So if you don't expect the worst that Mother Nature can through at you, instead of relying on expensive, less than perfectly breathable, and noisy hard shell pants, give a pair of soft shell pants a try. Here's why:

• Soft shell pants are very moisture and wind resistant, although not waterproof and windproof like hard shell pants. That's why they aren't a great solution for terrible weather. But you can still wear soft shell pants, and when you find the weather turning on you, you can slip hard shell pants over them.
  
   
• Soft shell pants are much more breathable than hard shell pants, even more breathable than Gore-Tex XCR fabric. This means that they are not only more comfortable, but they can be worn in a wider range of temperature extremes.
  
   
• Soft shell pants can be worn with or without a base layer, and should become your main form of leg protection. One alternative is to wear your base layer, a regular pair of hiking pants, and hard shell pants (depending on the weather conditions). Of these two choices, I prefer the first for its added comfort and flexibility. This is gained by not having to wear the hard shell pants in most cases.
  
   
• Soft shell pants are quieter to wear than soft shells, and they are also tougher. A thorn will barely affect soft shell pants, but it can tear your expensive hard shell pants.

To sum it up, soft shell pants offer more versatility and comfort than hard shell pants when it comes to protection from most weather.

Now that I have sold you on the benefits of soft shell pants, let's take a look at some world class soft shell pants. The Guide Lite pants from Ibex are some of the best soft shell pants made today. They have all of the characteristics described above, and more. Here's a rundown on the Guide Lite pants:

• The pants are made of a material that Ibex calls Climawool Lite. Essentially, these pants are made out of an upgraded version Schoeller's Skifans fabric. The outside of this fabric is made of nylon and Lycra (the Lycra makes the pants a little stretchy for extra comfort). Inside the lining of the fabric is made of Merino wool, which provides warmth and superior moisture wicking.
  
   
• The pants have an elastic waistband for comfort, and a built-in belt.
  
   
• The fly zipper on the men's version of the pants starts from the bottom, not the top. This makes the fly easier to open when you are wearing a pack. This takes a little getting used to.
  
   
• The two front pockets and the single back pocket all have zippers to keep you from loosing anything out of them. The pockets are small and are made of mesh to keep them light weight.
  
   
• At the ankles of both legs, there are zippers than you can open to make it easier to put the pants on over boots, and help prevent anything from getting into your boot.
  
   
• The pants are lightweight and have a trim fit, weighing about 15 ounces or so.

If you like to pack light, these lightweight and versatile pants can take the place of a lot of other clothing, while maintaining all the benefits the other clothing you no longer have to bring along provides.

Using the Guide Lite Pants in the Real World

Generally, I prefer to wear the Guide Lite pants with a base layer that matches the expected weather. I wear a lightweight base layer for warmer weather, from about 60 degrees of a high to about 30 degrees of a low, and a midweight base layer when it gets below 20. I have worn the pants by themselves up to about 70 degrees, but any higher temperatures were too warm for me to wear these pants. In most of cases, I wear shorts when the temperatures get about 70 degrees or so.

When the weather is real nasty and I have to put my hard shell pants on, the Guide Lite pants are similar in warmth to wearing midweight fleece pants, which means that I don't have to carry along with me fleece pants for extra warmth (in most cases).

The pants go a good job of wicking moisture, and they are very tough and durable. You won't be afraid to bring them bushwhacking or climbing.

Recommendation

If you outdoor adventures range from 70 degrees to below, and you expect some (but not a lot of intense rain and wind), then Ibex's Guide Lite pants can be a real pleasure to wear.

Product Notes

The Guide Lite pants are available for both men and women, are available in many sizes, but only come in the color black. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $185.00. Ibex also offers a variety of other soft shell pants.