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 | | Posted: 03/06/08 |
| 'GOOD IN MOST SITUATIONS' | | Strengths:
Design is a few years old but they're still very light for OTs made from a very breathable fabric, and pack down to a tiny size. Long side zips make them easy to get on -- always a big plus point when you have size 47 feet. Fabric feels flimsy but I've found will withstand normal walking wear, and can easily be repaired with tape or seamgrip. The cut is good -- that, plus the fact they have a waist drawcord (why do some manufacturers produce OTs lacking this essential feature?) and the light weight mean the crotch doesn't descend towards your knees after half an hour. | | Weaknesses:
The fabric is not as flimsy as it looks, but won't withstand scrambling or climbing, and great care is required when using crampons. I'm not sure the zips are 100 per cent. waterproof, but any leakage is pretty minimal. They do "wet out" after a while, but this isn't such a problem with legwear as jackets, for some reason. | | Overall:
Very good lightweight waterproofs that are unusually comfortable and make good sense if they'll be spending most of the time in your pack. |
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| | | Performance | | 80% | | Reliability | | 80% | | Value | | 60% |
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| | Posted: 22/03/08 |
| 'USED WISELY THEY ARE GREAT' | | Strengths:
Very light and small pack size.
Waterproof / no condensation.
Great cut. | | Weaknesses:
Not very durable but what do you expect from ultra-light kit? | | Overall:
Let's be clear about what these pants are for. They are very light, pack down to the size of a tennis ball and are worn for 3-season downpours. You can't go scrambling in them, rake crampons against them, sit on gravel or even use them as thornproof trousers while striding through the gorse.
What they are great at is keeping your legs warm and dry while walking in rain. I have walked a full day in constant rain in these pants and had no condensation problems. If the terrain is tough, put your gaiters on (over the overtousers) to avoid ripping the fabric.
These are also the best-cut overtrousers that I have ever owned. The fabric moves smoothly over a base layer and mobility is excellent. True, they are not cheap but you can probably get them for well under £100 now.
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| | | Performance | | 100% | | Reliability | | 80% | | Value | | 60% |
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| | Posted: 12/02/07 |
| 'CRAP' | | Strengths:
light and easy to get on. | | Weaknesses:
no resistance to abrasion and not 100% waterproof.
| | Overall:
They coast around £100 to buy, then you spend a fortune patching up holes and sending them away to be re-proofed because you get wet every time you use them.
The stengths are no good if they do not do what they say on the tin.
DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| | | Performance | | 20% | | Reliability | | 20% | | Value | | 20% |
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| | Posted: 25/07/04 |
| 'GREAT FOR SUMMER' | | Strengths:
Tiny packed size; weigh next to nothing; hip-length venting zips; does the job. | | Weaknesses:
Hip-length, not full-length zips, but not the end of the world. | | Overall:
I bought a family four-pack of these for the TMB as I couldn't face carting around TNF and Lowe Alpine overtrousers. I reckon that all four paclites together must be about the same size and weight as my winter trousers alone. We used them in snow and driving rain and were very impressed with the fact that they did exactly what they were supposed to, despite their flimsy feel. Because of the hip zips, we used the old carrier bag on the feet routine to get into them on the hills, much to the bemusement of the poncho-wearing Frenchies. I didn't see one French person wearing overtrousers the whole time. Suffice it to say that our legs stayed dry and cosy but the French all seemed to end up with cold, red legs, soaking socks and a miserable expression. They saw the point of overtrousers pretty quickly, so there must be a marketing opportunity there. When I look back to the old days of nylon overtrousers and soaking legs, these paclites are a revelation, particularly given their miniscule size. They're a very plain design, without articulated knees or pockets, but I don't think that matters a jot for quick on-and-off wearing in the summer. Can't fault them and would highly recommend them for summer. |
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| | | Performance | | 100% | | Reliability | | 100% | | Value | | 100% |
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| | Posted: 12/09/04 |
| 'IDEAL FOR BACKPACKING' | | Strengths:
Feels like you are not wearing them | | Weaknesses:
Flimsy fabric | | Overall:
Very comfortable to wear. Wore them for a whole day in driving rain without any problems.
Beware that the fabric is very flimsy - do not sit on sharp rocks with them on or fall in screed like I did (now have a nice collection of holes in them). The bottom of the legs are also prone to rips from boots and sharp stones and could maybe have benefited from some extra reinforcing there. |
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| | | Performance | | 100% | | Reliability | | 80% | | Value | | 80% |
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| | Posted: 18/12/04 |
| 'FANTASTIC KIT' | | Strengths:
Very very light, easy to get on, look good, windproof, waterproof, pack down to virtually naught. | | Weaknesses:
IMHO not worth 100 smackers - maybe 50 - if you can afford em go for em, if not I'd say there are better value but equally good alternatives. | | Overall:
Magnifico kit if you've got the squids |
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| | | Performance | | 80% | | Reliability | | 80% | | Value | | 40% |
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| | Posted: 19/12/04 |
| 'SUPERB ULTRALIGHT PANTS' | | Strengths:
ultralight, stronger than they feel, great cut of the pants allows for easy movement | | Weaknesses:
cost maybe? | | Overall:
these pants are really great. including the stuff sack mine weight 210grams cant complain at that. |
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| | | Performance | | 100% | | Reliability | | 100% | | Value | | 80% |
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| | Posted: 15/09/05 |
| 'SEAMS TEAR WITH MINIMAL WEAR' | | Strengths:
lightness, compactability, waterproof, cool | | Weaknesses:
After very little use the tapered seams wear and gradually tear. Both my wife and I are currently on our second pair - the first replaced by Berghaus. My wife has used hers twice and already the signs of tears are appearing | | Overall:
Initially thought they were great
But that was while they were packed up at the bottom of a rucksack waiting for the rain.
The tears first appear as little white marks along the side of the taped seam.
We had worn our first pair on only 3 or 4 occassions when the tears were noticed whilst handwashing
The replacement pairs are already beginning to split
So. Great to look at in the shop, take no space up in the rucksack but likely to fall to bits after very little use |
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| | | Performance | | 40% | | Reliability | | 20% | | Value | | 20% |
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Average Rating: 3 out of 5
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