I remember once reading somewhere (can't remember where) that Schoeller Dryskin, though cheaper and in theory promises less than Schoeller Dryskin, is actually the better of the two fabrics. Can anyone confirm/deny this from experience?
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| Edited: 04/10/08 15:04 |
 I think you might want to rephrase the actual first statement - Dryskin cf Dryskin. Still, from your title, my understanding is that Dynamic is a lighter fabric than Dryskin and therefore more suitable for low wear or summer usage than Dryskin. Someone who knows much more than me about these things will no doubt add more detail / correct me. To my knowledge, nobody now makes trousers in Dynamic, but Arcteryx used to (Gamma LT I think, before they changed the fabric). Shame as I quite fancied a pair for summer use. Personally, I find Dryskin just about cool enough for summer, though I prefer shorts when it gets really warm. Dryskin is also fine for me in Autumn/Spring too. My own trousers in it (Mountain Equipment Combin) are probably a bit light for full winter use, despite what ME claim for them (but then they sell the heavier, more winterised Liskamms too- also Dryskin).
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Sorry, I meant Schoeller Dryskin vs Schoeller Dynamic. The pair I have my eye on are the REI Mistral Pants at www.rei.com
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| Edited: 04/10/08 15:35 |
They look pretty good. I particularly like the closer cut below the knee - a much more sensible cut than more fashionable cuts on walking trousers. At that price, they're good value too (even assuming you get stung on P&P / tax).
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I have a couple of pairs of the REI Mistral pants that I bought in the REI sale while in the US last year. I agree with the comments made by Paul Cummings as to the capabilities of the Dryskin fabric and I would rate them as "three season" for mountain use or "four season" for "lowland" walks. Good pair of walking trousers although in the pairs I have the two back pockets while deep have no zip so those of us who are vertically inclined may wish to look elsewhere!.
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Ashley, what is the overall cut like on the Mistral pants?
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The cut on the Misteral pants could best be described as "relaxed". Although they are stretch fabric they are not figure hugging like say a pair of tracksters or the like. The REI sale is on at the moment although these pants are not in the sale you will get 20% off one full price item if you order during the sale period. Mountain Equipment C0-OP (www.mec.ca) the Canadian version of REI also do some soft shell trousers in the Dryskin fabric I bought a couple of pairs a few years ago and they have a similar performance to the REI pants. May be worth a look.
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Further update on above if you go to www.trailspace.com a US outdoor website you can read a couple of favourable reviews. It also looks like they now have an updated version this may explain while I got my pairs cheap in the REI fall sale last year and may mean my comments as to fit are no longer valid. REI also emailed a detailed questionaire for me to complete asking what I thought of the pants and what could be done to improve them first time this has ever happened to me.
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Thanks Ashley, very helpful
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Reference post of 5/10/08 from Jaspers 66 am in SFO at the moment and visited the local REI store today. They had the latest version of the Mistral Pants in stock for $99.00 plus sales tax. The style looks more or less the same as the ones I bought last Autumn with two zip pockets on the front and two deep but unzipped pockets at the rear. Same fabric as before. Looked comparable to the Mountain Equipment Combin pants that retail at 100 pounds in UK.
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I just received the Mistral pants. I was fortunate enough to get someone to hand-carry them from the US, so with the sale discount, lower shipping cost and absence of import tax, I ended up paying £54 for them which I think amounts to good value. As Ashley said, the cut is relaxed, but it isn't baggy. There's room enough for a baselayer to be worm comfortably underneath. They look like they'll be good all-round mountain trousers.
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