Mountain Hardwear Matterhorn Pant : Mountain Tough

The designers behind Mountain Hardwear's Matterhorn pant have thought of everything --stash pockets, a gusseted inseam, ankle drawcords, and removable pant legs.

I first thing I noticed about my Matterhorn convertible pants was how comfy they are underneath my pack's hip belt. The pants have a chamois-lined waist that is totally flat. No elastic to bunch up, no nothing -- not even a slim integrated fabric belt inside the waist (I'm actually not a fan of most of those since the belt can still twist enough to cause a hot spot). The lining is extremely soft and smooth, so it prevents chafing as the pack bounces up and down with each step. In addition, it wicks away moisture really well -- no more wet waist. Of course, the Materhorns do have belt loops, but I didn't use them because the pants fit true to size.

The handiness of the convertible feature almost goes without saying. On a recent hike in the mountains I started off on an cold morning, but my noon, the sun felt pretty hot. It was nice to have the option of removing my pant legs. I even had a multitude of zippered pockets in which to store the legs. In that time between morning and afternoon when I was heating up (but it was still too cold to be out in shorts) I was grateful for another cool feature -- a vertical zipper running the length of the side seam on the lower leg that, when unzipped, creates a vent.

These pants are made to last, with plenty of reinforcement. The seat has two layers of durable nylon, which I doubt I'll ever be able to wear out. Same thing goes for the knees. I've sat and kneeled on rocks and logs during days-long camping trips, and still haven't worn through even the first layer.

At the end of the day, I I like to explore a bit around camp. Since I don't carry much on overnight trips, I had worn approach shoes all day long -- so I took off on a sticky-rubber-inspired rock hop. I was able to scramble up and over boulders with ease thanks to the gusseted inseam. I also liked being able to cinch up the hems on the legs of the pants so I could see the rocks and boulders better.

Available in a variety of inseam lengths.

Bottom Line: Comfortable, well-designed, multipurpose pant designed for climbing, hiking, and backpacking that'll perform well in just about any weather. -- N.W. (Mar 08)

Price: $100

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Manufacturer's Site: www.mountainhardwear.com

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