MHW Velocity Pant - First Look

MHW Velocity Pant - First Look

Price: £90.00

Weight: 380 grammes (men's medium)

Features: Schoeller Dynamic fabric, articulated knee, woven face with DWR coating, drawcorded ankles, belted waist, zipped pockets and slanted fly, seamless instep, conical waist construction, Velcro-closure thigh pocket

These are some of the best all round mountain trousers we've used. Part of Mountain Hardwear's new for this winter Soft Shell line, the Velocity Pant - there's a jacket too, more on that shortly - uses the longstanding Swiss Schoeller fabric.

Schoeller's been popular with European alpinists and skiiers for years now, but the new vogue for soft shell has tempted them out from their alpine shrubbery and into the UK market. So what's so good about it? Well, imagine all the things you wish Ronhill Tracksters could do and you've pretty much got the idea.

The Schoeller Dynamic fabric is tough, stretchy, highly wind resistant and, the combination of a close weave and DWR coating means that it's very water repellant too, water just beads and runs off. Oh, and breathability is great as well. All that makes it a top fabric for all round mountain use, with no restriction on movement and the ability to keep you comfortable in wind and light rain. Quick drying too.

Schoeller's not particularly thermally efficient in itself, but layer it over a baselayer and it should be up to year-round conditions.

Of course Mountain Hardwear being Mountain Hardwear, there's more to the Velocity Pant than just the fabric. Fit is reasonably snug without being overtight and the cut works well even if the strangely slanted fly looks a bit odd to start off with. The knee is articulated for ease of movement, which combines effectively with the inherent stretch in the fabric to make high steps easy.

The secure, belted waist uses MHW's trademark seamless conical construction with a high-rise panel of microfleece at the small of the back adding comfort when sweaty. You get two zipped and flapped pockets at the waist plus a strange token mini-pocket at the back of the left thigh.

Down below the ankle cuffs have a single-handed operation drawcord and the instep is seamless to reduce abrasion damage. All very neat and carefully thought through. As is the colour - black.

We still need to get out in full-on winter conditions - looks like they're on the way though - but so far we're very impressed. We've used the Velocity Pant in classic British mountain murk, wind and rain and they've sailed through it all faultlessly.

They don't restrict movement, they're comfortable, they're highly wind resistant rather than windproof, but it's enough for all but the most severe houlie and comfort and breathability are good and light rain simply runs off them, though that may change as the DWR wears. They seem tough so far as well.

The cut is good for us too, though if you're tall and slim, you may find them too short in the leg, and it's nice to have comfie mesh-lined handwarmer pockets. The only downside is the price, a not inconsiderable £90, though the signs are that these are going to be favourites for a while to come.

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