Tuesday
Mar252008
March 25, 2008 Solution to the pants problem?
I’m still looking for a really good pair of quick-dry pants for travel. Polyester and microfiber leave something to be desired - and often leave something to be smelled too. Orvis has new pants in a nylon canvas fabric that might be the answer. I’m beginning to think that tropical-weight wool pants, which can be worn a few times at least without getting funky, are the best three-season solution. Just hang up and air out the wool slacks and they’re usually good for another day.Coolmax jeans from TravelSmith are interesting as well. Anybody worn ‘em?
Update on March 26, 2008 by
Frank@OBOW
Frank@OBOW
OBOW reader Sam (see comment below) gives a strong recommendation for the REI Adventures Pants. They look good to me. Unlike a lot people I can’t bear the zip-off leg, heavy cargo look. I’m too old I guess…
Reader Comments (21)
I've never experienced a smell problem with poly pants... but then I don't sweat profusely either. Most trips I don't take quick-dry pants and I just deal with the extended drying times.
However, a really nice pair of Italian wool dress pants can do a LOT, and they are comforable enough to wear in all 4 seasons.
The "Adventure" pants from REI are not only the best travel pants I've encountered they are my every day pants for most purposes.
They are lightweight Nylon which is cool, wicking, UV protective, quick drying, and packs VERY small when you do pack it down.
They also have 3 zippered pockets in addition to the "normal" ones. Two about half way down the thigh which are great for things like cellphones or multitools, and another "security" zippered pocket just behind the right front pocket near the hip.
They are only $44 at REI and well worth it. I own 3 pairs. (I only wish they came in some more colors)
You aren't alone on the cargo pants. I'm probably half your age and I think people traveling around in those zip-off horrors look like giant goofballs.
Those coolmax jeans look like the best thing ever, I might pull the trigger on them if someone comments with a favorable review.
Dave - I'm not so old! I just ordered the REI Adventures pants so I'll have a full review of those in a few weeks. Like you, I've never heard any feedback on the Coolmax jeans. To revise and expand an old post title: When you see me with a Tilley hat and cargo pants, please shoot me!
I've got a few pairs of those zip off cargo monstrosities as well...but I've mostly eschewed them in favor of the REI Adventures. They accomplish much of the same things but in a much more "civilized" manner. That being said, I did like being able to unzip my legs and go for a dip when I found a trailside oasis in Israel.
"go for a dip when I found a trailside oasis in Israel" - I certainly don't have any stories that are this cool!
I've got two pairs of the REI Adventure pants myself. When I travel with lightweight pants, they are my first choice. However, they wrinkle very easily, and look very casual. Fine if you are going casual, but terrible if you are trying to find pants to do double duty.
Another problem I have with them is that after the first washing, the seam shrank a little, giving the pants a bit of a weird look (the pants seemed to bunch slightly along the seam).
I live in a Colorado. It would be a remarkable day in which you DID NOT see a hundred people in cargo pants and Tilley hats. On the mountain or downtown Denver, makes no difference.
I have a pair of Tilley pants made of "Adventure-cloth" fabric that are really quite remarkable. They don't wrinkle, they dry overnight, and I've had them for years and they still look new.
I live in Denver too, and while I do see more people in cargo pants and zip-offs than in other parts of the country, they still look dorky :)
Let's just say they look fine on some people...
I have a pair of Tilley LaVida pants and REI zip off pants. Both are great in that they can be washed at night and worn the next morning. In addition, they have security pockets that are useful for foiling pickpockets. The Tilley pants can be dressed up or down, while the REI pair is solely suited for casual wear.
If I had to buy all over again, I'd stick with the Tilley pants. Even though it's more expensive and required hemming (I'm 5'4"), I liked the versatility.
For those of you with REI Adventure pants, have you noticed any pilling between the thighs? I'd sworn off REI pants a couple years back because they Never have enough belt-loops and they were constantly pilling and wearing through in the inner thigh area in short periods of time. REI pants are the only pants I've found that do this, and I'm just glad they have a generous return policy.
I have a pair of Patagonia pants that I absolutely LOVE for travel. These things shed water beautifully (I've done a few stream crossing with them) are Very light, shed dirt beautifully and I can't make them wrinkle. Doesn't matter if I'm wearing them for 4 days in a row hiking through Wilderness areas in Wyoming or using them as my main travel pants for a week trip to Seattle.
My husband loves the pants he got from TravelSmith. They are called Dri-Release, and the fabric wicks moisture away from your body, and keeps the pants looking (and not smelling) good for days. Check 'em out!
Here's the scoop on those Dri-Release Pants from TravelSmith:
8-Days-a-Week Plain Front Pants
By the end of a week of travel, most pants are unpleasant company. These are refreshingly different. They’re made of Dri-release®, a high-performance blend of poly, cotton, and Lycra® that wicks moisture away from your body four times faster than cotton. FreshGuard® keeps them agreeable. Our classic oxford-style plain front pants have an elastic-back waist and six pockets, plus a hidden security pocket and fly front. Imported.
8-Days-a-Week Plain Front Pants
Even sizes 32-44, 33 and 35
Unfinished 38" inseam
Hemming available for $2.95
In regards to smell in synthetic fabrics. This is mostly caused by use of detergents like Tide. I have tons of Patagonia synthetic T's and never have a smell problem. To avoid smell, wash garments using 20 mule team borax(1/3 cup), washing soda(1/3 cup) and a natural no perfume detergent such as 7th Generation or All free clear. Cloths come out smelling like cloths, not chemicals.
In regards to smell in synthetic fabrics. This is mostly caused by use of detergents like Tide. I have tons of Patagonia synthetic T's and never have a smell problem. To avoid smell, wash garments using 20 mule team borax(1/3 cup), washing soda(1/3 cup) and a natural no perfume detergent such as 7th Generation or All free clear. Cloths come out smelling like cloths, not chemicals and with no residual sweat smell.
I use All Free & Clear for regular lanundry. The smell problem I have is after wearing, not after lanundering. The Stinkfighter sink laundry formula (found on this site) or the silver-impregnated fabrics are the only solutions I've found to dreaded poly stink!
I have found the pants I like. Exofficio's Streamliner pants. They are great. They fit well, look good, and can pull off double duty nicely. I have the Streamliner Field pant, which adds a couple of zip pockets to the normal version, but still looks good enough to pair with a nice button-up (I like the Trip'r shirt) and a tie. The regular Streamliners look like a normal pair of flat-front slacks.
I'm not usually a fan of flat-front slacks, as they sometimes bunch up in unflattering ways. This was my experience with the REI Adventure Pants. They looked and fit great...except across the front. If I wore an un-tucked shirt all the time they would be perfect, but I wanted a pant that would double as a dressy pair of slacks when I travel. The Exofficio Steamliner fits that requirement and looks great doing it.
Highly recommended.
I second the ExOfficio Streamliner Field Pants. Just got a pair cheap by way of REI's clearance and they're great. Although I have no problem with cargo and/or convertible pants, these have the utility of roomy "cargo" pockets, but are very low profile in appearance.Typical ExOfficio details, material and construction including the near bomb-proof looking waist button attachment. They're also available in lengths (at least from REI) which is nice since we all don't have 32" inseams.
These do not look quite as nice as a pair of wool slacks, but they certainly suffice for a lot of touring. When they weather gets misty or outright rainy, and they get wet, they DRY QUICKLY, which makes them much better than cotton. I now reserve my cotton pants, including any jeans, for travel in California, when I know it's going to be dry. I also have two pair of nylon zip-off pants, but reserve those for trips where I know I am actually likely to wear them as shorts.
AT $46.50, in various waist sizes 30 to 42, and several different lengths, these are great pants. The "Shadow" is the more useful color, but some might like the "Mountain Ash" as well. See:
http://www.rei.com/product/784061
http://www.lapolicegear.com/511-pdu-classa-pants.html
They have both pants that are dressy "class A twill" that are teflon coated
"Covert pants' with hidden leg pockets and
"511 Tactical pants" with more pocket than you will ever need unless you are trying to avoid checking a bag.
More importantly, they are reasonably priced....in the range of $60 instead of $150