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Mountain Equipment G2 Ultimate Mountain Pants

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Mountain Equipment G2 Ultimate Mountain Pants
Copes brilliantly with wind and any amount of snowfall and light rain

Our Review

Reviewed: 5 January 2010 by Jon
What Are They For? The new, second generation, G2 Ultimate Mountain Pants are designed as all-day mountain legwear for cooler conditions. The idea is you put them on at the start of the day and take them off at the end, no need for over trousers and comfortable enough and weather-resistant ...  Continue reading

Gallery

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Reader Reviews

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Discussions

The belt looks like the ones on the Liskamms, which is to say a buckle with about as much holding power as, errrrrrr, something with no holding power to speak of.

It's light and neat, yes, but something which actually stays put for more than a couple of minutes at a time wouldbe preferable.

Pete.

Posted: 07/01/2010 at 11:08

True, Pete. The belt on my Mountain Stretch is completely useless. I have to tie a knot in it or the buckle just slips constantly.

Having said that, I think I'd be using the braces on the G2s and dispensing with the belt. Tried a pair on a couple of weeks ago and they're rather lovely.

Off topic: Had the Bifrost out in some very nasty weather this weekend, and it coped admirably. Have you used yours yet?

Posted: 07/01/2010 at 12:04

I've added braces to the (provided) loops on my Liskamms, much better than the belt and definitely recommended if one's toting a pack other than a wee one.  But still a shame they don't provide a serious high end pair of trousers with a decent belt buckle, since they're bothering to give you one at all.

Pete.

Posted: 07/01/2010 at 12:23

The belt on my combins still holds up fine.  It doesn't seem to slip looser as others complain.  Looking at the ME website, it looks the same type of belt as the liskamms, so I'm not sure why the difference.  The G2s seem to have the same type too.  I suspect I have the only good buckle in existance, as everyone I know with combins or liskamms complains about the buckle.

In fact, I found it a pleasent difference to the normal cheap, crap ultra-light belts that come with so many expensive trousers now.

I can't remember what my G2s have got (they're 4 years old and in the loft at the moment as I only get them out when I get out the crampons and ice axe - work is intruding on my winter walking time too much right now).  With braces on, it hardly matters anyway.  And I do like braces on my winter trousers, to make sure the back stays up, covering my lower back.

Looking at the new G2s, I wonder how much of the lightening will mean "works less well in winter" and "lasts less time".  For Scottish winters, I found the old G2s damn near perfect and only bothered with thermals underneath when it was really, really cold.  Too damn hot if there is no snow on the ground though, which I guess is why ME has changed them.  The new ones are supposed to weigh as much as my combins.  Not sure I would like to wear them in a full on winter walk.

Posted: 07/01/2010 at 17:09

Yep, the belt is about as naff and useless as you can get. Another symptom of 'cost cutting'.

Mike

Posted: 08/01/2010 at 20:02

Never had a problem with the belt on my Combins

The new G2s certainly feel nicer than the old ones, but IMO they should have added some proper venting, two wee little mesh-backed pockets don't really cut the mustard. Both the Haglofs Omni pants and Patagonia backcountry guides have serious venting options, which is why they seem to have sold better, particularly for ski touring, which we get a lot of people for. As, for that matter, do my old Sharkfin pants, which are a similar butch heavy-ass windstopper pant, probably somewhere inbetween the old and new G2s.

Posted: 11/01/2010 at 10:49

The belt, so far, has been okay, albeit a little fiddly if you have to mess about with it with gloved hands. The fly zip is double ended though, which makes things easier...

And I take the point about the venting, though in the current low temperatures they've been fine.

Posted: 13/01/2010 at 12:49

Can I stick in I thought I would mention the ulta pant as I could not find a review before I bought a pair. I really liked the idea of pro shell trousers. Bearing in mind the Kongur Jacket is
pro shell.

Wore them a few times. The first time was on an amazingly windy ben ledi...the trousers leaked in the wind. I appreciate that that the zips are WR..geez...it the last time I buy water resistant. Having said that, I wore them in a similar wet day without the wind and they kept my legs dry.

So I suppose they work well without wind. Long...I have short leg...Do ME do a short leg?

You survive though with the adjustments you can make. 

They got dirty and I rinsed them and they dried fine. I was impressed by that. They are

light wieght even when wet. Another good point. I got mine for £150...so value is not so  sure..seems to me to have long term potential.

Posted: 18/07/2010 at 22:06



Summary : Full Review : Reader Reviews : Gallery : Specs : Discussion


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