I've heard a lot of banter in random threads about the best winter pants. I was wondering what some of your favorite winter pants are for snowshoeing/hiking/peaks/general backcountry use in the northeast US (adk mtns, catskills, NH, etc.) I was thinking softshell is more breathable but I'm open to that or hardshell. need to buy some for this season, can you guys make some recommendations? I know they aren't the lightest out there, but I was thinking about these:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoor-research-trailbreaker-softshell-pant-mens

what do you think? I don't know if I can go all the way to $300 for the arcteryx, I have to buy new boots this year too...

and anyone ever heard of these? can't find them in the states at all yet:

http://www.salewa.com/product/pants/diavole+2.0+dura-stretch+hose

Edited by klags on 12/18/2011 23:38:16 MST.

i have a pair of cloudveil rayzars and they are the bomb. they breath great and are sufficently wind/water resistant that i for the most part don't bring hardshells along. they have waterproof reinforced knees so i can kneel in the snow and not worry about water penetration.

in the winter i can put them on at the trailhead and not take them off for the length of the trip, which could be up to a week. i can layer under or over them depending on the weather.

they don't make them anymore, but they show up on ebay with some frequency.

I just bought a pair of TNF Freedom pants. Rugged, waterproof, excellent venting, plenty of pockets. At $139 they seem to be the bargain in winter ski pants. These are not insulated, as I find insulated pants too warm while hiking--there is an insulated version for a few dollars more. I wear wool longies underneath while hiking and wonderful WM Flash pants while hanging around camp.

For years I've been using my regular light full-zip goretex pants as my winter overpants, but each time I take a little slip, or kneel down or sit down on the rocks of the Presidential alpine zone I abrade the light fabric and develop tears and holes. I decided it was time for a heavier more abrasion-proof fabric. The side-zip "chimney vents" do a great job of ventilating during uphill climbs with the full winter backpack on.

I like my Patagonia Guide Pant. If you want save a few pennies then look at REIs Mistral Pant, with their current 20% off coupon they should be well under $100 and I have heard good things about them.

I rock my regular nylon hiking pants from EMS w/ Cap 2 bottoms underneath. If there is a lot of snow, I throw on gaiters. If my upper legs get too cold from wind, I wear CF rain chap tucked into the gaitors from MLD:
http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=77

I use these year round (except when I'm in shorts :)) lightweight, great DWR, breathe well, dry fast and provide great range of motion- for winter use I just add base bottom layer underneath

REI has these $70.00 shell rain pants made out of something they call Element fabric. Very rugged, waterproof, windproof. Perhaps a bit heavy. For the price they function well. I don't seem to have issues with lower body sweating, so I can't comment on these pants' breathability (sp.); probably not the best. Check out the reviews.

I wear my IceBreaker 200 leggings and I've tried my Mountain Hardwear Epic rain pants, MH Matterhorn convertibles and this past weekend my MH Cordoba pants.

I like the Epic since they're wind and water proof and light, but I'm always afraid of ripping them vs standard pants (not that it's ever happened...)

The Matterhorn is a nice combo, though not wind or water proof, they are DWR'd which is fine for snow, but not sitting in it, and they're wind resistant for light winds.

The Cordoba are heavy, but it was a short day hike and I was interested to see how they'd do. Well enough, but not any better than the Matterhorn for the weight.

I'm a fan of the MH fit on me...

Montbell Nomad softshell pants. Comfortable all day long over long underwear.

My current favorite is the Patagonia Simple Guide. If I tried to hike at my usual pace wearing rain pants here I'd be a swamp.

I'm with Bryce, but with slightly older gear. Okay, much older.

But I also use mid- to heavy-weight polypro with nylon or nylon blend pants on top. No Goretex, because it won't rain for another 4 or 5 months and uncoated is more breathable than anyone's "waterproof / beathable"

My Patagonia Baggie Pants, (the long-version of their Baggie Shorts) from 1984 still work great. They're about 50% nylon, 30% poly and 20% cotton. If I expected a drizzle or wet snow, I'd go with 100% nylon, but that 50/30/20 blend isn't so coarse feeling nor as static-generating as 100% nylon. And it's really tough. Had a companion take a fall with metal-edge X-C skiis and break the skin and shave some hair off his leg THROUGH THE PANTS and yet, the pants were undamaged.

I like the combo because it's a combo and I can mix and match if conditions or exertion level changes. It's also been part of my no-sleeping-bag, week-long, high-altitude summer trips (nights to 35-40F).

any good softshell that fits ... i prefer weave non membrane, refresh the DWR every now and then

hardshells usually only for times were itll be raining constantly, or prolonged period sitting in the snow

you dont need dead bird ... and thats coming from someone with dead bird pants

For really cold weather, I rather like my Rab vapor-rise pants. Breathe incredibly well, dry fast. Not waterproof, but wind and water resistant. I go from hiking to sleep in these things, very comfortable.

I use Cloudveil Prospector pants, but they are no longer made.

I like my marmot scree shoftshell pants. they fit well. the pat simple guide pants would be a good option as well.

My old ski pants (TNF Hi-Vent) are good for snowshoeing ONLY because they have vent zippers on the thighs. The "Hi-Vent" WPB laminate is not very breathable. But... they have built-in elastic powder cuffs so no gaiters are necessary.

Perhaps my best pants for winter are my LL Bean GTX camo hunting pants. Breathable enough and durable. With these I use my GTX camo gaiters as well.

I'm actually purchasing a pair of REI Acme pants this season (lousy x-mas means I have to wait on testing them while they sit wrapped and pretty and useless under a dying tree). I looked at the REI mistrals but they're no longer made with schoeller dynamic and same weight as the acmes but let insulative.

They're made of Schoeller Dryskin and just over a pound. Well designed fit (and I'm usually saving for months to buy arcteryx gear on fit alone) and good stretch. Dryskin was touted as a wonder material. With the current REI member discount they're $50 off which makes them the cheapest Dryskin pants anywhere.

I agree with the post "any softshell that fits." They're all about the same, or close enough that you make the work the same. Worst case the DWR sucks and you have to nikwax them. Depending on your activity preference you may more wind resistance but this decreases breathability and a hardshell pant provides the same function if the wind is truly that unbearable. So really the only thing you can't change is how well they fit and if they fit well enough you'll always wear them negating any weight penalties.

>> i'm a big fan of schoeller dryskin pants

Me, too. I have REI Acme pants that are Schoeller Dryskin. Love them for winter hiking, cross-country skiing. Mine weigh about a pound.

I also have a pair of REI Taku pants that are heavier (21 oz and not Dryskin) but they're also waterproof. They're perfect for downhill skiing and I've worn them X-country skiing on really cold days.

Me thinks either one would be a great deal with the current REI 30% discount!

Edited by DetroitTigerFan on 12/19/2011 18:34:45 MST.

Cheap 100% Polyester pants from the thrift store. I favor them over other soft-shells for snow use, as long as you can get a well-fitting pair.

I have one pair that is still going strong after 2+ seasons of everyday wear while working at a ski resort. They are run-of-the mill cheap poly dress pants (from the 80's probably.) I retrofitted a 3/4" flat-webbing belt with a fastex buckle through the waist loops.

Polyester is much more hydrophobic than nylon and does not need DWR, although it might benefit. I have not applied it to mine. The crotch has needed repair a couple of times, since it is not gusseted.

Patagonia simple guide and traverse.