Winter pants

[CaptainOllieWest]

Dickies Temp IQ. They are great all-around winter pants. They are not to warm for indoors and they have a little stretch.

These:

Men`s Warning Temp-IQ Duck Utility Pants

Keep up with your craft in cold conditions with the innovative technology of Dickies Warming Temp-iQ® Duck Utility Pants. Designed to provide breathable warming protection without the bulk, you'll achieve rugged durability through the sturdy triple needle reinforced construction that includes...

ramseyoutdoor.com

 

[Keeled Over]

I'll go with wind shell also. I just wear my normal stuff but I throw them on when the temp dips and I'm good to go. I like waterfowler pants for this application - rugged, and when combined with extra material for knees and butts pretty indestructible. I've had my current pair for 30 years and they are till going strong, but then they don't get as much usage.

 

[Keeled Over]

Dickies Temp IQ. They are great all-around winter pants. They are not to warm for indoors and they have a little stretch.

These:

Men`s Warning Temp-IQ Duck Utility Pants

Keep up with your craft in cold conditions with the innovative technology of Dickies Warming Temp-iQ® Duck Utility Pants. Designed to provide breathable warming protection without the bulk, you'll achieve rugged durability through the sturdy triple needle reinforced construction that includes...

ramseyoutdoor.com

Dickies, Carhartt and others are getting into outdoor recreation clothing and without the crazy prices we often see I now have 4 poly shirts from Dickies, and quick dry shorts from Dickies and Wrangler. Balaclava from Carhartt. Keep an eye out - the price will be increasing soon.

 

[Alan Gage]

The Dickies temp IQ insulated pants mentioned above seem to be nearly out of stock everywhere. I could not find them in my size.

Instead I ordered these Carhartt Flannel pants. Reviews said they were excessively long so I ordered one size shorter than normal and the length was perfect.

Today I tried them out in a drizzly 37 degrees with light wind. I'd say they're not quite as warm as my regular setup of medium weight thermals under lightweight poly/cotton pants. My legs weren't warm and they weren't cold. I guess I'd say they were 'cool'. Not uncomfortable but I could feel them. These pants definitely won't cut it stand-alone but I'm sure they'll be better over the top of thermals.

Alan

 

[lowangle al]

I like lined pants. They have mostly replaced my wool ones. My favorite wool pants were a medium weight US military surplus pair. They were loose fitting and high waisted. The zipper fly was so long that I could reach in and not only adjust my underwear but I could just about pull my socks up.

I have a couple pairs of winter pants that I bought at least one waist size larger than I normally wear. It gives me enough room to tuck in a thick wool shirt or sweater.

 

[Pseudonym]

loose fitting and high waisted. The zipper fly was so long that I could reach in and not only adjust my underwear but I could just about pull my socks up.

My wool paddling pants are also comically large legged. I’ve mostly worn them with a pair of tall boots and prefer to tuck the hems into the boot, but there’s so much material to tuck-in that it gets a little ungainly. I’d like to have them tailored like Canadian Mountie pants.

 

[Alan Gage]

Another day, another pants trial....

Since I like my mid-weight thermals so much I thought I'd try a heavier pair. I bought these from Terramar:

4.0 Men's Military Heritage Expedition Weight Fleece Thermal Pants

Shop men's military expedition weight fleece thermal pants at Terramar. A favorite among hunters, fishermen and adventurers. Free shipping available.

www.terramarsports.com

Initial impressions were that the fit was too tight. I prefer my thermals to be loose (but not baggy). I don't like them to cling to the skin. These do and the inside fleece layer "sticks" to the skin. There is virtually no stretch. Maybe I should have gotten a size larger but I'm afraid the waist would have been too loose.

I took them for a walk this morning under my regular every day pants. It was overcast, 28 degrees, and very windy. I stuck to the wooded valley as much as I could to avoid the wind.

Temperature-wise they did great. My legs stayed warm, even when exposed to some wind. I would have been slightly chilly with my mid-weight thermals. I did not find them overly comfortable though. During normal walking they were ok but when kneeling down or climbing steep slopes they felt restrictive.

I continued wearing them most of the rest of the day as I went about my usual business. When indoors they began to feel slightly warm and because of the tight fit I never forgot I had them on. They weren't terrible but they were not comfortable. Definitely not something I'd want to wear all day, which is what I do all winter long with my mid-weight thermals that fit me perfectly.

They're something I might wear specifically for outdoor activities in extreme cold but I'm guessing I'll find an alternative most of the time.

Alan

 

[Alan Gage]

Yesterday I stopped by a local consignment store and found a pair of wind pants for $8. They're baggy and unzip nearly to the knee so putting them on over shoes/boots should be easy enough. No pockets but the waist is elastic so it's easy to reach into my regular pant pockets.

Took them out last night and again this morning. Overcast and windy with 20 F (-7 C) temps. I wore my everyday pants and mid-weight thermals under them and they performed great. When I was exposed to the wind my legs felt slightly cool (not uncomfortable) but when I was out of the wind I couldn't feel any chill.

So far this is my favorite winter pant addition. Cheap, non-restrictive, and quickly goes on over my regular clothes without the need to undress. The only downside is the 'swish' of my legs rubbing together but I quickly got used to it.

Alan

 

[ErktheRed]

Soft shell pants, usually a slightly heavier pair but still has stretch. Medium to heavy weight merino bottoms underneath paired with ski socks (over the calf). I’ve been fine in below freezing temps with that setup. If it’s real cold and I’m just sitting around, I’ve been eyeing some down pants

 

[Chip]

Question for you wool pants guys--Many of the wool pants described in the above-linked vendors' sites are to be dry cleaned. Do you take your wool pants for dry cleaning? That's probably a deal breaker for me.

I've been wearing summer weight pants all year. They are fine for walking down to 30 degrees. When I'm at home and sedentary, I usually pull fleece pajama pants over them. When I'm out and it's colder (only a few days a year in Maryland since the big warming got underway), I pull on a second pair of light-weight pants. If it's windy or wet, the second pair of pants are goretex rain/wind pants. I'm always surprised how warm two pairs of summer pants can be. My old REI Sahara pants are baggy enough I can pull them on over shoes. The goretex pants are great too, but can tend to overheat.

I've come to dislike long johns because of the friction with the over pant. For some reason, two pairs of pants slide over each other better than they slide over long johns. Maybe I need to try "loose, but not baggy" fitting long johns. The ones I have are like tights.

 

[Boatman53]

Well check my wool pants and I don’t think I’ll ever fit in them again. So if anyone has a 32” waist let me know. Eventually I’ll get some pic up in classified.
Jim

 

[Alan Gage]

I've come to dislike long johns because of the friction with the over pant. For some reason, two pairs of pants slide over each other better than they slide over long johns. Maybe I need to try "loose, but not baggy" fitting long johns. The ones I have are like tights.

That's how most of them seem to be and I don't like it at all. I find tight thermals to be pretty uncomfortable and they don't seem to be as warm either.

I had a pair from REI I really liked but when I tried to replace them I found they had changed styles and that the new ones were tight. I looked around and finally found a pair from Patagonia that fits just how I like. I knew I'd found a winner when some people in the comments were complaining about them being too loose. The price seemed excessive but when I realized I'll probably wear them 300+ times before they wear out I decided to go for it.

To me a good pair of thermals fits just loose enough that they won't cling to the skin or bunch. If they somehow get a little twisted or bunched all I have to do is shake my leg for them to fall into place. And the outer surface is slick enough that it doesn't stick to the over pant.

I own an auto repair shop and and I'm constantly in and out of doors, getting in cold vehicles down to -20 degrees, and looking at things in the parking lot. Mid-weight thermals keep me from freezing to death outside and don't overheat me inside. I literally wear them all day every day from November to March.

Alan

 

[scoutergriz]

Question for you wool pants guys--Many of the wool pants described in the above-linked vendors' sites are to be dry cleaned. Do you take your wool pants for dry cleaning? That's probably a deal breaker for me.

I've been wearing summer weight pants all year. They are fine for walking down to 30 degrees. When I'm at home and sedentary, I usually pull fleece pajama pants over them. When I'm out and it's colder (only a few days a year in Maryland since the big warming got underway), I pull on a second pair of light-weight pants. If it's windy or wet, the second pair of pants are goretex rain/wind pants. I'm always surprised how warm two pairs of summer pants can be. My old REI Sahara pants are baggy enough I can pull them on over shoes. The goretex pants are great too, but can tend to overheat.

I've come to dislike long johns because of the friction with the over pant. For some reason, two pairs of pants slide over each other better than they slide over long johns. Maybe I need to try "loose, but not baggy" fitting long johns. The ones I have are like tights.

none of my wool pants have never seen a dry cleaner, I simply wash them in the machine with cold water on the wool setting (delicates on our old machine) with Woolite For Darks if needed, most times they just need sponging off with a damp cloth to remove spills and dirt, once every season or so I'll use Nikwax Wool Wash to really clean and deodorize them, then just hang them to dry.
I look for "Superwash" or machine wash and dryable merino longjohns and throw them in with the regular laundry or with my pants and sweaters.

 

[memaquay]

My favorite pair of wool pants have never been washed in 20 years. Don't tell my wife.

 

[Pseudonym]

Do you take your wool pants for dry cleaning?

Nope. I machine wash as needed like @scoutergriz and hang to air-dry. They're pretty resilient. Like @memaquay says, washing of wools pants is needed rarely.

Echoing what everyone else has to say about cold temps (and moisture management too in general), my best outcomes are always the result of layering.

 

[lowangle al]

Whenever I've washed heavily used wool clothing I was always amazed by how light they felt afterwards.

 

[ErktheRed]

To those getting friction with base layers and their outer pant. Have you tried a grid fleece with a smooth face, or is that included in the trials? I avoid polyester base layers since I always feel clammy, year round. But plenty of people like them, could be worth a try?

 

[carpenter]

I echo the recommendations for wool pants. My 30 year old pair of Codet pants have been through Northern Ontario bush, Baffin Island dog-sledding, hikes and hunting expeditions and lately Lanark County chores. Rarely washed, always on a normal cycle with regular soap.
I have Canadian military wind pants when it gets colder/windier - similar vintage, extra pockets, covered access to layers below, cotton-nylon, durable, wind resistant and snow resistant.
More active layering is achieved with an appropriate long john, a fleece pant/tight and a ripstop polyester windpant shell from MEC, 20 years ago. Never really understood the appeal of waterproof/breathable, does not breathe enough for me, no need for water resistance at cold temps. Have not been able to find a similar pair of wind pant, double zips on legs, abrasion patches at inner ankle and knees, high waist, detachable suspender straps...all that I find are expensive Gore-Tex or comparable or insulated pants (too bulky and not adaptable enough for layering).
The long johns I have found the most comfortable are the grid fleece, light and not too clingy.

 

[lowangle al]

I have a pair of those Codet pants and they are warm, but like you said, you need wind pants with them.

 

[Tsuga8]

When hypothermia isn't a concern (walking the dog in the morning, as opposed to skiing, snowshoeing, or canoe tripping in the backcountry), I've been trying to move away from synthetics and towards natural materials due to both environmental and person health concerns around microplastics, PFAS, etc.

At the end of last winter I got both a pair of wool LL Bean pants (not lined) and a pair of EMS canvas/jean pants lined with flannel (outer 98% cotton, liner 100% cotton). I was a bit disappointed that the wind moves right through the wool pants like they're not there at all. I think they're shoulder season pants more than real winter pants, though they're a bit scratchy without long johns. That said, they are comfortable temperature-wise across a range of shoulder temps inside and outside. With long johns they can be worn in colder weather, but I stopped trying them in really cold/windy weather.

I've been really pleased with the flannel lined jeans, which block the wind better but breathe very well due to a loose fit. I've been wearing them near daily since it got colder and will get another pair (whether from EMS or elsewhere TBD). They're loose enough to fit long johns if it gets colder, but without a base layer they do well with high 20s F with a breeze while walking the dog but are still comfortable in the mid-sixties back inside. The loose cuffs do let a bit of wind come up the leg if they're not tucked into knee boots.

For years I was doing thermals under quick-dry pants for most conditions. Light base layer for cold, mid- or heavy-weight base for colder, and both the light then the heavy for very cold. I've been slowly switching from synthetics to merino wool base layers - I think they breathe better and they certainly hold BO less. I'll stick to synthetic outers over cotton in back-country-ish conditions where getting hypothermia is a concern. Maybe I'll try the wool pants for early fall paddling trips.

I wash wool socks and base layers with the normal laundry and then rack-dry the base layers. The wool pants I've washed only once since getting them and dried them on the rack as well.