Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Ibex Approach Tights > Cora Shea > Initial Report

Preliminary Information The Approach tights arrived on March 4, 2005 in good and complete condition. The Ibex website was somewhat informative, but I was left quite curious about the weight, feel, and fit of the fabric and of the tights overall. Fabric and Stitching The first thing that I noticed about them when they arrived was the quality feel of their fabric. From the Ibex website, I knew that they were intended to be used as a 'midlayer' (in Ibex's words), but I wasn't sure what that meant. In reality, the 'midlayer' fabric ended up being a tight, woolly, and almost rough knit that has a firm and solid stretch to it. The stitching on the tights creates all flat seams. One thing that the website does not show is that the seams on the outside of my legs and across my behind are not sewn in black thread, rather, they are sewn in whitish-brown thread. Sizing and Fit The next thing I did was put the tights on. Ibex lists the Women's Medium to be size 8-10. By their definition, sizes 8-10 fits waists 27.5-28.5 in (70-72 cm) around, hips 38-39 in (97-99 cm) around, and inseams 31-32 in (79-81 cm) long. I've never been much good at figuring out what size I am in Women's sizing. But I usually fit a size 8-10 in general women's sizing, and wear men's pants sized 31 x 32 in (waist x inseam, 79 x 81 cm). And the Ibex tights fit me perfectly. First of all, the inseam is perfect. The inseam stretches from my ankle bones up to my crotch. The material is quite incredibly stretchy, so I get a perfect form-fit all the way around my legs. A few times I had trouble putting the tights on because the force needed to stretch the tights was less than the force needed to pull the tights over my ankles (meaning that the tights would get caught up on my heels). The waist is an interesting matter. Simply put, the tights have a very high waist. An over-my-belly-button high waist. At first, I didn't like the waist placement. After all, I'd never seen tights with a waist that high. It seemed new, radical, weird. I didn't like it. But then, I wore the tights around, skied in them a bit, sweat in them a bit, and then I understood - the high waist keeps the tights up when under a pack hip belt! I was then thrilled with the waist placement. Here are two photos. One shows the cuffs and how they lie cleanly on my ankles, along with the Ibex logo on my left ankle. The other photo shows my profile with the tights on. You can see the whitish-brown thread line (which I find rather flattering) and the high waist placement. Nice Extras The two thoughtful extras are the inner front-hip pocket (a simple envelope of mesh sewn to the inside of the front of the waist elastic) and the draw cord. The inner pocket measures 3.5 x 4 in (9 x 10 cm). The draw cord easily pulls out to make the the waist smaller, but does not stay adjusted and pulled in on its own. Right now, the only way I can think of to keep the waist adjusted is to tie a new knot where I want the drawstring to stay. I'd like to figure out a better way to use it efficiently to prevent sag. But overall, the nicest extras come from the great simple design - I like the wide and low-profile elastic in the waist, the patterned fit along my rear, and the very flat seams.

Initial Observations After receiving the tights, I had the opportunity to take the tights out for a few days of backcountry skiing before writing this report. This shouldn't be considered a field test (please read my Field Report for that) but rather a good get-to-know-you session I had with the tights. Sort of like wearing the tights around my house, except my house happened to be in the backcountry of the Sierras in California. I lived in the tights for three days. The tights spent the days under my Gore-tex bibs, and they spent the nights as my only layer in my sleeping bag. It got down to 10 F (-12 C) and was dry and calm. Functional Fitting I enjoyed the high waist (which I talk about above) and the clean ankle cuffs. I ski in big, tight, plastic telemark boots with heat-moldable liners and thin socks. I really thought the heat-moldable liners would be too stiff to accept the tights comfortably (they don't even accept my long underwear because of the cuff seam). However, I escaped bruise and blister free from the weekend! I like the cuffs a lot. However, the crotch tended to sag over time at home, and this was no different over the weekend. I found the high waist was difficult to reposition high enough under my bibs. Due to this difficulty in repositioning, the waist would eventually sag down enough to create some space down at the top of the inseam, but not enough to slip under my hipbelt. While playing around with my other pants at home, I found the waist could be pulled up more easily with normal non-bib pants rather than bibs. (No) Stink Factor After sleeping in the tights for three days and then skiing in them as my only layer (no underwear) under my bibs for three additional days, I took the full-on test, sniffing the waist area of the tights when I peeled them off. And...nothing. No stink, nothing. This could be a real challenge to get these to smell over the course of the test... Other Observations When I put the tights on, I thought "Hmmm... actually, they're a little itchy." I was a bit worried, but after moving around in them for a few hours at home and skiing in them, their overall comfort overshadowed whatever innate itchiness the wool has. As for that outstanding comfort, I could comment on how they kept me dry while skiing uphill so hard that I couldn't see where I was going through my own steam in the dark, I could comment on the fact that they have already become my favorite home-yoga pants, or I could comment on many other things....but I'll leave all that for the Field Report.

Test Plan During the test period, I will travel in mountainous terrain in winter, spring, and summer temperatures (below-freezing mountains to hotter dry desert) with snow, rain, wind, and other weather. I enjoy tights because they are agile, comfortable, easy to layer over, and I have little shame about my nether regions. I really don't know why the outdoor clothing market has shied away from tights. (From a fear of wobbly behinds..?) I use tights primarily as an under-layer while skiing or mountaineering, and primarily as an only-layer (yep, only layer) when running, fastpacking, or climbing. I will examine the following aspects of the tights by using them as I describe above. Fit: Does the drawstring waist stay up well? Under layers? Can I tuck layers in easily around the tights' waist? Do they layer easily and stay put under outer layers, and do they slide easily and keep from catching on gaiters? Is the fit flattering? (Yes, it is! This is important, you know.) Comfort: How stretchy, soft, and flexible are the tights? (Very!) Can I wear them as my only layer all day comfortably? What about when wearing underwear (any undie-twisting)? Can the tights be pulled up comfortably (to knees or high ankles) when I get too warm? Warmth: What warmth do the tights offer (versus fleece, heavy or light long underwear, standard thin tights, etc) How well does the fabric wick to keep me dry, and vent when I'm active? How well does the fabric conform to keep warmth in? Weather Resistance: How wind resistant are the tights, and do the tights shed snow and light water? Does snow stick to the outer face of the tight fabric? Do the tights stay warm when wet or sweaty? How quickly do the tights dry when on me alone or layered? Durability: Do the tights retain odors? Are the tights easy to clean and brush off? Do the tights retain their springiness and conformity over time? Is the outer side of the tight fabric reasonably abrasion and thread-pull resistant? I will also document any care and maintenance the tights need during the course of the test.

Read more reviews of Ibex gear
Read more gear reviews by Cora Hussey

Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Ibex Approach Tights > Cora Shea > Initial Report