 Poster: A snowHead
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My 14 year old Goretex Mountain Hardware pants need replacing soon. I haven't really kept up with fabric developments, there are so many now. What's a good material these days for sitting on cold/wet chairlifts and some skiing in between? I think I'd like the idea of softshell fabric but don't know if it's recommended for pants. I have 2 pairs of different weight long johns to go under the pants. I have a slim/tall fit. Also, shouldn't be too expensive (1-2 weeks skiing/year). Thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snowman, my fear would be that cold wet chairlifts would lead to a cold wet bum in a softshell. I am looking fondly at the Marmot Spire pant, but both I and the OH require full length zips.
Go see what hard shells Decathlon have. It looks like they've upped their game again this year.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I keep the thinner shoftshell pants for touring or spring skiing. Great for that. I just use standard snowboarding pants as they have a bit more room to move in them than the closer fitting styles. I don't bother with expensive fabrics for the lower half as I still have some old shell salopettes in case of really atrocious wet weather.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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My fist pair of ski pants were softshell, bought from TK Maxx when I didn't know what I was buying. They were ok for the first couple of trips, but starting to show a fair amount of wear after week 3 so I replaced them with an insulated shell pair. The softshells have now been relegated to sledging wear only, and get cold and damp pretty quickly. By contrast, my newer TNF ones have done 4-5 weeks and are still showing little signs of wear.
I love my softshell jacket, but am not convinced the fabric is hard wearing enough to keep you warm and dry when used as trousers.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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under a new name, good to know about Decathlon, it might be worth a small detour if their stuff has got better.
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Scarlet, just to be a pedant, you don't get insulated shells. That's why they're called shells. Mind you, quite a few softshells are a bit insulated... 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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under a new name, hmmm, well what would you call them? They are not soft shell. They are not goretex (or similar expensive fabric). They are waterproof and have some light insulation. Mr S has some goretex shell trousers, and they are very light and thin so I know what you mean.
But the question was about soft shell pants, which from my personal experience are not as good.
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Scarlet, a very good if somewhat trivial question. To my mind, shells have no insulation. The point, I believe, being that shells are more or less intended as the outer layer of a layered system.
But I have a "soft shell" jacket (so the marketing department tell me) which is "lightly insulated" which I would suggest is no longer a shell. But to call it a lightly_insulated_jacket_with_a_soft_shell_like_outer_skin seems a tad longwinded.
In your case I'd refer to yours as "ski pants". I imagine TNF marketed them as such.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Scarlet, just to be a pedant, you don't get insulated shells
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Umm, yes you do, they are called insulated shells? A shell is the outer layer, regardless fo the egree of insulation involved. The Buffalo is the original* softshell and they're pretty insulated.
*Well, the original "modern" softshell. I'm sure Ventile or the like was the original osftshell......
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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galpinos, I don't think most people would consider a shell a shell if it was insulated. Kind of ruins the point, non?
I also don't think you read my post at 07h09 did you?
Anyhoo, sure enough, some Manufacturers e.g. Arc't are marketing "insulated hardshells" distinct from "hardshells". But I'm standing by my opinion that a "shell" shouldn't be insulated.
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