Macpac Mission Pants

Jonathan Watson
Reviewed: 25 February 2005

A REVOLUTION IN COMFORT AND WARMTH, SOME NIGGLES

Light, warm and comfortable. The marriage of powershield and windpro really works, and shrugs off rain, snow and wind. The fit is good: well cut in leg and seat, and neatly finished at the hem with zip and velcro. Hip pocket is a perfect size and well positioned. Key clip in left pocket is handy.

The material at the back of the thigh is not robust. On a high step a crampon front point went through it like a knife through butter. The belt buckle is hopeless and a real irritation: because it responds to light pressure it comes undone as soon as you tighten your rucksack hipbelt. In any case the belt tends to work loose and had to be tied back repeatedly. Leg zips are useful for getting the trouser on over ski boots but not useful for ventilation if you are wearing snow gaiters. Pockets are too small. Lack of braces reduces versatility.

A very good trouser and well worth the money. I have used them for Scottish ice climbing and downhill skiing, and they work well for both. Great comfort and reasonably hardwearing. The belt is a major irritation and I will probably replace it with a better one. Not as good as the Lowe Alpine Torque Pant, but significantly cheaper.

ben brockway
Reviewed: 17 April 2004

EXCELLENT COOL WEATHER LEGWEAR

Excellent marriage of technical fabrics (powershield and windpro) allows for real-world comfort - the breathability of the fabrics means far less 'sweaty bettyness' than in conventional shell clothing. Warm enough for winter in the UK and not tooo hot for autumn and spring. Good cut with excellent mobility; key clip in pocket, a decent zip fly and velcro tabs to trim the ankles down.

Vaguely irritating belt buckle, smallish pockets. No braces supplied.

Used in a washed-out week of not winter mountaineering in Torridon and a week of on and off-piste telemark ski-ing, including deep powder with gaiters. Plus some winter wallowing in the freak March snows in Snowdonia...

Fantastic warmth and comfort, breathability and adequate windproofing. Conventional shell trousers are still needed in really foul conditions. After only 3 weeks use in total I haven't found any significant flaws, but it's early days yet. They have also survived encounters with Greek ski-tows, the edges of my Atomic tele-rigs, and my crampons without any obvious damage.

Belt and braces helps keep them up whilst wearing a full winter rack.

In summary, excellent quality and innovative legwear for good to grim conditions. Now all I have to do is make Rach forget that they're actually hers...

Robin
Reviewed: 29 January 2004

Best cold weather trousers I've used

Wind resistant but not too hot (unlike Goretex Windstopper). Softer inner surface than Schoeller fabric. Reinforced seat. Slimmer cut than MH Velocity pant. I prefer the Mission Pants to the Velocity Pant because they are a better cut, softer against the skin, just more comfortable all round.

High price (mine were discounted). Would prefer slighlty larger front pockets.

These are fantastic. If you're in the market for soft shell cool weather trousers, you must try these. The price is steep, but as long as they last they're worth it.