It's goodbye to Mountain Hardwear's classic Pack
Pant for spring summer 2007 and hello to a new, replacement
version using the same fabric, but an improved cut.
New Pants
The
good old Pack Pant was an American favourite, but while the seamless,
conical waist worked well with a pack belt, the cut was a bit odd. In
particular the old Pack Pant boasted a high waist and a capacious
arse section which didn't always work on this side of the Atlantic.
In addition the massive rear thigh pockets, while a neat idea, never
really worked that well in practice.
The replacement is the brand new Mesa Pant. It uses the
same light, comfortable fabric as the old Pack Pant, but has been
completely redesigned. You still get the seamless waist construction,
but the new pant has a straighter leg, no massive thigh pockets, a
less massive arse and a lower rise, so the waist belt sits lower.
Weight is around 350 grammes, complete with side cargo pockets,
articulated knees and two front pockets. Looks like a Pack Pant with
a better cut, in which case it should be good. Price is around
£45 and there's also a convertible version.
Seamless Shorts
Also
new this spring and again in the shops right about now is the
Talus Pack Short. Same seamless waist gubbins, but the
construction uses MHW's low profile zWeld seams to reduce bulk and
chafing. The neat bit is that the zWeld arrangement actually means
that the seam stretches, something that's hard to achieve with
conventional stitched construction.
The fabric itself is stretchy too as it incorporates around 15
per cent elastane, which should make it excellent for anything
requiring a bit of movement in the hip area like scrambling,
bouldering and climbing.
Full details of all the latest MHW kit at www.mountainhardwear.com
Ian Iles
