Mountain Hardwear Threshold™ Pant Review

Lightweight Gore-Tex rain paints for men and women.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, where it rains half the year. I don’t really mind since I have waterproof gear that keeps me dry while I hike on mountain trails, explore urban parks, and run neighborhood errands on foot. Mountain Hardwear’s Threshold^TM Pant has become a staple in my foul-weather gear collection. 

This lightweight trail pant is made out of a three-layer, 100% recycled fabric called Dry.Q^® that is waterproof and breathable. The Threshold^TM Pant is available in men’s and women’s sizes, in three lengths: short, regular, and long. I have long legs and wear 34-inseam pants. It’s near impossible finding regular women’s pants that fit me, much less, outdoor gear pants (even when I try to wear men’s pants, I often can’t find a 34) so I’ve been very happy to finally have rain pants that are long enough for me. 

I really appreciate how Mountain Hardwear has designed the Threshold^TM Pant to make it easy to put on and remove even when I’m wearing hiking boots. Both legs have double zippers running at least 3/4 of the way up the leg (double zips mean I can adjust how much ventilation I need, which I love being able to do). Pull tags make the zippers easy to locate. When fully unzipped I can easily slide my booted foot into the pant, then zip the pant leg to the bottom, then snap the pant leg hem together. The zippers are not waterproof, but they are well covered by protective flaps that lie flat.

The Threshold^TM Pant leg hems are elasticized but not too tight. There’s enough of a cinch to keep the pant leg around the top of my boots (which I love because I can’t stand fabric flapping around my ankles), but it’s not so tight that it grips my boots, allowing me freedom of movement. I have often wished that my rain pants had stirrups so I could secure them around the bottom of my boots, but I don’t feel like I need that feature now with the Threshold^TM Pant since the length and elastic keep my pants in place and keep out the weather.

I ended up testing a men’s pant since I am between sizes in the women’s styles, so the Threshold^TM Pant I tested had a single large zippered pocket on the back that doubles as a packing pouch. The pant can be folded and packed into this pocket, making it easy to toss into my backpack. The Threshold^TM Pant has a nice, wide waistband, which I like because it lies flat against my body and doesn’t ever bind. The waistband has a zipper and snap enclosure, just like a pair of jeans, as well as a nylon cord I can use to cinch the waistband tighter.

The women’s Threshold^TM Pant has the same design, except for the pocket placement on the front of the pant. I was expecting a simple elastic waistband, so the bonus of the Threshold^TM Pant style is a rain pant that is more fitted. I’m used to wearing baggier rain pants, so I was initially not sure I liked the fit since I was expecting more room around my bum and hips. After an hour-long hike in the rain, during which I didn’t think once about the pant, I realized the fit was ideal. I think people who like a more trim fit will also enjoy the Threshold^TM Pant. This pant seems to have a medium waist – not low, but not too high. 

It’s not too cold yet where I live, but sometimes 42 F can feel much colder when it’s raining and windy. I usually wear the Threshold^TM Pant over cotton long underwear for casual wear like running errands in a downpour or over synthetic hiking pants when I need to move at a faster pace. I haven’t overheated once because this pant breathes so well. I’ve never had rain paints that were so good at helping me stay comfortable. I also like the softer fabric that is much quieter than my crinkly old school rain pants. The ripstop fabric is quite thin, weighing about 10 ounces, but it’s also durable. I am not careful about avoiding slapping branches, and so far nothing has made any scratches or tears in the material.

The Threshold^TM Pant is available in men’s sizes S-XXL in short, regular, and long inseams in Surplus Green and in Black. The women’s Threshold Pant is available in sizes S-XXL (also available in short, regular, and long inseams) in Vinson Blue and Black. 

Brand Site: mountainhardwear.com

$150, currently on sale for less Amazon: men’s ; women’s