Anyone got any experience of the Mountain Equipment Combin trousers? They look to be near perfectly specified on paper, being Schoeller Dryskin Extreme with Nanosphere yet without the Liskamm's "technical" reinforcing at the knees and crampon-proofing insteps. So, should be a reasonable weight soft shell trouser. And they're in black.
Trying them on, the seat depth seemed a little short, but otherwise a very good fit. The bottoms were a little more spacious than I would like (being almost flared), but overall a stylish and comfortable pair of trousers. Yet you can only buy them from about 3 places in the UK? And nowhere with a good discount.
What worries me is that they may be too warm for summer use if they are basically the same material as the Liskamms, which are more winter trousers.
Paul, I have the Liskamms, and one thing about them that a quick trawl suggests the Combins lack is a lower leg gusseted zip, which might explain why they put a bit of extra material in the lower legs? The Liskamms are fine in that respect, not too flappy and I typically don't bother with gaiters.
Would they be too warm for summer? Well, depends on when and where... I wore Likamms extensively last July... but at over 1000m while in Norway. I had them on this last Saturday on a glorious sunny day with fairly high ambients, and was glad of them in the much higher than expected winds, where other folks in lighter trousers got a bit chilled and some overtrousers were being broken out just to take out wind chill.
For a general summer pair of trousers they'd be over the top, but otherwise Dryskin is just sooooooooo good IMHO that they're well worth having for the rest of the year (bit like a Paramo smock!).
My OM Review gives more details, though if I was writing it now I'd be a bit ruder about the belt buckle, which is really hopeless at staying in tension. I would change the buckle, but I've started using them with braces (the built-in brace attachments are excellent) which renders it a bit of a moot point.
Don't really need the "technical" knees and crampon patches so today I'd probably look at the Combins, assuming the fit fitted me as well as the Liskamms do.
Shame about the availability, but that has always seemed to be true of Schoeller trousers. Which is bonkers as I think they're about as good as you can get for general hillgoing in the UK outside of balmy days (i.e., most of the time...).
I've read your Liskamms review before (and looked seriously at them because of it, though similarity with my G2s stopped me), and I can certainly understand the comments about the belt buckle. I find that for nearly all the lightweight fixed belts that come with trousers now. What's wrong with people using their own bullet proof belt? I have a Ted Baker belt that is actually a very fine outdoor belt. It is wide, top quality leather with two spikes on the buckle, so gets a good even tension. Absolutely first rate, and looks like it will last forever. But I agree, braces are best and I am looking for some good black braces to purchase. I know you don't, but I really like the thigh pockets too, as it is where I store the folded paper maps that I scan and print rather than working from a whole Explorer map.
I really like the Dryskin fabric too, so I'm getting really tempted, especially as I can't seem to find the Marmot whatever trousers (the ones in Dryskin) in the short leg length. A standard ME leg length fitted me fine on the Combin, but on the Marmots (like Lowe Alpine and many others) it was too long. I need to get taller!
I'd say I'm now about 60% confident of buying them. If I find a very good deal soon, I'll crack and buy as a) they fit fine, b) I love ME kit, c) I have difficulty refusing a quality item at bargain price.
Maybe I could get someone to take in the lower leg to give me more of the fit I want. If spending £100 on trousers, I might as well spend £20 more and get them tailored to fit perfectly.
Looks like the braces require dedicated braces loops on the trousers rather than the clip fit type (not sure if the Combins had the loops). I'd like to see the braces closer, but the damn larger image is exactly the same as the normal one!
As for the map pocket, I use an A4 sheet folded at least into quarters (and sometimes eighths), so I think it would be big enough for that (though I didn't check at the time). Even a mobile phone pocket is big enough for my map, so I can't see it being too small.
Well, 60% turned to 100% when I found the Combins reduced from £100 to £65 at The Outdoor Shop
All I can say so far is "mmmmmmmmm Shoeller". Dryskin is a very nice material. Interestingly, my trousers seem to be slightly deeper in seat drop, so fitting me even better than the ones I'd tried before. Weight of 449g (for size large/34", regular length) compares very well with the 440g claimed by Mountain Equipment.
I hope to give them a bit more thorough looking at and maybe even a short walk over the weekend.
