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

Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible Pant- Initial Report

May 10, 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)


Initial Website Impressions:
I visited the Ex Officio website and found out far more than I ever intended about the products that I was going to test.  The color swatches for the pant were very vibrant and easy to see. There was no confusion in my mind as to what the pant color would look like.  For that matter, I felt that I also had a good grip on what the pant would look like when it arrived at my door. 

The website also contains a good amount of detail about the BUZZ OFF process that gives this shirt its special bug repellant properties. The FAQ section provided good answers to common questions about the BUZZ OFF insect repellant. 

I expected no surprises after visiting the website.  There was just enough information to make me feel comfortable about the items before they arrived. 

Arrival:
A large, flat box was waiting for me when I arrived home from work.  Inside the box I found a plethora of items for me to dig through.  Sealed in plastic bags were the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Lite long sleeve shirt and the BUZZ OFF Convertible pant.    Along with the test items there was brochure explaining all about the BUZZ OFF Insect Shield insect repellant clothing and its benefits, a catalogue of 2004 Ex Officio BUZZ OFF clothing, an Ex Officio BUZZ OFF ink pen, and a folder containing a press release about the BUZZ OFF line of clothing and a printed FAQ about the BUZZ OFF process.  

Attached to each piece of clothing was a hang tag which contains information about that particular piece and a warning tag telling the purchaser DO NOT DRY CLEAN. 

The feature tags claim that the  Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible Pant  is insect repellent, UV Block 30+, Quick Drying, Lightweight, Wrinkle Resistant, and has a Peach finish.

Description and Initial Impression:
The Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible Pant was a very pleasant surprise when it came out of the plastic wrapper.  I am not sure what the "Nycott" fabric is that it is made off, but these pants are soft against my skin.  This was not what I had expected. I was expecting a much more stiff, nylon-like fabric than what arrived.

After a small bit of reading on the enclosed tags I have discovered that "Nycott" is 100% Nylon and the material has a 'peach' finish of some sort.   These two must be what cause this fabric to be so darned soft.

The Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible Pants are unlined,  long pants which can convert to shorts by zipping the lower half of each leg off, just above the wearer's knees. They have a partial elastic waist and six belt loops.  The pants are secured using two buttons and a zipper in the front of the pant. 

There are two slash/hand pockets on either side of the pant for carrying items. Just behind this pocket on the left hand side is a zipper sealed security pocket.  Inside of the right hand slash/hand pocket there is a small coin/key pocket that is sealed with hook-and-loop fasteners and there is small cord loop for attaching a lanyard or other item. 

The two rear pockets measure 6 x 5 in (15 x 13 cm) and are both sealed by hook-and-loop fasteners.  

The bottom of each pant leg contains a vertical zipper.  Each zipper starts at the cuff of the pant and is 10 in (25 cm) long.  The zippers are nicely concealed behind flaps of cloth and at this point I have to assume that they are used for entering/exiting the pant while wearing footgear.

I had never purchased any convertible pants because my hiking partners warned me that most of the convertible pants that they had tried had wound up chafing them due to the leg zippers rubbing against their legs.  This is not an issue for the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible pants.  The zippers which attach the leg sections are protected inside and out by an extra flap of cloth.  This means that the zipper is never visible on the outside of the pants or shorts and the zipper never makes contact with the wearer's legs on the inside of the pants.  It is details like this that prove to me that Ex Officio took the time to correctly design and construct this series of pant.  

I was more than a little surprised by these pants.  They are much nicer and stylish than I would have expected.  The attention to details on the construction of these pants is also very impressive. Every time I thought I was done with the description of the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible pant, I would find something else that I had missed in my first few times going over them.  There is part of me that worries I have missed something, but any other details I find will be reported on later.

Test Location:
This test will have 4  testing locations:

Southeast Texas - Little or no altitude. Night temperatures ranging from 70 degrees F to 85 degrees F (21 degrees C to 29 degrees C). Daytime temperatures 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). Night temperatures ranging from 60 degrees F to 80 degrees F (16 degrees C to 27 degrees C). Daytime temperatures are unknown to me, but probably hot).

Central Texas - Little or no altitude here either. Night temperatures ranging from 70 degrees F to 85 degrees F (21 degrees C to 29 degrees C). Daytime temperatures from 80 degrees F to 100 degrees F (27 degrees C to 38 degrees C).

These trips will range in length from 5 days each (Colorado and Arkansas), several 3 day trips in Central Texas, to many weekend, overnight trips in Southeast Texas, and any other activities that take me outside and into the buglands of my yard. 

Test Plan:
Testing will be carried out on backpacking/hiking trips and on any other outdoor activity that will bring me in close touch with bugs.  This will allow me access the shirt's performance in the field as I complete a variety of outdoor activities.

1. Does the Buzz Off Insect shield technology work well? I live in mosquito central and most of my hiking trips will be taking place during serious bug season.

5. How well does it hold up to backpacking/hiking? How durable is the fabric?  How durable are the buttons? Will they stay attached during the testing period? 

6. Can I take them off, put them on with my boots on? (Can this be done easily?)

7. How well do they resist stains?

8. How long can it be worn between washings? How bad does it smell after prolonged periods of wear? This is important since the insect repellency is limited by washing.

9. Does sweating in the pants seem to negate or reduce the BUZZ OFF protection?

10 . How well do the zippers work? Are they durable? Do they jam easily? Can the leg sections be easily zipped on/off while the pants are being worn?

11. How well does the partial elastic waist stay up under a pack?

14. Do I have a full range of motion in the pants? Shorts?

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