Comparison impressions: Trekking pants I'm glad I bought this year 2018
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
It's not enough to just stretch out into beyond and dry out smoothly.
Pants for hiking would have been better if they were tough materials in the past. When I first started doing mountains in the 1990s, there were many products that were easy to move around and were quick-drying.
And in 2018, hiking pants lined up all over the shop are just as quick-drying and stretching. The models are even more unique, with more comfortable comfort, sophisticated designs, and high-tech features. It's not like wearing anything that's bad, but it can be said that the lower body, which is moving throughout the course of your actions, has a major impact on the pleasure and discomfort, and in fact, I think that pants that fit you well are great supporting characters who will further expand the fun of mountain hiking.
So this time, we've picked out some recommended models from the trekking pants I bought a lot this year, which combines the ultimate comfort that doesn't overwhelm the sweaty summer, and the stylishness that will lift your mood when you're wearing them. All of these models have a variety of unique personalities, from models with excellent functionality to models with excellent style that can be used for everyday use, so if you choose them according to your preferences, they will surely be useful.
table of contents
- What you need in trekking pants
- Impressions & Specifications Comparison Table
- Recommended trekking pants that I'm glad I bought
What you need in trekking pants
require breathability and quick drying to efficiently release sweat from the heat In that sense, there are probably many people who prefer shorts in the summer. I hear that this is a stronger trend as it is definitely more breathable and open-minded, and because it is less likely to walk through lush forests on trails in North America and New Zealand. However, from my experience as a lot of climbing in Japan, I feel that long pants are more useful to protect them from weeds, mud, gravel, and insects Recently, the changes in the materials have led to less discomfort in long pants, and as I don't have the habit of wearing shorts on a regular basis, I'm thinking of continuing to wear long pants like this for the time being.
The next important thing is ease of movement. Even if you can just walk normally, you can endure a little crampedness, but when walking on uneven terrain, it is common for you to raise your legs up, so it is best to avoid tension caused by lifting your legs as little as possible, and to move around easily . If you want to use it for climbing or climbing a stream, it will become even more important. The lighter the weight, the better.
It's convenient to have a pocket that can be securely closed with a zipper, and useful for functionality designed for mountain climbing . Finally, I want to climb comfortably, and it's convenient to go home without having to change clothes if I'm fine, so the so-called design, such as the stylish shape that makes my legs look neat and the sophisticated colouring that doesn't look out of place in town .
Test results and spec comparison table
| comprehensive evaluation | AAA | AAA | AAA | AA | AA | A | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| item |  Mountain Hardwear Daihedral Precurve Pants V.7 |  Westcomb RECON CARGO |  Arc'teryx Gamma LT Pant |  MILLET Trilogy Cordura Pants | ![[Salomon] WAYFARER UTILITY PANT M Men's](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81O7l1-lW0L._SS300_.jpg) Salomon WAYFARER UTILITY PANT |  Patagonia Cozy Pike Pants | ![(Mammut) MAMMUT Outdoor Pants Agility Slim Pants 1022-00270 [Men's]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81%2BvQDJRqcL._SS300_.jpg) MAMMUT AEGILITY Slim Pants |
| Reference price (tax included) | 15,120 yen | 31,320 yen | 19,440 yen | 19,440 yen | 14,040 yen | 16,200 yen | 15,984 yen |
| Comfort and ease of movement | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Breathable and quick-drying | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Versatility | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Functionality | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Specs | |||||||
| item | Mountain Hardwear Daihedral Precurve Pants V.7 | Westcomb RECON CARGO | Arc'teryx Gamma LT Pant | MILLET Trilogy Cordura Pants | Salomon WAYFARER UTILITY PANT | Patagonia Cozy Pike Pants | MAMMUT AEGILITY Slim Pants |
| Actual weight (g) | 289(M) | 294(S) | 320(XS) | 317(S) | 345(30) | 348(30) | 220(S) |
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| UV protection | ─ | ─ | ─ | ─ | ◯ | ◯ | ─ |
Recommended trekking pants that I'm glad I bought
Mountain Hardwear Daihedral Precurve Pants V.7
Comfort and ease of movement 5 Breathable and quick-drying 5 Versatility 4 Weight 4 Functionality 4
This is the classic trekking pants from Mountain Hardwear that I've been using the most this summer. I've been paying attention to this for a while, but I've been steadily updating it every year, and personally I think the results this season are the best. While retaining the slim silhouette that was originally characteristic of this series, the natural fit is beautiful thanks to the proper three-dimensional cutting technology and highly elastic synthetic material, making it a beautiful natural fit that doesn't feel cramped at all even in intense movements.
What surprised me the most this time was the refreshing feel and excellent breathability, making it zero sticky, making it comfortable to the humidity-prone summer in Japan. The secret lies in the air cooling material "Dot Air", which is designed to expand even more when the fabric stretches. Thanks to this, despite its tight fit, my lower body hardly gets stuffy even in the middle of summer, and it kept me dry at all times. However, you should not expect heat retention.
Apart from the thin material and the weakness to scratches, it is perfect for hiking and climbing in hot weather. The slender, refined design is perfect for everyday use.
Westcomb RECON CARGO
Comfort and ease of movement 5 Breathable and quick-drying 4 Versatility 4 Weight 4 Functionality 3
These three seasons of trekking pants from a Canadian outdoor and apparel brand that is honestly pursuing high-quality manufacturing. This is what I am making full use of. First of all, the fabric is made of schoeller®-dynamic, a softshell material that is particularly durable and stretchable, among Schoeller, a long-established Swiss high-tech material manufacturer that is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Furthermore, the surface is subjected to a special finish called NanoSphere®, which further improves breathability, wear resistance, water repellency, and stain resistance from the normal Schoeller®. It is true that even after washing quite a few times, the water droplets on the surface still fall off.
There is no sense of tightness from the hips to thighs, and the thighs to ankles are slim and neat and doesn't get in the way, and the silhouette combines mobility and elegance, making it easy to match with a variety of body types and can be worn by anyone. It's light and extremely stretchy, making it easy to move in, making it easy to move around with no complaints. The fabric is neither too thick nor too thin, and Westcomb's pride and careful stitching makes it possible to withstand hard use and continue to use for a long time with confidence. It can be used for a wide range of outdoor activities, from climbing during the snowless season to climbing and river climbing.
Arc'teryx Gamma LT Pant
Comfort and ease of movement 4 Breathable and quick-drying 5 Versatility 4 Weight 3 Functionality 3
These basic softshell pants are the most all-around, with product development that is thoroughly focused on quality and high design with minimalist charm and high design, and are of course a wide range of permanent fans. The pants here are also high overall, so I personally tried them out, but this model has a tight hip and a slim, clean, straight silhouette from the thighs to the hem, making it so perfect that I thought it was made for myself.
At the same time, the crotch has a solid gusset and three-dimensional cutting, and the stretchiness is perfect, so there is no discomfort when you lift your legs. The thin, lightweight nylon material, Fortias™ DW 2.0, is easy to move, and quick-drying and durable, making it extremely comfortable for midsummer trekking. It will be suitable for a wide range of purposes, including hiking, climbing and traveling.
MILLET Trilogy Cordura Pants
Comfort and ease of movement 5 Breathable and quick-drying 3 Versatility 4 Weight 3 Functionality 3
Softshell pants for spring and summer from Millet's high-end line, Trilogy series, which leads European alpinism. At first glance, it may seem like a high threshold, but it is an easy-to-use model that can do anything in the mountains, such as serious alpine climbing, climbing, and trekking.
The body fabric is made of XCS softshell material containing CORDURA® nylon, and is safe for professionals, making it extremely durable and mobility. Despite the tight European-style shape from the hips to thighs, the crotch has a gusset and the knees are cut in three-dimensional shape, and the stretchiness we have compared this time makes it easy to follow like a scalp. It is tightly woven so it is not extremely breathable, but it is thin so it dries quickly and is very practical even in the summer.
The waist has a flat elastic structure, rather than a built-in belt. It also comes with belt loops, so it is not inconvenient for adjustment. There is a drawstring to tighten the hem if it gets in the way. The silhouette is wonderful and it's extremely comfortable to wear, so I secretly think that once the colour is subdued, it can be worn in everyday life.
Salomon WAYFARER UTILITY PANT
Comfort and ease of movement 5 Breathable and quick-drying 3 Versatility 4 Weight 2 Functionality 5
Salomon's WAYFARER has been trusted in terms of its good silhouette. This time we have selected a model that is particularly easy to move around and durable in the lineup, making it easy to use for all-around use. In this comparison, the three-dimensional cutting is the most tightly cut, making it a little more athletic in appearance, but the trimmed fit generally maintains a neat and beautiful silhouette, and even more powerful dynamic movements. Because it is a double-woven softshell material, it is somewhat disadvantageous in terms of breathability and quick-drying. Instead, it is highly durable and can be used all-rounder not only in the midsummer but also from spring to autumn.
There are four pockets on the front and back, one on the thigh, and the front right pocket has a meaningful pocket that looks like a coin pocket, making it a lot of functionality. The only drawback is that the waist adjustment is the belt loop.
Patagonia Cozy Pike Pants
Comfort and ease of movement 3 Breathable and quick-drying 3 Versatile 5 Weight 2 Functional 5
Patagonia, which has expanded its hiking lineup this season, has also released an interesting model of trekking pants. What I particularly liked was the authentic hiker trekking pants. First of all, I liked the fact that it is more city-friendly than any other model I've introduced so far. The crisp texture makes it comfortable to wear, and is moderately tight from the hips to thighs. The straight silhouette from the hem, not too tightly, allows for a smooth bridge from the entrance to the trail.
Two pockets on the left and right, one on the back, and one on the right thigh have a zipper for safety. It is functionally designed to be gentle on hiking, with an adjustable belt waist and a zippered hem with a gusset that fits both low and high cuts.
On the other hand, what's a bit disappointing is that it has a slightly less stretchy performance than other people, so even though I'm a slimmer person with large feet lifting, I found it a bit difficult to move. For this reason, although it is good for hiking, it may not be suitable for activities that require major movement, such as climbing. Incidentally, the fabric thickness is not extremely thin, so it can be used even in the coming season.
MAMMUT AEGILITY Slim Pants
Comfort and ease of movement 3 Breathable and quick-drying 3 Versatile 5 Weight 5 Functional 3
MAMMUT, a long-established, full-fledged mountain gear brand based in Switzerland, has a large lineup that is quite casual and is only available in Japan. This model is also a bold "light-based" trekking pants that were never thought of until last year, but if they were used in a casual way, it would have been pretty good, so I'd like to pick them out last.
It's light, thin and subdued. Toray's stretch polyester material, which is cotton-like and supple, is a bit inferior to previous comparative models, such as durability and stretchability, so it may not be suitable for use in a hard way. However, the clean, slim tapered silhouette and clean surfaces made from the latest crimping technology that eliminates seams, giving it a sophisticated look that you wouldn't expect from hiking pants, making it easy to use for both hiking and on the city. However, the three-dimensional cutting with a gusset and moderate stretch make it easy to move in compared to street-wearing pants, so it will be perfect for use as a mild outdoor or light hike.
