Integral Designs Denali Pants
Long Term Report – 4/12/2004

Reviewer Information

Name: Jason Boyle
Age:  26
Gender: Male
Height: 5’ 6”/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Email address: c4jc@hotmail.com
City, State, Country: Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Integral Designs

Model: Denali Pants

Year of Manufacture: 2003

URL:  http://www.integraldesigns.com

Listed weight: 1 lb 3 oz (535 g)

Measured weight: 1lb 1 oz (482 g)

Color: Black

MSRP: 130 dollars

Features from website:

- Insulated with single layer of 4oz Primaloft Sport (0.8" loft)

- Pertex P565 ripstop microfibre shell fabric

- Pertex microlight taffeta inner lining (black)

- Fully separating YKK # 5 vislon leg zippers with inside weather flap/anti snag webbing

- Elasticized waist with front drawcord and side velcro adjustments

- Front fly / belay zip

- Supplied with Silcoat stuff sack

Long Term Review:

Summary
            After six months of testing, these pants have earned a permanent place on my late fall to early spring equipment list.  They are durable, warm, and can be used for multiple purposes.  The things I would change are small, but pockets and more sizing choices would make these pants even better.

Long Term Test Conditions
            The pants were tested 5 times since the previous report.  The temperatures ranged from 3-4 F (-16 C) to the mid 50’s F (10 C).  The tests were conducted on a ski trip, three camping trips and walking the dogs through the neighborhood.  The three camping trips included a four day backpacking trip on a mid Virginia section of the A.T. in January, a March overnight backpacking trip on a section of the Maryland A.T. and a dreary, rainy weekend trip in early April.  The wind conditions varied greatly.  Most of the tests the wind was fairly calm except for the 40 mph (64 kmph) winds experienced the last day of the January A.T. trip.

Long Term Test Results
            My test focused on three main characteristics: DURABILITY, WARMTH, and FUNCTION listed below are my findings:

DURABILITY:  The durability of these pants is great.  I was originally concerned that the thin material of the pants would not be durable enough, but after slogging through mud, pushing shoes through the elastic pant cuffs, and being my normally rough self these pants show no signs of wear.  I am able to enjoy the functions that these pants provide without worrying if they can handle my abuse.
            The Primaloft fill has also been impressive bouncing back to shape with minimal fluffing after being compressed in the provided silnylon stuff sack.  I was able to compress the pants enough that I could fit my down jacket with them in the same stuff sack.  The pants have also been washed several times with no problems.

WARMTH:  Having learned from my previous experiences, I did not normally use the pants to hike in, but instead I put them on as soon as I reached camp and they kept me warm and toasty.  During my January backpacking trips, they were a great addition especially when the sun went down and the temperature dropped.  I was able to sit comfortably in single digit temperatures outside, enjoy the stars and great cups of coffee wearing only the Denali pants on as my bottom layer.  They were also great to lounge around in warmer temperatures.  The fabric felt good against my bare skin and trapped heat well.

            The pants also worked great during my ski trip.  They provided plenty of warmth while riding up the chair lifts and kept snow out on my numerous tumbles down the mountain.  I even spent some time sitting in a snow bank at the top of the lift and the pants kept me comfortable while I enjoyed the view from the top of the mountain.

            The wind resistance played a key factor in the warmth of the pants.  They did not let any wind through, zip, zero, zilch!  On the final day of the January trip the wind was causing the pants to billow around my legs as the wind blew, but I was completely comfortable in them.  Also on the April trip the wind kicked up some and the pants performed admirably again keeping the cold out.

FUNCTION:  These pants are a great static layer and do a great job keeping the user warm, but they also have another function: a pillow!  I spent a week in March in New Mexico helping to build a trail at Philmont Scout Ranch were I thought I would have the opportunity to wear them.  Instead it was too warm so I used them for a pillow and they performed great!
            These pants are very functional in the winter.  They can be worn to hike in, however, I found them too warm unless the temperatures were cooler than 30 F (1 C) or very windy.  They performed well as a base layer put on when reaching camp and were very comfortable.  On my April camping trip, I put them on Friday night and did not take them off until I got home on Sunday afternoon.  I did not have the chance to wear them in anything other than a light rain, and they performed well repelling the rain.  They also did a good job of shedding snow the one time this season I was able to go skiing.

The pants also work well as part of a sleep system.  During the March and April trips, I used the pants as part of my sleep system.  I used my summer bag that has a rating of 48 F (9 C) and the pants were the main reason I was able to stay warm through the night.  My sleeping bag has zipper problems so it would not stay zipped up.  By wearing the pants, I was able to use the sleeping bag like a quilt and stay warm.

Improvements
            As I said in my previous reports, I would like more sizing options.  I am short and would like to have the option to order a size that fit better.  I would also like pockets.  I am a pocket person and I like to put my hands in my pockets and I found myself searching for someplace to put my hands.  Pockets would also provide someplace to put stuff when traveling.

Backpacking Background:  I have been camping and backpacking for about 15 years.  I started when I was 11 in Boy Scouts.  I hiked in mostly the southern United States (Florida, Alabama, Georgia) when I started.  Afterwards, I went to college in Connecticut and became versed in the New England Outdoors.  I currently live near Washington D.C. and hike and backpack in the Mid Atlantic Mountains.  I have been section hiking the Appalachian Trail and have completed all of the Connecticut and Maryland sections, and I am currently working on the Virginia section. I am not an ultra light hiker nor am I pack mule hauling everything but the kitchen sink.  I only take stuff that I plan on using.