Ibex Fall Line Pant
Initial Report - November 23, 2005
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Waist: 36"/ 91 cm
Hips: 42"/ 107 cm
Thighs: 21"/ 53 cm
Inseam: 28"/ 71 cm
Email address: c4jc "at" hotmail "dot" com
City, State, Country: Snoqualmie, WA, U. S.
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 17 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the BSA and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I am generally a lightweight hiker, but will carry extras to keep me comfortable. I have just moved to the Pacific Northwest and have been exploring the new area and learning new places to backpack and camp.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Ibex
Model: Fall Line Pant
Size: Large
Stone (received), Black
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL: www.ibex.com
Listed weight: 21 oz (595 g)
Measured weight: 23 oz (652 g)
**Disclaimer: The closest my scale will measure is in whole ounces.**
Fabric Content: Climawool® Cirrus softshell (PTT, Polyester exterior, 100% eco-washed wool interior)
Listed Dimensions: Waist 34-36" (86-91 cm), Inseam 31" (79 cm)
MSRP: $225 US
Country of Manufacture: China with imported fabrics
Product Description:
From the Ibex Website:
"The newest addition to our pant collection is this all-purpose piece for serious outdoor adventure. The Climawool® Cirrus softshell exterior keeps the elements where they belong. The fabric exterior consists of PTT (in the Lycra® family but much more durable and with stronger stretch recovery) and polyester. The interior is 100% eco-washed wool. Fully articulated knees and seat make this a form-fitting, stress-free companion wherever you go."
Recommended Uses:
"Wear this pant anywhere you'll be doing highly aerobic, cold-weather activities:
- Backcountry Skiing
- Hiking"
I don't normally like to include the manufacturer's description in my reports but in this case I did because this is my first experience with soft shell clothing. To me these pants don't look that much different than other pants. The outer shell of the pants feels smooth and stretchy and the inside is soft and comfortable. The pants are definitely formfitting. There are four pockets; two hand pockets level pockets, and two pockets on the thighs. The pants have belt loops, hidden suspender loops, and an adjustable boot gripper cuff.
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Initial Impressions/Use:
Fit:
My first impression was these are really cool! Until I tried them on… I was unsure of how the pants were supposed to fit because of my inexperience with them. The waist was fine, if not a little too large, and from the calf down they were fine, but they were very tight in the thighs. This is the formfitting part. I talked to others who had more experience and found that this was normal. I wore them around the house for a couple of days to make sure that they did fit me and they do. I am concerned about how formfitting the pants are in the thighs and will watch this through the test to see if they stretch in this area. My other concern with these pants regarding fit is in the waist. I received a size large which according their website is what I should wear, however, I must wear a belt with the pants for them to fit securely. Wearing a belt concerns me because it may become a sore spot while wearing a backpack hip belt. I will know more by the field report. The pants seem to be well constructed with only a few minor sloppy seams.
Features:
There are four pockets on the pants. The two normal waist level pockets are made of mesh. I can fit car keys or a cell phone in them and not much else. Even when I put these items in the pockets they poke out because of the tight fit of the pants. Below the waist level pockets on each side there is another pocket. These pockets are smaller and I am not sure exactly what purpose they serve. I think they are too small for me to store anything other than really flat objects like a driver's license or money. Each pocket is zippered. Attached to each zipper pull is a small piece of line and a rubber tab to help open and close the pocket.
The boot gripper cuffs are interesting. There are three lines of rubber gripping material that run the circumference of the pant leg. I guess these are supposed to cling to the sides of my boots so the pant leg doesn't slide up to let stuff into my boots. In addition the gripper there is an elastic cord and cord lock to reduce the bottom of the leg opening. I don't normally wear boots, but I am interested to see if this feature is compatible with my trail runners that I normally hike in.
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Care:
The care instructions are fairly simple: machine wash in lukewarm water (88 F/ 30 C) separately, gentle cycle, inside out with a mild detergent. Do not bleach or use fabric softener. Do not tumble dry. Hang or lay flat to dry. The pants can be ironed but who irons their outdoor pants?
Improvements:
Are there such things as relaxed fit soft shell pants? Not sure but right now that is my only suggestion.
Expected Field Conditions:
The average precipitation in November, December, January and February for the Seattle area is 9+ inches per month (23 cm) and will take all forms: rain, snow, and sleet. The average temperatures for the early winter range from highs in the 50's F to lows in the 30's F (10 C - 1 C). Most of my outdoor adventures take place in the Mount Baker and Snoqualmie National Forest. Elevation may vary from sea level to 14,000 ft (4267 m), although Mt Rainier will probably not be on the agenda this winter. My normal outdoor routine consists of at least two day hikes a month, and no less than 2 nights of backpacking a month. I also alpine ski, and will be trekking up to Snoqualmie Pass to ski and will use the Fall Line Pant as a layer in my skiing ensemble.
Test Plan:
I will look for the following characteristics in the Ibex Fall Line Pant:
(My answers are in parenthesis and italics)
Fit:
How well do the pants fit? (Initial impressions say not to well, but time will tell.)
Are they roomy enough to have a light base layer of clothing underneath like the Ibex website says they are?
Based on the website picture it looks like the pants have zippered pockets, how easy are they to open?
Can they be opened with gloves on?
How do the pants feel?
Are they itchy like other wool products? (No!!!! They are very comfortable on the inside)
Durable:
How durable is the Climawool Cirrus softshell material?
Do I need to be concerned during off trail hiking?
I normally sit or kneel on the ground while doing everyday camp chores like collecting firewood, cooking or building a fire; do I need to be worried about the pants coming in contact with rocks, sticks and dirt?
Weatherproof/Breathable:
What exactly do they mean by weatherproof?
We get a lot of rain here and water resistance is key. Will they make it through a day of hiking in the rain?
How breathable are the pants?
What temperature range are they best used in?
Style:
Living here in the trendy Pacific Northwest are these pants stylish enough to wear on a rainy day diaper run to Target or while out at dinner in downtown Seattle?
Thanks to Backpack Gear Test and IBEX for allowing me to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Ibex gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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