Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander Pant

My Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander soft shell pants are seeing nonstop action here in Norway. I've been testing them for the last few weeks in the heart of the Scandinavian winter, and have decided they rock my world.

I'm living in a tiny coastal town called Molde, and the weather can be pretty extreme. It's Norway, so by default it's snowy, but it's also in a coastal zone, so it can be wet as well. And, of course, it's always cold. So if the trails aren't snowy and icy, they're ultra muddy. Clothes have to work hard here, and I need gear that can handle all sorts of dreary conditions. The Winter Wander pants have been perfect for walks, hikes, and snowshoe trips because they repel water, snow, dirt, and wind.

I hiked up a mountain called Jendemsfjellet the other day and was happy I was wearing the Winter Wander pants. I could have worn a hard shell pant but I opted for my new Mountain Hardwear pants instead. I knew the hike would be arduous and steep, I knew I'd sweat, and I knew my soft shell pants would breathe well and transport moisture away from my skin. I was right on all counts. By contrast, my wife hiked in a hard shell laminate and ended up wet and then very cold.

We started out in a lowland forest, but we were at sea level so there wasn't any snow on the ground. The trail was sopping wet, and, of course, I got mud all over my shoes and pants. But I knew it would just slough off as I kept walking since the Winter Wander's nylon/polyester/elastane blend fabric keeps water and muck at bay.

As we started gaining altitude, the path became increasingly steep. We actually had to haul ourselves up ropes that were hanging down from tree trunks, and that's when I started to appreciate the pants' gusseted inseam and awesome four-way stretch fabric. My pants moved with me as I moved. Nice.

Once above tree line, the temps dropped and the wind picked up. We were fully exposed as we made our way to the summit, but my pants kept the wind completely at bay. I was surprised at how well the material worked. I felt like I was wearing a hard shell (with the added benefit of avoiding that clammy feeling I can get in a hard shell) pant. At one point I looked down and noticed that all the mud on my trousers hadn't stuck at all.

The Winter Wander pants have a few other features I dig:

1/A big cargo pocket on the right side, which is a perfect place to keep bars, maps, keys, a cell phone, or anything else that might come in handy.

2/ A wide waistband lined with MH's ultra soft Micro-Chamois fabric, which I found to be fantastically comfortable. While wearing my heavy camera hip pack, I didn't get any hot spots or chafing underneath it.

3/ The pants are available in three different lengths, S (30"), R (32"), and L (34"). This is a very bid deal for me. Few outdoor pants (and even fewer soft shell pants) come in a long length. Mountain Hardwear is actually one of the few companies with a good selection of outdoor pants available in "long."

The Winter Wander is available in a men's version (S to XXL; short, regular and long lengths; black or a dark green "otter" color) as well as a women's version (sizes 2 to 16; short, regular and long lengths; grey or black).

Bottom Line: All-purpose soft shell pant made for winter.--N.W. (Dec '10).

BUY ONLINE: $90, click for men's pants. Women's pant on sale for $80.96 (as of 12/11/10).

Manufacturer's Site: www.mountainhardwear.com

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