When its warm outside, I wear shorts, but once the temperature drops below 70 degrees or so, I put on a pair of pants. And like all the gear I wear, I am very picky about what I put on. While I wear a variety of quality pants, one of my favorites are the Mountain Hardwear Pack pants. They are great for hiking, trekking, traveling, and even for wearing to the office. They look good, feel good, take abuse well, and are very functional.

So let's cut the fancy talk and get down to why the Pack pants are world class:

• Pack pants are made out of 100% nylon with a DWR finish for water resistance. The fabric is very soft and comfortable.
  
   
• Inside the waist of the pants is a micro-chamois fabric made of soft polyester. This is designed to reduce any friction between your skin, the pants, and any gear you might be carrying, such as a pack. The fabric is designed to wick away moisture.
  
   
• The waist is elastic for even more comfort, and a webbed belt is built-in for convenience.
  
   
• The cuffs of the pants have side ankle zippers so that you can more easily put the pants on over virtually any size of boots.
  
   
• Also attached to the cuffs is a removable scree cuff. Think of these as mini-gaiters. They zip on and off, have elastic for a tight fit, and include a hook to attach to your boots laces so that it stays in place and prevents dust and small rocks from getting into your boots.
  
   
• There are your standard pockets in the front of the pants. The right-side pocket includes a smaller zipped pocket to store your valuables. The left-side pocket includes a clip attached to several inches of material that can be used to attach keys, a pocket knife, or anything else that you don't want to loose from your pockets. Pockets also include drain holes for when you accidentally fall into a stream while fording it.
  
   
• There are two large rear pockets that are set below the normal location in the rear so that in case you are wearing a pack, you can still access the pockets, plus they prevent the pockets from potentially causing an abrasion point between your pack and skin. Both of these pockets have Velcro closures.
  
   
• The shape of the pants are well thought out, and include articulated knees, gusseted crotch, and reinforced knees and seat.
  
   
• They weight just over a pound, depending on their size.

Using the Mountain Hardwear Pack Pants in the Real World

I have used the Pack pants under many different conditions, and find them very versatile. They are especially great for hiking, trekking, and traveling. They stay relatively clean and wrinkle-free, considering the torture they are often put through. I especially like them for traveling because of all the variety of pockets, which I tend to fill up when I am on the move. Also, while traveling (but not physically active), they are very comfortable up to about 80 - 85 degrees or so

When it rains for any length of time, the DWR finish helps some, but not as much as I prefer, and I generally end up putting on a pair of Gore-Tex shell pants to keep dry.

When its about 40 degrees to 70 degrees and I am hiking outside, I generally wear the pants without a base layer, only putting on a base layer when it gets below 40 degrees or so.

The pants are wind resistant, which helps them to keep you warm. But when it gets very cold (about 20 or below), I will generally not wear these pants, using a soft shell pant instead for the added weather protection and warmth they provide.

For moderate weather hiking where I don't expect a lot of rain or mud, the detachable scree cuff does a good job of keeping out dust and rocks. For nastier weather, I would recommend gaiters.

Recommendation

For a good pair of pants that offer a lot of flexibility, I highly recommend the Mountain Hardwear Pack pants. For example, they are great to wear when traveling to the trailhead, whether it is down the road, in the next state, or overseas. And you can still wear them while on the trail, reducing the number of pants you need to bring with you.

Product Notes

The Mountain Hardwear Pack pants are available in both men's and women's cuts, and in both regular and long lengths. They are only available in two colors: dark sage and khaki. The suggested manufacturer's retail price is $95.00. These pants are also available in a convertible style (a zipper allows the pants to change into shorts), and they are also offered as Pack Shorts.