Bushwalk Australia

Hi,

Anyone own these? Looking for something warmer than polarfleece pants for hut)tent wear for Tassie mid winter.

Some comments here from Andrew Skurka.
https://andrewskurka.com/backpacking-cl ... ket-pants/
I had seen the Mont Bell but opted for the Western Mountaineering Flash because I liked the brand and they have a nylon (Cordura?) area covering the seat bit.
I used those and the Flash jacket with a 0 degree bag down to -7c . Almost exactly the same weight as using the WM -7 bag with just Merino top and bottom.
I think they are a very efficient part of a LW winter kit as long as you don't hike with them on. (you want them clean and dry at camp)

I'd second Andrew Skurka and his recommendation on the surplus M-65 liners. I have a selection of insulated pants and the dollar value of the surplus is very good.
a full Clo on their own and much more when worn under a windproof layer such as overpants Personally I prefer synthetic for pants because I seen to spend a lot of time on my knees when in the bush. I find full length zippers better all around even if they add a few grams
Almost as good but not lightweight are cheap ski pants; especially if you cut the bottom quarter off as most of the excess weight is in the reinforced cuff area for use with skis and ski boots

Those WM flash do look good but 50% more expensive than montbell ones once shipping is included.

The pants I really like the look of are the montbell thermawrap ones but there never seems to be any stock in medium...

The m65 pants look interesting, possibly not a ton cheaper as it looks like they would have to be shipped from the US?

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll have a look at cheap ski pants too.

What size are you Petew I may have a spare set here cheap, remembering that the M-65 are cut huge but my brother was a medium and I think his are here. Yep labelled wrongly as large tall 92cm waist

Here is a picture
As you can see these are cut huge as they are designed for a US Northern winter
415 grams

Thanks Moondog,

I'm normally a medium.

Thanks for the offer but probably a bit heavier than I'm looking for.

I'm kind of tempted by the EE torrid apex pants but again, the dreaded postage......nice stuff though.

Many pants lighter, what these have going for them is cheap. I think I paid USD$6-

Like Franco I have used WM Flight down pants to extend the warmth of my quilt and they are great to wear around a hut on a cold evening. I got mine from the uk (http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/mens-clothing-c1/mens-down-insulation-c52/down-pants-c209) which cut the postage costs dramatically. Set the currency to AUD to remove VAT. Often their prices are quite similar to the US retailers.

Thanks MarkF,

That is a good site, I like how they order stuff by weight.

Unfortunately they are $350 before postage, just not reality with my current funds.

Montbell are $200.

Moondog,

6 bucks? Tell em they're dreaming....

Petew wrote:Moondog,

6 bucks? Tell em they're dreaming....

You do realise I these cost over $100- USD to make.
They made winter in country New York a comfortable experience under normal street clothing even if I couldn't do up the belly button

$6 is an absolute bargain. Just not what I'm after, they do look cool though.

They look better with the purple wind breaker pants tho
See if you can find a pair of Patagonia DAS pants on eBay, or similar; you may be lucky. Mine are XXL and I paid $240- P&P S/H from the USA I actually prefer synthetic insulation for pants here due to our soggy wet snow
Yes postage from the USA is stupidly expensive
If you can sew insulated pants are pretty easy if pull-ons would work but full length side zippers are far better

PM sent

I use montane synthetic fill insulated 'prism' pants in subzero temps.
Relatively well priced, light and very warm.
Got onspecial from WA but also available from ukultralightgear.com.

My husband has a pair of the WM down pants, size M and reckons they weigh "nothing" (our scales are dead so I can't give you an accurate weight). He reckons they're great and has used them in a similar way to Franco and MarkF.

mine are 195g. They compress down to the size of a large orange.

Considered the EE synthetic ones?

https://enlightenedequipment.com/torrid ... ts-custom/

Advertised at about 150g

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Yes, I really like the EE ones. Unfortunately they are made to order so about 4 - 6 weeks including shipping. EE charge a minimum of $35USD to ship. That would be $165 total so more expensive than the montbell pants.

The trip I need them for is in 8 weeks so I'd have to order those sharpish to get them in time.

They look pretty nice.

Sometimes they have some stock available to buy. But may not be exactly what you want.

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They do have some mediums but with a 32 inch leg. Too long for my stumpy pegs.

I would be tempted by the Thermawarap ones too!
But not as tempted as I am by the WM Flashes!
Depends on what you will be rubbing them I suppose-the WMs look the part with the re-inforced khyber and so light, and as a WM user they make brilliant stuff.
But as you know they have basically the same amount of fill as the MBs-so should be equally warm?
How long would it take to rub through the khyber on the MBs?
Are they the 7D ballistic nylon?
What about the Chameeces under your rain/wind pants which you would be carrying already?
Also, MB can order from Japan (so they told me) so you might get the Ms in time?


ps Really piffs me off that just about anyone in the world can order from MB Japan but we are forbidden.

Yeah, the not being able to order from Japan directly is pretty annoying.

Not so much price wise but range wise. I wanted a superior down parka but can't buy it here. Only the jacket.

Unfortunately montbell Japan seem to be out of medium thermawrap pants.

I might be ok with my old Mont powerstretch tights and overpants.

Have you ever tried wearing shorts as well?
When I was in the Adirondacks it was cold but not cold enough to wear too much on my legs, I experimented later on with simple mesh lined long shorts; the kind soccer goalies used to wear; and found they added just the right amount of warmth, when it is cool here but not cold enough for my winter long johns I sometimes wear a pair of Uniqlo Airism shorts under my longs and they add just enough warmth for my normal activities. Perhaps cut down polyester trackies ? Just knee length like trunks.

Moondog55 wrote:Have you ever tried wearing shorts as well?
When I was in the Adirondacks it was cold but not cold enough to wear too much on my legs, I experimented later on with simple mesh lined long shorts; the kind soccer goalies used to wear; and found they added just the right amount of warmth, when it is cool here but not cold enough for my winter long johns I sometimes wear a pair of Uniqlo Airism shorts under my longs and they add just enough warmth for my normal activities. Perhaps cut down polyester trackies ? Just knee length like trunks.

Also trying to get a little more warmth, without overheated legs, I've been experimenting with merino boxers under light trekking pants. So far so good, although a little more length in the boxers would be better. Cutting a pair of something (maybe thermals with wrecked knees) off just above the knee could be good.

It's for sitting around in a cold hut. I like shorts myself and rarely hike in pants.

Petew wrote:It's for sitting around in a cold hut. I like shorts myself and rarely hike in pants.

It might be cold enough in a Tassie winter to need the PowerStretch to walk in tho.
Are you up for a little DIY? I just weighed a pair of capri length fleece short Cecile has made for somebody Adult Medium weighs 221grams in cheap Spotlight fleece. Cut oversize it is the air trapped by the overpants that is the warm layer and "free" insulation and as such quite effective for the cost, about $8- worth of fleece. A lightweight alternative that I considered until I found the DAS pants S/H is the Patagonia Nanopuff pants
https://www.backcountry.com/patagonia-n ... lspace.com

I also have a pair of 100wt fleece pants that aren't too heavy. I suspect I'll end up buying some EE torrid apex pants.

A left field suggestion. What about the EE Snow Wrap in XL? Traps warmth from both legs together and can be used as both a sit pad and an extra warmth layer for sleeping. Cheaper and not a great weight penalty