I haven’t had much luck with outdoor pants. Seems like no matter which brand or style I try, I can’t find the combination of rugged, stylish and good fit that I want. Too loose but plenty durable; super-stylee but worthless on a wet day…I’m sure I am not alone in my desire to find a do-it-all-in-any-condition pair of pantelones. But then, sweet success! I donned the Silicon Trail Pants by Sierra Designs last spring, and their performance is better than my slacks of old.
Here are some of the features of the Silicon Trail Pants:
• water resistant silicon panels on legs and seat
• breathable stretch-woven fabric (combination of spandex weave and silicon treatment)
• pack-compatible waistband
• two flapped thigh pockets big enough to store a folded map
• 14oz weight
Sounds good…and it is! Let me start by saying that these are the best fitting outdoor pants I have worn. Sierra Designs created a fit that is similar to your favorite pair of jeans, but moves in all the right places thanks to a gusseted crotch and the spandex-woven fabric. The pants stretch when you need them to, and hold their ground when you’re relaxing. The map pockets aren’t BS, either: I could fit a large foldable map into them without jamming or crinkling it. Very handy for a guy who doesn’t always know exactly where he is going.
The standout features of these pants are the reinforced leg and seat areas. Kneeling down to filter water (often done in a damp area) or sitting on the wet ground was no issue. The moisture didn’t soak through even when I glissaded down early summer snow in the Uinta Mountains. In fact, the only time these pants did become saturated was after hiking 2 hours in the pouring rain during a backpacking trip to Duck Lake. The DWR and silicon finish did its best to keep me dry, but these aren’t true rain gear and Mother Nature is a formidable foe. Another point of awesomeness is the fact that I’ve beat the heck out of the Silicon Trail Pants and the fabric is no worse for wear. After 7 months of outdoor use, they come out of the wash looking like I just pulled the tags off of them.
Minor complaints include the fact that my fingernails kept getting hung up inside the pockets, and some of the seams show signs of breakdown. Additionally, I found that the pack-compatible waistband was comfortable, but did little to stop the pants from slipping down under the weight and movement of a backpack. Seems that the latter is a problem common to darn near every outdoor pant I’ve used.
After scraping the Silicon Trail Pants against gritty canyon walls, glissading down peaks, and generally cavorting in all outdoor scenarios, I must say that I’m a fan. They fit great, look good enough to wear out on the town, and most importantly can take a beating. With plenty of pocket space and a dry rear, I’d say my luck with pants has changed for the better.
The Good: Silicon Trail Pants are durable, fit well, and have some useful features for outdoor activities.
The Bad: Thread seams are a weak point on the pants
The Verdict: These pants feel like your jeans and can take a beating like an over the hill cage fighter. Simple style with design features that really work as intended make these a great choice for most outdoor pursuits.