Karrimor Alpiniste Pant Tested

Karrimor Alpiniste Pant Tested

Price: £65.00

Weight: 274 grammes (men's L)

Features:Polartec 100 microfllece fabric, zip fly, elasticated waist, handwarmer pockets, zipped security pocket on thigh, articulated and reinforced knee, extended ankle zips

---

Recently Karrimor's clothing has taken a bit of a back seat to the longstanding rucksac range, but the Alpinste technical clothing has always been classic, reliable kit with no unnecessary frills and gimmicks.

The Alpiniste Pant is no exception. It might seem unexciting next to the latest stretch soft shell, but if what you're after is simply a pair of 100-weight fleece pants, then look no further. They're nicely cut with: an articulated knee - capped with reinforcing fabric for wear-resistance, handy handwarmer pockets, a useful zip fly and long ankle zips that make them easier to pull on over boots, or if you have extraordinarily long feet or uncut toe nails. Mobility is good, with the knee articulation working well and there's just enough elastication in the ankle to allow them to drape neatly over a boot cuff.

---

Fabric The fabric is classic Polartec 100 microfleece. It's comfortingly warm and luxuriously soft against the skin, dries fast and isn't overhot. That makes it brilliant post-walk or climb legwear, great for hut, tent or caff. It's also good for active use on very cold, still days. But it's not very wind resistant, which reduces its effectiveness once it starts to get blowy and means you need to team them with some form of wind or waterproof shell in classic UK winter conditions.

The lack of any sort of crampon patch at the inner ankles also means it's potentially vulnerable to spiking if you're out on the white stuff, and for climbing use you'll want a pair of braces to reinforce the elasticated and shock-corded waist, though it does the job for walking just fine.

Last but not least, the Alpinistes pack small and at just 275 grammes are pretty damn light as well, which makes them ideal as a winter backpacking evening pant to go with those down booties you always promised yourself.

---

Verdict

Great for lounging about in and as a change of trouser at the end of the day when the fleecy warmth is a fantastic morale booster, and there's nothing wrong with the cut or the features of these classic fleece pants. Mobility is fine too. Light weight makes them a great chill-out trouser for winter backpacking as well.

For more active use in classic UK winter conditions though, we'd prefer something made from a more wind-resistant fabric, either Ultrafleece / Karisma or Powerstretch, both of which offer roughly the same level of insulation, but with a greater breeze-blocking capability. Karrimor's own Lhotse Pant in Powerstretch is arguably a better garment for typical UK winter use and has most of the same features.

Performance
Value

---

Karrimor web site

---

Pushed for time: Good combination of lightness, warmth and well thought-out features make these a great après walk winter pant and ideal for cold condition backpacking back-ups as well. For more active use in typically blowy UK conditions, the relative lack of wind resistance is a bit of an achilles heel and means overtrousers are a must when the wind gets up. For our money there are better active fabrics out there, notably Ultrafleece and Powerstretch. If you want some packable, lightweight warmth though or only operate in still, cold conditions, these do the job.

Know more or want to?

If you'd like to add your own experiences of this product check out our user review system and post your opinions to the world. If you have questions you can mail us direct, ask Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear forum.