Date: July 18, 2004

Manufacturer Information
Name: Ex Officio
Website: www.exofficio.com

Product Information
Product Tested: Ex Officio Men’s BUZZ OFF Convertible Pant
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Fabric Description: Nycott fabric-100% nylon, 3 oz/sq yd (102 g/sq m), treated with 0.52% Permethrin
Color: Khaki (light brown); also available in Cigar (dark brown)
Size: Men’s Medium Long
Weight Listed: None
Weight as Delivered: 9.9 oz/281 g
MSRP: $79 US

Product Description
Ex Officio specializes in outdoor and travel clothing. The Convertible Pant is a member of Ex Officio’s new BUZZ OFF Insect Shield garments. The following descriptive information is taken from the manufacturer’s website and product literature. The Insect Shield treatment is 0.52% Permethrin, which repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges or no-see-ums. It lasts for 25 washings, and the manufacturer advises against retreating the garment with other Permethrin insect repellent products. Product features are listed in the Initial Report section. Appropriate uses are paddle sports, fly-fishing, hiking/camping, resort travel, and urban travel—anywhere insect and sun protection are needed. See my Initial report  for more detailed information on product quality, features, fit and Permethrin treatment.

Field Test Report
Test Locations and Conditions—So far I have used the Ex Officio Convertible Pant on 6 outings for a total of 13 days. All trips were in the Southwest Colorado Mountains. There were very few bugs on the first two outings, so I mostly tested the pant for comfort on those outings. The last four outings were backpacks, with the amount of flies and mosquitoes increasing each time. On my longest trip, a 6-day backpack on Colorado’s Continental Divide Trail, the mosquitoes were really numerous and aggressive, so the BUZZ-OFF pant got its chance to do its job. When we were hiking in forested areas, the mosquitoes swarmed around us within minutes after we stopped. They were particularly heavy when we camped in the forest at elevations of 10,000-11,000 ft (3,048-3,353 m) near water. Daytime temperatures were 60-70 F (16-21 C) and nighttime temperatures were 30-40 F (-1 to 4 C). We did encounter a fair amount of wind, but no precipitation. Our humidity levels are typically low.

Following are my findings and impressions:

Insect Repelling Properties—The BUZZ-OFF Convertible Pant definitely keeps flies and mosquitoes from biting.  When I was in woods thick with mosquitoes, I found that the insects did land on the pant (so they were not necessarily repelled), but they did not bite through like they otherwise would. They sat there for several seconds looking befuddled, then flew away. The mosquitoes were very pesky and did bite my exposed skin (head, neck, and hands), and I did have to put DEET on those areas to repel mosquitoes. The combination of BUZZ-OFF clothing and repellent on exposed skin worked very well, providing me with complete insect protection using a minimal amount of DEET. At this point I don’t feel that I can say how much the Permethrin in the pant repels  mosquitoes from adjacent areas of exposed skin. That will require more testing.

Comfort—The Convertible Pant fits me well and is very comfortable to wear. I like the long legs that cover the tops of my boots. The Pant has a broad comfort range; I have worn it comfortably while hiking in temperatures ranging from 35-80 F (2-27 C) and in windy conditions. The fabric is quite thin and has a soft hand. I have found the Pant to be quite comfortable to wear in hot weather (more comfortable than the Lite LS Shirt actually), and have not felt the need to unzip and remove the legs like I would with other convertible pants.

Versatility—So far I have worn the Pant for gardening, day hiking, and backpacking. It has functioned well in all activities. I have not yet worn the pant under a rain suit while hiking.

Usability And Durability—I have worn the Pant on two off-trail backpacking trips so far, and have found that the thin fabric of the Pant has limited durability. I came back from my last trip with one puncture hole in the left leg just above the knee from a tree stub, and another puncture hole in the seat from sitting on granite.  The Pant is resistant to getting dirty and looks reasonably clean at the end of a trip. I have washed it three times so far, according to instructions. It launders well, using spot treatments to remove pitch.

I have mixed feelings about the Pant’s trim legs. On the one hand, I like the slim fit with good articulation, but on the other hand I have to remove my size 11.5 EE boots in order to remove or replace the pant legs.  My boots do not fit through the openings. Perhaps a longer ankle zip would help (or maybe I shouldn’t have such big feet!). Interestingly, the ankle zips are on the inside of the legs rather than the outside like other convertible pants.

Ultralight Backpacking Use—The Convertible Pant works great for backpacking. At 9.9 oz/281 g for size medium-long, the Pant weights a little more than a pair of Supplex nylon hiking shorts at 7.9 oz (224 g). This pant has a good balance between durability, functionality, and light weight.

Overall, I am very pleased with the Ex-Officio BUZZ-OFF Convertible Pant. The materials and construction are excellent, it fits very well, it’s very comfortable to wear, it repels bugs from the body surface it covers, and it enables one to achieve complete insect protection with minimal use of contact repellents. My only reservation so far is durability under backpacking conditions.

My Expectations For The Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Convertible Pant
Following is an update on my expectations for the Pant from my Initial Report:

1. The Pant’s BUZZ OFF treatment will repel a variety of insects in a broad range of situations without the need for supplemental DEET on exposed skin. False. The garments repel insects from the area they cover, but under heavy insect conditions supplement DEET is needed on exposed skin for complete insect protection.
   
   
2. Only in severe insect conditions will I need to apply DEET on exposed skin to obtain adequate protection. Not sure yet. When there are only a few mosquitoes, I get by without applying insect repellent to exposed skin. I’m not sure if the BUZZ OFF clothing is repelling them or not.
   
   
3. The BUZZ OFF Insect Shield will last at least six months or 25 washings. Three washings so far and still working.
   
   
4. The Pant will be high quality with adequate reinforcement in stress areas, and will be sized well and fit comfortably. True. The quality, construction, and fit are excellent.
   
   
5. The Ex Officio Convertible Pant will be comfortable to wear and will have a broad comfort range. Very true, these pants are really comfortable to wear. In hot weather I don’t feel the need to remove the legs.
   
   
6. The Pant will dry out fast after getting damp or wet. Basically true I recently got them soaked in a downpour, and they dried out in about 30 minutes in the sun. Drying time depends a lot on humidity. 
   
   
7. The Ex Officio Convertible Pant will be very versatile and perform well in a variety of outdoor activities. True.
   
   
8. The Pant will be a lightweight and functional component of an ultralight backpacking system. True, they are lighter than many other convertible hiking pants.
   
   
9. The Ex Officio Convertible Pant will be adequately durable under normal use. Durability is limited. I have put two holes in them so far. Its not that they are fragile, but they are not bombproof either.
   
   
10. The Pant will repeatedly machine wash, following instructions, without shrinking, fading, or retaining stains. True so far, they clean up well.

Tester Information
Tester: Will Rietveld
Email: willi_wabbit@Bresnan.net
Male
Height: 6 ft (1.8 meters)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Age: 61
Measurements: Waist 34 in/86 cm, inseam 32 in/81 cm
Location: Southwest Colorado, USA
Backpacking Experience: 46 years
Backpacking Skill Level: Advanced
Backpacking Style: Ultralight (5 years)
Types of Trips: Frequent 2-6 day trips in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. I am not a thru hiker. In the wintertime we car camp and day hike.
Personal Website: Southwest Ultralight Backpacking

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Ex Officio and the BackpackGearTest Group for selecting me to participate in this test.

Will Rietveld