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| Mountain Equipment Liskamm Pant |
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|  Average Rating: 4 out of 5 No. of Reviews: 2 Weight: 510g RRP: £120 Year: 2007 Description: Features:
- Constructed from Schoeller® Dryskin Extreme fabric for maximum warmth and comfort. The NanoSphere® finish wards off splashes and stains whilst providing a new level of DWR
- 4-Way stretch fabric gives freedom of movement
- Tapered leg with no side seams for fit and comfort
- Stud fastening microfleece lined waist with laminated fly
- Integrated belt ensures fit with bonded hypalon exit points
- 2 front laser cut & bonded zipped mesh lined pockets and 1 laser cut & bonded rear pocket for storing essential items
- 1 laser cut & bonded zipped thigh pocket
- Diamond crotch for freedom of movement
- Attachment points for braces (braces not included)
- Kevlar reinforced knee patches with hypalon kick strips for maximum durability
- Knee articulation gives fit and freedom of movement
- Curved ankle zips for versatility and easy changing
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|  | | Posted: 13/07/07
Updated: 27/07/07 | | 'Do most things in most conditions, for a price' | | Strengths:
Exceptional freedom of movement and comfort from stretch fabric
fast drying and aren't hideous when they are wet
good degree of windproofing
tough
reasonably light (510g according to ME)
stain resistant | | Weaknesses:
quite expensive
rear and thigh pockets not much use
belt buckle prone to slipping | | Overall:
Very, very happy with these after spending a fortnight walking in lots of different conditions in Norway in a pair. I've been a fan of Schoeller Dryskin for ages, but had had terrible trouble finding trousers with short enough legs. ME do these in two leg lengths and the shorter (31") is right for me.
The fabric is the crowning glory of these trousers, being a good mix of everything you want: stretchy, breathable, fairly windproof, tough, quick drying, comfortable, reasonably light, warm but not too warm. The "Nanosphere" treatment takes the fabric from good to better, acting as a highly effective DWR layer and preventing staining. I've yet to come across a better combination for general mountain use through all seasons.
The cut is quite a bit less baggy than most walking trousers, but with the stretch fabric that has no issues for freedom of movement and means they catch the wind less and weigh less. They could be cut a little closer still but not to the point where I have any real issues with the shape as sold.
The knees have textured kevlar reinforcements: haven't "used" them so don't know how they do, but the way they're done they'll be lighter than a full double knee. They come in a contrasting grey so people can see you have "technical" trousers: could live without that myself, but it seems to be what "the market" demands...
The cut is high enough to eliminate cold spots or have your loaded pack take your trousers down!
There's an integral belt which means no extra lumps and seams for belt loops to be uncomfy uner a loaded pack's hip belt, which is good but less good is the buckle tends to slip quite easily. Not a deal breaker, but a niggle that could be improved.
Pockets, 4 of them, half are useful... The two "standard" hip pockets are fine, the rear pocket has an entrance high enough that it's unusable with a pack on, and quite why all "walking trousers" seem to need a thigh pocket continues to escape me. Put anything much in it and it rubs any time you walk anywhere, so I'd sooner save a fiver, a few grammes and a few minutes drying time and not have it. If I could have found any other Schoeller trousers without this "feature" I might have got them instead, but any such I ever came across were too long for me.
So a score-draw for the pockets. I'd prefer a double seat for perching on damp rocks for lunch than the rear and thigh pocket, and if you do keep the rear pocket a vertical entrance zip would be much more use.
The lower legs have zip-out gussets from the knee to the ankle so you can accommodate e.g. ski touring boots as well as smaller footwear, and make the trousers easier to get on and off. Fairly simple and it seems to work well.
Other stuff... scuff guards on the inner ankle area, and loops for braces. Haven't really "used" either, but the scuff guards certainly clean up more easily than the plain Dryskin on my wife's Schoeller trousers.
The niggles (half the pockets and belt buckle) are minor items, completely overshadowed by the superb material and a cut that works on me better than other alternatives I've tried (though that'll maybe only help you if you're shaped like me!). If mine disappeared I'd certainly get another pair, even at the fialry steep price. But you have to pay for the best fabric, and as far as I can tell this is either it or not far off.
Not the only Schoeller Dryskin trousers in town, but well worth trying out if you're in the market for a very versatile pair of trousers that will do most of what you might ever need (except for really hot days), and one of relatively few with the Nanosphere treatment which does seem to give them an edge. |
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| | | | Performance | | 80% | | Reliability | | 80% | | Value | | 60% |
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