Date:
January 1, 2005
Item Tested: IBEX Guide Lite Pant, Men’s Size Large, regular
length
Manufacturer
Information
Name:
IBEX
  Website:
http://www.IBEXwear.com
Product
Information
Product Tested: IBEX Guide Lite Pant (#500A)
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Fabric Description: Climawool Lite™ is Skifans fabric made by
Schoeller. It is a stretch woven blend of 74% nylon, 20% merino wool,
and 6% spandex. The inner surface is napped merino wool. The fabric has
quite a bit of vertical stretch and minimal horizontal stretch.
Color: Black (the only color available)
Size: Men’s Large, regular length
Weight Listed: average weight is 15.7 oz (445 g)
Weight as Delivered: 18.1oz (513 g)
MSRP: $185 US
Product
Description
The IBEX Guide Lite Pant, according to the IBEX website is a “Climawool®
softshell touring pant designed for the backcountry, yet comfortable
enough to wear everyday. Perfect for 3-season use or upgradable to
winter conditions with the addition of a baselayer. Pull-on elastic
waist with integrated belt, zippered handwarmer pockets. Zippered ankles
open wide to fit over boot tops, gusseted design keeps snow out.
Semi-fit.” According to a
hangtag on the Pants, product uses are “x-country skiing, ice
climbing, hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing”. Product
literature claims that Merino wool does not itch or develop odors, has a
broad comfort range, and is machine washable.
Field
Test Report
Test Locations
and Conditions— So
far I have worn the pants on a total of 15 day trips hiking, snowshoeing,
and ice fishing in southern Colorado. Elevations ranged from 6,500 feet
to 10,000 feet (1981 to 3048 m). Temperatures ranged from 0-50 F (-18 to
10 C). On two day hikes, the temperature started out at 0 F (-18 C) and
9 F (-13 C), respectively. Temperatures on one ice fishing trip started
at 13 F (-11 C) and ended at 38 F (3 C) with a gusty wind of about 20
mph (32 kph). The first 13 trips were under sunny conditions, the next
trip was in steady rain at 34 F (1 C), and the most recent trip was
walking in snow at 35 F (2 C). I did not encounter any really strong
winds on any of the trips so far.
How the Guide Lite Pant Was Used—The
pants were worn as outerwear on all of the trips. On two cold day hikes
I wore the Guide Lite Pant over wool long johns (IBEX Woolies) for extra
warmth. On three
snowshoeing trips I wore the pants with knee high gaiters over the lower
legs, and did not wear an underlayer. On two ice fishing trips, I wore
the pants over midweight powerstretch fleece pants plus the IBEX
Woolies. On my other hiking trips I wore the pants without an underlayer.
On the hike in steady rain, I did not wear rain pants over the Guide
Lite Pant because I wanted to see how water repellent they are.
 Fit—According
to product literature, the Guide Lite Pant has a “semi-fit” cut,
which I interpret to mean that it is neither tight nor loose. My waist
size is 34 inches (86 cm), which is at the bottom of IBEX’s size large
(34-36 in/86-91 cm), so the pant is a bit on the loose side for me. I
chose to go with size large instead of medium (31-33 in/79-84 cm
waist) because I wanted the extra leg length (33 in/84 cm for large
versus 32 in/81 cm for medium) and I wanted to have enough room to wear
long johns under them in cold weather. This gives the pants more
versatility, but the downside is they are a little too baggy (for me)
for use as hiking pants without an underlayer.The vertical zippered
front pockets have a 6.5 inch (16.5 cm) opening, which I find adequate
for my large hands, but I find the pockets a little too shallow for my
liking. My personal preference would be extra deep diagonal pockets.
Comfort: In the sunny Southwestern US, where I live, I found that
the pant’s black color limits the upper end of the comfortable
temperature range. The black color absorbs radiant heat from the sun,
making them hot to wear (for me) at only 50 F (10 C) while hiking uphill
in the sun. Of course, the opposite is true in cold, cloudy, and windy
conditions, and low activity levels.
I found the pants alone to be chilly while hiking on flat terrain
at 0 F (-18 C), but when I added a thin underlayer (IBEX Woolies), they
were very comfortable. When I wore them for ice fishing (low activity
level), two underlayers (IBEX Woolies and powerstretch fleece tights)
and heat absorption from the sun made them very comfortable.
Performance: On three snowshoeing trips, where I wore gaiters
over the lower pant legs, I found that the pants allowed ample freedom
of movement. I had no trouble lifting my legs up to chest level without
binding, thanks to their relaxed fit (for me) and stretchiness.
From a few intentional crashes in the snow, I found that the pants shed
snow and resisted wetting quite well because of their smooth finish.
Based on limited exposure to wind on one trip, the pants appeared to be
fairly wind repellent, but more testing is needed.
From one hike in the rain, I found the pants to be minimally water
repellent. After about an hour the pants became thoroughly wet, but they
stayed warm in spite of being wet (as long as I kept hiking). I weighed
them when I got home and found that they had absorbed 11 ounces (312 g)
of water.
The pants were non-chaffing against my skin. They have a brushed wool
inner surface, so they feel soft and warm against my skin. So far I have
not detected any itch or smell from repeated use.
Wearing size large, I have ample room for underlayers (IBEX Woolies
and/or powerstretch fleece tights), making them very comfortable to wear
in cold weather.
Versatility: So far the pants have worked best for the cold
weather activities described. Above about 50 F (10 C) in the sun, the
pants get too warm and I would prefer to use hiking pants made of
thinner fabrics instead of the Guide Lite Pant.
 Usability:
I found that the zipped cuffs fit over the tops of hiking boots with
no problem, but the zippered/gusseted cuffs need to be opened to fit
over heavy insulated boots. Then the zipper can be closed to seal out
snow . The 33 inch (84 cm) leg length (size large) is great for covering
the tops of my boots to keep snow and dirt out. The pants
have lots of adjustability with
their elastic waist and integrated belt. The zipper on the fly pulls up
to open and down to close, which is convenient when wearing a pack or
shell jacket.
Durability: So far the pants have been very durable, with no
signs of wear anywhere. I have done a small amount of bushwhacking
wearing the pants, and find them up to the task, with no abrasions or
snags so far. There is no extra reinforcement (like double fabric
thickness) in high wear areas like the knees and seat. However, the
fabric is thick and appears to be very durable, so it may not be
necessary. I have noticed that they tend to get dirty easily when used
for hiking. This is partly due to their black color, and partly due to
fine dust sticking to the fabric. I have washed the pants once so
far by hand using Woolite (a mild detergent for wool garments), and they cleaned up very well with no
shrinking or stretching.
Continued
Testing
During the next four months, I will continue to use the Guide
Lite Pant as much as possible in a variety of activities, terrains, and
weather. I plan to use them on backpacking trips and car camping trips
in cold weather. I anticipate more snowshoeing trips, where I am sure to
encounter some snowy weather and wind. I also want to determine how warm
they are when wet and how fast they dry out. By March and April I will
be wearing them on hiking trips in warmer weather, and I will evaluate
their upper temperature comfort limits.
My
Expectations For The IBEX Guide Lite Pant
Following are my expectations for the IBEX Guide Lite Pant, carried over
from my Initial Report. During the next four months I will test these
hypotheses to determine if they are true or not, and present my findings
in my Final Report.
- The
pant will be high quality with adequate reinforcement in stress
areas, and
they will be sized well and fit comfortably. True. They are
well made, but there is no extra reinforcement in the knees or seat.
Size large has a loose fit for me without an underlayer. The pants
are very comfortable to wear.
- The
pant will be resistant to dirt, wind, and water. False
on dirt and water; not enough data on wind.
- The
pant worn by itself will be quite comfortable as a hiking pant in a
variety of temperature and weather conditions.
Neutral so far. I have found that the upper limit is about 50 F/10 C
while hiking in the sun with no wind. No data yet for other weather
conditions.
- The
pant worn over a base layer will provide good cold weather
insulation. Very
true. With a base layer worn under the pants (thickness depending on
temperature and exertion level), these pants work great for cold
weather activities.
- The
pant will resist wetting and dry out fast after getting damp or wet.
Neutral. In my rain walk, the pants wetted quickly and soaked up
a lot of water. More testing is needed.
- The
pant will not itch or smell after extended wear.
Not tested yet.
- The
pant will be very versatile and perform well in a variety of outdoor
activities. True
so far, but they appear to be best suited for cold weather
activities, like snow sports.
- The
pant will be suitable for backpacking.
Not tested yet.
- The
pant will be adequately durable under normal use.
True, they appear to be very durable.
- The
pant will repeatedly machine wash, following instructions, without
shrinking.
True so far.
- The
pant will be adequately water-repellent to provide protection in
light to intermittent rain or snow.
Neutral, they have some water resistance, but it appears to be
limited. More testing is needed in order to comment more.
Personal
Information
Name: Will
Rietveld
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft (183 cm)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Waist Size: 34 in (86 cm)
Inseam: 32 in (81cm)
Email: (willi_wabbit@bresnan.net)
City & State: Durango, CO 81301
Location for Testing: Southwestern US (Colorado, Utah,
Arizona, New Mexico).
Backpacking
Background
I have been an
avid backpacker for 47 years. I am now retired and backpacking is my
passion. In the fall, winter, and spring I backpack in UT, AZ, and
NM. In the summer I backpack in several wilderness areas in southern
Colorado.
Backpacking Style—I
have been a lightweight backpacker for many years, and an ultralight
backpacker for six years. My wife and I give presentations on
ultralight backpacking in the local area, and have developed a
website called Southwest
Ultralight Backpacking to share our information.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank IBEX and the BackpackGearTest Group for
selecting me to participate in this test.
Will Rietveld
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