Cold weather pants?

[Boo-Yah]

Need some suggestions on what is best to backpack in as the temperature drops? I am thinking you should wear the lightest coolest thing possible? If pants are to be worn, what is best type, brand? Convertible?

[PAFranklin]

As the temps start into the 40s and below I start using layers. I also start eliminating cotton. Between 30 and 40 I generally have a combination of light weight poly long underwear, synthetic pants (sometimes still zip off legs if the daytime temps are getting higher) and a breathable shell. I think the pants I generally wear are Columbia and the shell Helly Hanson. I adjust the layers as needed being proactive to take layers off before I start heating up and putting layers on prior to getting chilled when inactive.

[chknfngrs]

Wool dress pants are what I wear. They're wool, lightweight and warm even when wet. Plus I'm looking sharp out there

[G.G.]

Wool dress pants are what I wear. They're wool, lightweight and warm even when wet. Plus I'm looking sharp out there

Pleated or flat front? Advantages to either?

[chknfngrs]

i don't recall if they're pleated or not, will be digging them out shortly. It's all because of whiteblaze.net, someone on here suggested it years ago. I dont think it'd matter much as long as it works for you.

[Mr. Bumpy]

Tights. Something like this.

http://us-store.sugoi.com/collections/mens-run/products/40463u_617-subzero-zap-tight

[saltysack]

i don't recall if they're pleated or not, will be digging them out shortly. It's all because of whiteblaze.net, someone on here suggested it years ago. I dont think it'd matter much as long as it works for you.

Heavy starched?


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[Kerosene]

Tights. Something like this.

http://us-store.sugoi.com/collections/mens-run/products/40463u_617-subzero-zap-tight

Any sense of the weight for these? How about what temp you think they're good for around camp and/or walking?

[saltysack]

Any sense of the weight for these? How about what temp you think they're good for around camp and/or walking?

Not as warm as a true base layer but good on the move in shorts...I carry cap 3 for sleep also

http://m.target.com/p/C9%20Champion%...s/-/A-16312593


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[booney_1]

look for army surplus wool pants...

[Mr. Bumpy]

Any sense of the weight for these? How about what temp you think they're good for around camp and/or walking?

I use an earlier version of this weight. If moving they are good by themselves down to the mid teens and do not over heat until the temps warm up to the 50's. They also deal with wind well. When sitting about camp they keep me warm to the upper 20's, then I put another something over them. I like this brand. They are not the cheapest but they are far from the most expensive. Wear and tear seems above average to me.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Marmot Scree pants are great if you like spending money. These are my pants for "normal" winter backpacking, they are very comfortable and I can hike in them without a base layer down to temps in the low twenties (YMMV). If you keep an eye out you can usually find them on sale.

http://m.rei.com/product/845429/marm...s-mens-regular

[Studlintsean]

Wool dress pants are what I wear. They're wool, lightweight and warm even when wet. Plus I'm looking sharp out there

You must be from DC...

[chknfngrs]

At least I didn't say seer sucker ��

[shakey_snake]

Shorts!

Pants are just too hot for activity, unless you're post-holing in snow. In which case I just wear the lightest wind pants with DWR I can find. Maybe neoprene socks.

Still, if you're talking about just going over some sun cups over a sunny pass--shorts!

[misterfloyd]

I agree with the Elf,

I use MArmot scree pants for winter, no problems. REI usually has them on a closeout at somepoint.

Another alternative was NF convertible pants, paramount peak pants. Got them on sale at Cabelas for 39 bucks. Thicker fabric DWR and the option of getting rid of the bottoms and showing off those happening baselayers. Good for fall and earlier parts of winter in NC.
Floyd

[Thinspace]

Shorts!

Pants are just too hot for activity, unless you're post-holing in snow. In which case I just wear the lightest wind pants with DWR I can find. Maybe neoprene socks.

Still, if you're talking about just going over some sun cups over a sunny pass--shorts!

I suppose it depends where you're going. I can't conceive of wearing shorts in the Whites in the winter (where I hike) except on rare mild days maybe. I've never been too warm in pants, especially higher up. Wool knickers used to be my favorite. Now I like the Marmot Scree pants.

[donthaveoneyet]

Wool dress pants are what I wear. They're wool, lightweight and warm even when wet. Plus I'm looking sharp out there

This seems like a really great idea. I have several old suits that are too worn to wear in a professional setting, but still actually not too bad, and I haven't had the heart to give them up. So, I could use the pants for hiking and make the jackets just "casual" sport jackets. ... Only thing is, the pants have always been dry cleaned. No interest in having to dry clean hiking clothes. Do you just put them in the washer? Don't they shrink if put in the drier?

[Feral Bill]

This seems like a really great idea. I have several old suits that are too worn to wear in a professional setting, but still actually not too bad, and I haven't had the heart to give them up. So, I could use the pants for hiking and make the jackets just "casual" sport jackets. ... Only thing is, the pants have always been dry cleaned. No interest in having to dry clean hiking clothes. Do you just put them in the washer? Don't they shrink if put in the drier?

Simple solution, don;t put them in the dryer. They will air dry overnight. I do this with wool shirts all the time.

[rickb]

Schoeller Dryskin pants with long undies as required. There might be something newer, but Mine just won't wear out and I can't think of anything better.

(The wool dress pants sound good too, but I'd check with GQ before wearing and old suit coat as sport jacket)