MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Epic Pant (£50)

MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Epic Pant (£50)

By Judy Armstrong

November 01 2007

TGO Rating 4 stars

The fabric is so silky it was tempting to wear these next to bare skin – right up until the condensation kicked in. Epic pants are very lightweight and comfortable, with a generous cut that slides easily over other legwear.

I particularly like the waist: a strip of wide elastic at the back, with a flat front, stud and zip. This means, by judicious use of a funnel (like a Shewee) you don’t have to take the things off in order to pee. Hurray! Hauling down wet overtrousers and getting wind-driven rain up my bum is not a fun way to spend a Saturday. My test pair were Regular leg length so too long, but the ankle arrangement – elastic, plus Velcro on a die-cut tab to tighten – kept them out of the mud. The zip, which finishes below the knee, is protected with an exterior flap and also backed (for reasons I can’t work out) by a Velcro strip. It just allowed passage of a winter boot, with the inside of the pant getting coated in mud, in the process. Still, if you want lightweight overtrousers and pee often, these could be the pants for you.

Technical Spec

Materials: Ark (ripstop nylon) shell, Conduit Silk coating
Waist: wide elastic at back, front stud, zip
Inside leg: 80.5cm/31.5”(28”, 30”, 32”, men 30”, 32”, 34”)
Leg zip: 22.5cm (below knee), exterior waterproof flap with Velcro closure
Ankle: elastic, Velcro tab, zip
Pockets: none
Sizes: XS-XL / 6-20 (men S-XXL)
Weight: 205g
Likes: weight, leg length options, front fly
Dislikes: breathability, short leg zip

Mountain Hardwear
0161 366 5020
www.mountainhardwear.com

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