Helly Hansen Dakota Hiking Pant

I've been climbing in my Helly Hansen Dakota pants for the last six weeks, and after countless pitches in the gym, they look brand new. Considering how lightweight these bomber bottoms are, I'm totally impressed. They're comfortable, indestructible, and have great range of motion.

I arrived here in the Land of the Midnight Sun (aka, Norway) in winter, when there's no midnight sun at all. The Land of the Noon Moon might be a more apt tag line. Because we have a measly six hours of daylight to play with, I spend a lot of time at the local indoor climbing wall. I tend to set aside a single set of clothes to train in - climbing tears up threads, pops seams, and is incredibly messy. I don't want my entire wardrobe covered in chalk. Lately, my climbing pants of choice have been Helly Hansen's Dakota pants. They've performed admirably.

There's a lot to like about these affordable trousers. First, they're made of a durable yet thin nylon, which is great to wear under a climbing harness or pack hip belt. There's almost nothing to bunch up and cause chafing. I've found this to be key when I'm hanging on a rope shooting pictures, bolting on climbing holds, or performing my signature thrash and dangle as I fall off routes.

I also really like the articulated knees on the Helly Hansen Dakota pants. They're slightly bent, which is great when hiking up steep slopes or stepping onto high footholds while climbing. I'm a firm believer in ergonomic design, and wonder why all pants don't have articulated knees like these.

After extended use in the gym, I'm happy to report that the Dakota pants are in great shape. Every time I climb, I rub my knees and hips against the gym's textured wall, which wears out clothes pretty quickly. Wall designers mix sand and cement with the wall paint to create some friction grip, but it does a number on clothes. I have a feeling the Helly Hansen pants are going to last a long time, based on their durability in the gym.

The Dakota pant has a rear pocket, two hand pockets, and dual cargo pockets. I love the cargo pockets; they're big and deep, great for stashing documents and tickets while sprinting through train stations or airports. One is zippered for added security.

Helly Hansen's Dakota Hiking Pant is available for men (in waist sizing from 28-40, in a dark gray) and for women (26-36, in a light khaki). There's also a women's capri version. The inseam was shorter than the sizing chart led me to believe, so you may want to try these on first if you've got longer legs.

Bottom Line: Affordable, all-purpose outdoor pants with high-end features for performance and comfort. (N.W., Jan 11).

BUY ONLINE: $60. Click for women's Dakota 3/4 pant.

Manufacturer's Site: www.hellyhansen.com

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