Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Mountain Khakis Cruiser pants > Test Report by Frances Penn

MOUNTAIN KHAKIS CRUISER PANT
TEST SERIES BY FRANCES PENN
LONG-TERM REPORT
October 06, 2015

CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT
CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE LONG-TERM REPORT

TESTER INFORMATION

I have been backpacking for eight years mostly on long weekends in Southern California with two or more 5-day trips per year in the Sierras. My total daypack weight, including food and water, is usually 15 lb (7 kg) and my total backpack weight, including food and water, is usually 22-26 lb (10-12 kg) depending on the need for a bear canister. I have converted to a tarp and bivy sleep system instead of a tent to keep my pack weight down. I have experienced all night rain, hail, heavy winds, camping in snow once, but mostly fair weather.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Mountain Khakis
Year of Manufacture: 2015
Manufacturer's Website: www.mountainkhakis.com
MSRP: US $94.95
Listed Weight: 6.2 oz. (176 g)
Measured Weight: 10.2 oz (289 g)
Colors Available: Freestone (light khaki) and Truffle (medium khaki)
Color Tested: Truffle
Sizes Available: Women's 0 to 16
Inseam Lengths Available: Regular 32 in (81 cm) and Long 34 in (86 cm)
Size Tested: 6 Long
My Standard Size: waist 6, inseam 34

pants showing capri length

These stylish pants look nice walking around town and on the trail. There is a double button waistband closure and the back yoke is shaped to flatter a female shape. The pants feature 4-way stretch, UPF 40+, and durable water repellent coating. The fabric is 91% nylon and 9% spandex and brushed on the inside to be soft next to the skin.

waistband close-up

The Broadway fit is low-rise and sits 3 to 4 finger widths below the belly button with a slightly fitted leg and a slim fit through the hip, thigh, leg & cuff.

leg buttons close-up

There are two color-matched buttons sewed on the outside of each leg 13 in (33 cm) above the bottom hem to attach the roll tabs sewn inside to convert from pant to capri length just below the knee.

back pockets

The pants have 5 pockets including one hidden zippered security pocket on the right side seam, 2 side angled pockets in the front and 2 back pockets with button closure.

zippered security pocket

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

These pants look like they belong at work and not on the trail. I could easily wear these to the office for business casual dress. They fit close and feel soft, stretchy, lightweight and very comfortable.

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The washing instructions indicate to machine wash cold, tumble dry low, iron low, do not dry clean.

The guarantee states that if the pants don't fit right, Mountain Khakis will make it right.

TRYING THEM OUT

These pants were comfortable the minute I slipped them on. They fit my shape and hug my hips like a comfortable pair of jeans. I'm not a fan of the lack of pockets that I usually stuff with small items to have them easily accessible on the trail. On the other hand, the lack of pockets contributes to the stylish appearance of the pants. The two front pockets are so small that the small items I put in them slipped out quickly. I will have to figure out how to handle the lack of pockets for hiking.

I went for a six-mile conditioning hike in the local mountains to give them a try. My legs felt a little perspiration shortly after the hike started but as the hike continued, I didn't notice it. The pants fit close and it felt like the hiking movement pulled them down. I had to pull up my pants several times to keep them from slipping off, which I didn't notice casually walking around prior to and after the hike. I will wear a belt on my next hike.

SUMMARY

Overall, these are a very stylish and comfortable pair of pants. I will get them out on the trail and let you know how they perform.

FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

Trip #1:
Location: Round Valley Campground near San Jacinto, California, USA
Elevation: 9,200 ft (2,800 m)
Trip Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Trail Conditions: on dirt trail
Temperature: 40 to 70 F (4 to 21 C)
Weather: sunny

Trip #2:
Location: Icehouse Canyon trail to saddle near Baldy, California, USA
Elevation: 7,600 ft (2,316 m)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: on forest dirt trail
Temperature: 40 to 70 F (4 to 21 C)
Weather: sunny

Trip #3
Location: San Gorgonio, California, USA
Elevation: 11,503 ft (3,506 m)
Trip Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Trail Conditions: on forest dirt trail
Temperature: 40 to 70 F (4 to 21 C)
Weather: sunny with cool nights and windy on the peak

Trip #4:
Location: Cucamonga Peak near Baldy, California, USA
Elevation: 8,900 ft (2,713 m)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: on forest dirt trail
Temperature: 40 to 70 F (4 to 21 C)
Weather: sunny with a cool wind

Trip #5:
Location: Butler Peak near Big Bear, California, USA
Elevation: 8,500 ft (2,591 m)
Trip Duration: 1 day hike
Trail Conditions: on forest dirt trail
Temperature: 70 F (21 C)
Weather: sunny

Additional local day hike trips:
Number of day hikes completed in this location: 10
Location: Turtle Rock, Irvine, California
Elevation: 500 ft (152 m)
Trail Conditions: dirt trails
Temperatures: 60 F (18 C)
Weather: evening summer hikes with a cool breeze on the ridges

On top of San Gorgonio

rocking the capri length on the warm hike down

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

This being California in the summer, we have the customary sunny days and cool nights. These pants have felt comfortable on all my trips. As I am hiking and start to feel the heat of the day, I notice a little perspiration starting to occur. Within a few minutes, that warm feeling has been forgotten. The pants breathe well and help the perspiration evaporate on the warmer days. I usually like my pants to cover my shoes to prevent the need for gaiters and to prevent the need for sunscreen on my legs. On the way down from the San Gorgonio peak, it was getting warmer and I wanted to try the capri length option. I rolled the legs up as shown in the picture above and enjoyed a little more ventilation which felt good at the time. I definitely prefer wearing the pants in their full length version and this is how I usually wear them.

There are two things that don't work for me with these pants. I like the stretchy material because it helps the pants fit my shape nicely when I first put them on. The problem with the stretchy material is once I start hiking, the movement of my legs pulls the pants down from my hips. I think this is because the stretchy material stretches at the first sign of perspiration. The combination of the perspiration and the leg movement combines to pull the pants down off my hips. I need to wear a belt to keep the pants from falling off my hips. The problem with wearing a belt is it interferes with the waist belt on my backpack. After trying several configurations, I finally decided that if I pull the pants up higher on my hips and cinch the belt more tightly than I would normally wear it, that places the belt that is threaded through the pant loops higher than the waist belt on my backpack and then both belts don't interfere with each other.

The other thing that doesn't work for me is the lack of pockets. One small bandana barely fits in one side pocket. It looks bulky because it is folded small enough to fit in the pocket. The side pockets are so small that I have lost two bandanas from my side pockets while hiking. While the lack of side cargo pockets does add to the attractive appearance of the pants, I have become accustomed to carrying small items like lip balm, extra bandanas, a small bottle of hand sanitizer, a few bandaids, and small snacks in these side cargo pockets for quick and easy access. While wearing these pants, I have placed those smaller items in the top pocket of my backpack. Honestly, this hasn't been as much of a problem as I thought it would be, but I would still prefer to have these smaller items in my pants side cargo pockets for easy access so I don't have to stop hiking and remove my pack to get to them.

I do appreciate the nice appearance of the pants. I have used them for casual get togethers and the fact that they are hiking pants has not been noticed. I think that is the idea behind the design of these pants and I like that aspect of the pants.

I washed the pants after every backpacking trip in the washing machine on the delicate cycle using warm water. I hung them to dry which they did quickly. I notice the pants don't wrinkle or attract dirt easily. I hang them to air out after most of my day hikes. When I put them on after airing out, they feel and look like they were freshly washed. I haven't noticed any odor while wearing the pants. There are no stains or fraying of the seams. The pants look like the first day I received them. Considering how much I have worn these pants, I think it is safe to say they are very durable.

SUMMARY

I like the feel and appearance of these pants. I really like that I finally have a pair of hiking pants that look good on the trail. The pants have performed well in all conditions tested so far. I will continue to enjoy wearing them for the remainder of the testing period.

LONG-TERM REPORT

LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

Trip #6:
Location: Mt. Palomar, California, USA
Elevation: 6,100 ft (1,860 m)
Trip Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trail Conditions: on forest dirt trail
Temperatures: 50 to 70 F (10 to 21 C)
Weather: sunny the first day, rain the second day

Additional local day hike trips:
Number of day hikes completed in this location: 6
Location: Turtle Rock, Irvine, California
Elevation: 500 ft (152 m)
Trail Conditions: dirt trails
Temperatures: 60 F (18 C)
Weather: evening hikes with a cool breeze on the ridges

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

The pants have continued to perform as described in my Field Report. The durability, breathability and stretchy material aspects of the pants described above have not changed. I still need to wear a belt to keep the pants from sliding off my hips while hiking.

The bottom of the pant legs where they are two inches (5 cm) longer than my rain pants got wet in the rain on the Palomar trip. Once I was back in the car and driving home, I noticed the pants were completely dry within the hour. The pants breathe well and did not feel too warm under the rain pants while hiking.

The pants continue to look like new with no stains, fraying of the seams or wear spots. Because of the nice looking appearance of the pants, I tend to wear them more often to hiking-related events where hiking won't be included, such as a class, meeting or dinner with hiking friends.

SUMMARY

It has been a pleasure wearing these comfortable and great looking pants. What a nice change to have my friends comment on the pleasant appearance of the pants.

This test series is now concluded. Many thanks to Mountain Khakis and Backpack GearTest.org for this testing opportunity.

Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Mountain Khakis Cruiser pants > Test Report by Frances Penn