reports for more information.
Long Term Field Conditions:
Since the last report I have experienced wind, rain, snow, and the occasional sunny day while wearing the pants. I have continued to use the pants while downhill skiing, although they are best used when it is not snowing. In addition to skiing, I have used the pants on two day hikes, one with a full pack, a snowshoe trip with full pack and on a two day backpacking/car camping trip. Locations included the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Mt Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest, the Summit at Snoqualmie, Squak Mountain State Park in Washington State, Castle Crags State Park and Wilderness and Joshua Tree National Park in California. Elevation ranged from sea level to 5000’ (1524 m) and temperatures ranged from 30 to 50 F (-1 to 10 C).
Summary:
I like these pants. They have gotten more comfortable as I have worn them, but they are still tight in the thighs and loose in the waist. They shed dirt, snow, and light rain with little problems and have proven durable through the test period. They will wet out in heavy rain or when sitting on a wet or snowy chair lift.
Long Term Results:
The pants have continued to perform well. They have gotten more comfortable as I have worn them and that is definitely a bonus. However, I would still consider them a fitted pant. Even with their close fit, I have not experienced any loss of movement while hiking or skiing. I have not had any more issues with chafing, but I do make a concerted effort to keep the pants pulled up.
The pants have also proven durable over the test period. Besides normal hiking, which for me means climbing over blowdowns, rocks and such, I also skied in these pants. I am not the most graceful skier and fell several times very hard. So except for the zipper that broke on the first pair; the pants show no signs of wear from any of my adventures. I think that the zipper breaking in the first pair was a one time thing and not an indication of poor quality.
One of my concerns was whether a backpack hip belt would rub against the belt I wear with the Fall Line Pant. This has not proven to be a problem. I wear a flat, stretchy nylon belt with the pants and I have not experienced any issues carrying a fully loaded pack.
The pants have continued to be weather resistant and shed wind and light rain well. They are not completely waterproof though. On one of my ski trips in a wintry mix, wet snow accumulated on the lifts and soaked through the posterior of the pants and wetted my bum. It made for an uncomfortable evening of skiing.
Other than the few concerns mentioned previously these pants have performed well and will continue to be used in late spring trips at elevation and next winter!
Improvements:
I reiterate from before that a more relaxed fit would make these pants even better.
Test Results:
I examined the Ibex Fall Line Pant on the following characteristics over the test period.
My answers based on the duration of the test period are in blue.
Fit:
How well do the pants fit? (There was some chafing initially, but I think that has been solved by wearing a belt.)
Are they roomy enough to have a light base layer of clothing underneath like the Ibex website says they are? (Yes.)
Based on the website picture it looks like the pants have zippered pockets, how easy are they to open?(Easy to open, hard to close unless standing up.)
Can they be opened with gloves on? (Yes.)
How do the pants feel?(Stretchy, Soft.)
Are they itchy like other wool products? (No!!!! They are very comfortable on the inside)
Durable:
How durable is the Climawool Cirrus softshell material?(The fabric has been very durable over the test period. There are no visible signs of wear.)
Do I need to be concerned during off trail hiking? (I have not had any issues through out the test period.)
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?(Nope, I have not had any fabric durability issues.)
Weatherproof/Breathable:
What exactly do they mean by weatherproof? (That the pants shed water, snow and wind while walking with ease. Sitting on a wet ski lift proved to be more than they could handle and the pants allowed water to penetrate the fabric and soak me underneath.)
We get a lot of rain here and water resistance is key. Will they make it through a day of hiking in the rain? (Yes, for the most part. The pants will eventually wet out after hours of hiking in the rain or sitting on a wet ski lift.)
How breathable are the pants?(Very good. Even when hiking in moderate weather they breathe extremely well. They do heat up a bit when I have performed high exertion activities but everything goes back to normal when I stop doing the high exertion activities, i.e., finish a climb uphill.)
What temperature range are they best used in? (For moderate activities they are ok in the low 40’s F (7 C – 4 C), However I think they are best used near freezing.)
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? (Most definitely.)
Thanks to BackpackGearTest and IBEX for allowing me to participate in this test.
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