Mountain pants have to be at least two things for me: quick drying, and comfortable. When rock climbing they need to be flexible enough, when fly fishing, I like something that feels good in waders, and when backpacking, they need to be rugged and long lasting. Well, this summer, my go-to pants have been the Granite Creek from Mountain Khakis.
The Granite Creek pants feature the following:
- 6.3oz 100% Brushed Nylon
- ScotchgardTM Treatment
- UVA-UVB 50+
- 6 Pockets with Mesh Pocket Bags
- 3 Zip Security Pockets
- Cargo Pocket
- Quick-dry
- Diamond-Shaped Action Gusset
- YKK®Zippers
- Reinforced Heel Cuffs
- Triple-Stitched Seams
- Mid-Rise, Relaxed Fit
I’ve long been a fan of Mountain Khakis, ever since they released their first Original Mountain Pant. But the thing that always bothered me is that the canvas-style pants take forever to break in, and are not conducive to getting caught in a freak mountain storm. So the Granite Creek pants have been everything I’ve needed this summer from hiking to traveling.
First off, I wore them on hikes in the Wasatch. They are uber comfortable and the material is flexible enough for high steps without having to hitch up my pant legs. The material is also very light, so my legs stay cool, even on hot summer days. This light material is also very quick drying, which I appreciate after having to push off a boat in shin-deep water.
From non-impact to impact, the Granite Creek pants also stay the course at the crags. My climbing harness fits over the waist and hips very well (much better than jeans) and the gussetted crotch allows me to stretch my legs out to that tiny hold “waaaaay over there” without constriction. So whether up in Big Cottonwood Canyon or inside the climbing gym, these pants work awesome.
My only gripe is with the stain repellency. Mountain Khakis says Scotchgard treatment repels stains that might otherwise discolor the fabric. Well, leave it to me to find a way to test the hell out of that claim, because it didn’t take me long to get some mystery black stuff all over the side-zip pocket. I don’t know what it is or where it came from, but being outdoors all the time means you brush up against any manner of things.
I tried to remove the stain numerous times, and it won’t budge. The Scotchgard treatment met its match. However, to be fair, the sample Mountain Khakis sent out is the “Birch” color (read: white) which is probably the worst possible color to wear when throwing yourself against the dirty mountain. Luckily, the Granite Creek comes in several, more outdoor friendly tones.
The Good: Comfortable, flexible, quick drying, numerous pockets, appropriate pants for pretty much any outdoor activity you can think of.
The Bad: I found a way to stain them, despite the “stain treatment.”
Final Word: Overall the Mountain Khakis Granite Creek pants are the ideal outdoor recreation pants. You can fish, canoe, hike, climb, backpack, or just look classy at the brewery. These are your new go-to pants.