I love my Pants
I’m always on the look-out for a good pair of pants. Not just any pants mind you. I need the type that keeps water firmly away from my legs and bottom during wet and windy runs in the Irish mountains.
Waterproof pants are compulsory gear on mountain marathons. So when I’m looking for some good pants, my first port of call is often PlanetFear’s Mountain Marathon Kit list. Over the years I’ve selected three of their finest from their waterproof pants range.
Pants!
First off there were the Lowe Alpine Velocity Pants. I was young and strapped for cash, so at £50 a pop, they were perfect for my first pants. At 221 grams, they were light enough for easy storage. And with elasticised waist and ankles, and ¼ length zipped legs, they basically did the job.
Eventually, I had to retire my Lowe Alpine pants after excessive knee rub caused the inner legs to wear out. But by now, I was ready for my second pair.
This time, I opted for the OMM Kamleika Pants at a price of £70. This time, the side zips were huge, reaching all the way up my thighs. Made from Gelanots fabric, they were however an unusual pair of pants: much softer and quieter than before. And, my word, were they stretchy! Where before the Lowe Alpine pants would let my knee rise so far and no more, with the OMM pants the sky was the limit as regards leg movement. My only downer on the pants is that I was never convinced about their waterproof properties. Granted they were great on windy days when I wanted an extra layer on my legs, but when it rained the pants seemed to get wet and heavy with water, and though still keeping me warm, it felt like an extra weight to carry.
Nowadays my OMM pants sit in my cupboard, relegated to the status of ‘spare pair’ pants. For wet and windy mountain runs, my preferred pants are now the Berghaus Paclite. For a whopping £100, my pants are now down to a g-string weight of 150 grams. The Paclite pants are also really breathable, a fact I only realise now when reminiscing back to my sweaty legged Lowe Alpine days.
In terms of style, the Paclite pants have straight rather than elasticised ankles. Straight legs are grand for running but aren’t great for biking, so don’t be using them for adventure racing. The other major advantage of straight legged pants is that, for the first time, I now have a pair of pants that don’t make my bum look too big – a fact that would entice any girl to buy! The only thing to bear in mind though is that Berghaus hasn’t realised the psychological effects of making pants on the small size: I’m normally an 8 but had to get a size 10.
So now that I’ve forgiven them for making me wear size 10 pants, I’d say go for Berghaus if you’ve the cash, for Lowe Alpine if you’re strapped, and OMM for pure comfort value.
Hope you too find perfect pants for you!
Reactions so far
Jeremy Paxman Mar 19, 12:40 AM
While I can’t argue with your headline-writing skills, I must protest at the Americanisation of your language.
As you well know, for you, me and the rest of this glorious country, pants (usually of the M&S variety) are worn next the skin, beneath trousers.
David Letterman Mar 19, 12:58 AM
Hey Paxo, up until the 18th century you guys used to wear your pants on top of your trousers!