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Reviews > Rain Gear > Jackets and Pants > Integral Designs eVENT Rain Pants > Kathy Waters > Initial Report Initial Report: Integral Designs eVENTŪ Rain Pants Contents: Tester Biographical Information <back to top> Name: Kathleen Waters Backpacking Background: My husband and I started hiking in 1998 on a gorgeous fall day, starting with Mt. Hahn located just north of Steamboat Springs, CO. Since then, we have returned to Colorado, mostly to the Vail Valley area twice a year, both summer/early fall and winter to play outdoors - we snowshoe in the winter. When we are home in Southeast Michigan, we make it a point to hike 2 or 3 weekdays, usually 6 to 8 miles (10 to 13 km) and then one whole weekend day each week. Our weekday hikes generally take place in the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, which is a decent mixture of moderately steep hills and flat terrain, heavily wooded. Our weekend hikes can end up being anywhere! Product Information (from website) <back to top> Manufacturer: Integral Designs Description: "These all weather waterproof breathable pants are light-weight and durable, yet extremely comfortable to wear in the backcountry or around town. Made from a soft textured 40 denier nylon trilaminate eVENTŪ, you won't feel like you're wearing waterproof pants. Features like a gusseted crotch, waterproof side venting/access zippers and articulated knees make them comfortable during any high output activity. The pants have hem loops which will accomodate an underfoot cord (shown above, not included with pants). The adjustable elasticized waist allows for wearing over multiple layers and the waterproof bellowed ankle cuffs enable the eVENTŪ rain pants to be pulled on while wearing light shoes." Product Information (from tester) Size: Small Arrival Information <back to top> I received the Integral Designs eVENTŪ Rain Pants just in time for a last minute trip to Colorado (where I probably won't need rain pants but will take them just in case). The rain pants arrived packaged in their own handy nylon 9.5 in (24.1 cm) by 9 in (22.9 cm) zippered pouch along with an Integral Designs catalog and price list, a multi-folded brochure describing the "eVENTŪ waterproof technology" and a postcard-sized card containing product and size information. Size "Small" was checked to indicate the size that was sent to me. The white semi-transparent storage pouch has a black fabric patch on one corner with the Integral Designs logo, a smaller eVENTŪ fabric tag and an even smaller "S/P" size tag. First Impressions <back to top> Nice pants! That was actually my second impression right after I got over my shock that such huge-looking pants fit me - well, almost. To get the size issue out of the way, the waist is really larger than I would like, but "Small" is the smallest size Integral Designs offers. A quick try-on while wearing jeans, found the rain pants too big in the waist, but a perfect fit elsewhere. Using the Velcro elasticized adjustable waist tabs pulled tight, the pants were not going to fall down but were still too loose at the waist for my comfort. Thoughtfully, though, Integral Designs has added belt loops to the pants and adding a belt to the eVENTŪ rain pants made them fit me just right! The waistband fastens closed with a snap just above the 6 in (15.2 cm) nylon center front zipper. The eVENTŪ rain pants material is a nylon trilaminate, which feels softer than old-fashioned plastic or rubberized rain gear, but still has a slight crinkly feeling to it. There is a soft "rustle" sound when it is rubbed against. There are generous 8.5 in (21.6 cm) venting/access zippers on each side of the pants, which zip up to open rather than down. At the hem, two 11.5 in (29.2 cm) zippers also zip up to open and bellow out to allow easier dressing. The pants are gored at these hem zippers so even when the zippers are open, my legs are still covered and protected from the elements. With the hem zippers fully opened, I can take the eVENTŪs off and on with tennis shoes but cannot do so with my hiking boots. The narrow articulated knee is the obstruction to the boots. There are two loops sewn into the side of the hem on each pant leg. These are advertised to be used for underfoot cords. I don't have underfoot cords but intend to find and buy them to test the advantages of this feature. The interior of the pants is gray and surprisingly silky against my skin. All seams are taped and sealed. The coated zippers are waterproofed except for the front center waistband zipper, which is protected by the zipper flap. There are two fabric tags at the back interior waistband, one with Integral Designs contact and product information, including washing instructions and the other with eVENTŪ information, including washing instructions. Curiously, these instructions contradict each other! The ID washing instructions are: "Hand wash with mild soap. Drip dry." While the eVENTŪ instructions are: "Machine wash warm with liquid detergent". I guess I'll put my washing machine on "hand washables" and use a mild liquid detergent! The eVENTŪ instructions go on to say: "Secure all zippers and closures. Rinse twice. Hang dry. Steam iron warm to rejuvenate water repellent finish. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners. Do not dry clean." "Frequent washing required for optimum performance" is emblazoned in capital letters at the top. The Integral Designs eVENTŪ rain pants are nice-looking pants that I confidently will wear even off-trail. Particularly after donning a leather belt, they look quite neat. The only clues to their functionality as outdoor gear are the two discreet right-sided waistband tags with the Integral logo on one and the eVENTŪ logo on the other. Now if it would only rain or snow! Test Plan <back to top> This was the year my backpacking day trips finally expanded into backpacking overnight trips! I love it! I am looking forward to at least two more 2-day hiking trips here in Michigan through late fall and winter and have a long weekend (Thanksgiving) trip scheduled for the Upper Peninsula. I am also hoping to be back in Colorado for the Christmas holidays where I plan to get in a 2-3 day trip to Pike's Peak. In February, again I will be Colorado for a birthday trip to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I also plan on averaging my usual 2 day hikes (or snowshoeing trips when weather permits) per week. Hiking or snowshoeing will take place in terrain that will include the sandy lakeshore dunes of Lake Michigan in western lower Michigan, the rockier shore areas of Lake Superior in the UP and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Elevation will range from 177 ft to 14,110 ft (54 m to 4301 m) and I anticipate that temperatures over the remaining days of fall and winter will vary from 10 F to 60 F (-12-21 C to 15.56 C). I'm sure to experience cold, wind and rain and snow in Michigan and most certainly at Pike's Peak and the Sangres in Colorado. While a tester for Integral Designs eVENTŪ Rain Pants, they will be my first choice of rain and snow pants for the whole testing period. Since I snowshoe a lot, I spend most of my winter playtime in waterproof pants. Currently I have a decent pair of Columbias but they are heavily insulated and I often end up very wet from sweating. Consequently, when I am taking a break on the trail, I also often end up very cold. I plan to wear various pairs of hiking pants with and without long underwear during the winter months. So I will test the eVENTŪ rain pants with different combinations and report on any differences in comfort and performance. The eVENTŪ rain pants will be tested for the rest of fall and into winter in a wide range of weather and locations. Most of the testing will be 2-3 day trips in western and northern Michigan on lakeshore trails, ranging from sandy, open areas, to rocky, heavily treed terrain and short 2-3 hour day trips. The rain pants will most likely get damp, if not wet. I will thoroughly test the eVENTŪ rain pants for comfort, utility and durability. How comfortable are the pants to wear?
· At what temperatures are the rain pants uncomfortable; heat or cold? · Can I wear the rain pants with or without underlayers? · Will the adjustable elastic waist fit without excess bunching? · Will the rain pants bunch in the crotch? · Does the underfoot boot cord adjust? How well do the pants perform?
· Do the rain pants move with me easily or will I feel constrained in the way I hike/snowshoe? · Will the underfoot boot cord keep the snow and wet out of my boots? · Will I be able to squat, jump and run in the pants? · How "loud" are the rain pants - do they make noise when walking? · How do the side vents work and how well do they work? · Do the zippers snag easily? · How difficult are the pants to put on and take off? How durable are the eVENTŪ rain pants?
· Is it necessary to renew the waterproofing at any point? If so, what products are recommended/needed? · How quickly do the pants dry on the trail, in camp or at home? · Do the pant snag or rip under normal trail conditions? · How well will the underfoot boot cord hold up? · Can the underfoot boot cord be replaced or repaired easily if necessary? · Is the stitching straight, tight and long lasting? · Will the elastic waist stretch out? · Are the zippers sturdy? I will also report any other issues that arise during the testing period. Kathy Waters Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear Read more gear reviews by Kathleen Waters Reviews > Rain Gear > Jackets and Pants > Integral Designs eVENT Rain Pants > Kathy Waters > Initial Report | |||