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF convertible pants. 

The temperatures have ranged from 80 F to 95 F (27 C to 35 C) on these trips.

Insect Repellency:
I have worn these pants as shorts for most of the testing period.   They are just plain comfortable and are my favorite pair of shorts at this point. 

The insect repellant properties of the EX Officio BUZZ OFF convertible pants are no longer in question for me.  It started on a geocaching trip in the state forest near my home.  Mosquitoes love the backs of my knees and on that particular trip, not one bite on my exposed legs occurred.  My tender knees were untouched despite a flock of blood suckers and I was more than happy.

While in Arkansas, I wore the pants for 2 1/2 days and despite mosquitoes and chiggers, I didn't suffer a single bite while protected by these pants.  Chiggers really like me, but as long as I kept the bottom part of the pants on, no bites.  I know the pants were helping because the one morning I walked in high grass without socks on and with only the shorts, I was covered in chigger bites around my ankles.  Every other time I encountered high grass along the Eagle Rock Loop, I had stopped and zipped on the bottom portions of the legs.  When I was hot and tired, this was not the easiest task with boots on, but it was possible without too much struggle.  I also received no nasty chigger bites when wearing the pants this way. 

The last test of the insect repellant qualities of the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF convertible pants came on July 4, 2004.  My entire family had to move inside due to an attack of mosquitoes, but I didn't receive a single bite on my legs thanks to the shorts.  I am really learning to love these things.  I also think I have several family members who are just about ready to buy some of this clothing line for themselves.  Once again, it was very impressive, especially after two washings and one hiking trip where they spent most of the time soaked with sweat the pants still kept the bugs away.

Comfort:
The Ex Officio BUZZ OFF convertible pants are easy to wear.  The waistband adjusts just enough for my midsection, which is often a problem after a long day hiking or a big meal.  If the waistband ever seems too loose for me, I just go ahead and button the inner button and then button the outer button as well.

I had concerns that the elastic in the waist of these pants was going to chafe under the hip belt of my pack.  This has been a problem with other hiking pants I have tried and it leads to a very uncomfortable trip.  Luckily, there was no chafing involved with these pants and my pack. 

While hiking in Arkansas, these pants were put to good use. I wore them as shorts and as long pants all during the trip.  If there was high grass, I zipped the legs on and kept on walking. If the long grass/foliage went away, so did the legs.  This was an easy task to accomplish, even with boots on.

The pants got soaked by sweat during the day, but by the time I decided to get in the tent at night, they had dried while still being worn. I really liked this because I was just too tired to strip to my skivvies and the shorts were worn while I slept.  There were no oddly placed buttons or zippers to push on me while I slept, so they passed my test for sleeping gear.

Over all, these pants/shorts are very light and comfortable.  They have held up under my pack and did not chafe or bind while being worn this way. 

Impressions:
The Ex Officio BUZZ OFF convertible pants have been a very nice surprise for me.   They appear fragile due to the light weight of their fabric, but they have held up very well on the trail and off.   No rips, tears, or snags so far, and I took them through some very 'snaggy' foliage in Arkansas.   

They have not developed any permanent odors or stains and most importantly, they keep the bugs away.  I was a bit skeptical about their insect repellant properties, but so far this has been proven to me in a convincing fashion.  I will interested to see how far this protection goes as the pants go through the washing machine a few more times.

Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible Pants > Thomas Vickers > Field Report