The Women’s Snowtastic Softshell Pant by Mountain Hardwear is an ideal pant if you’re going to be doing any winter travel in the backcountry. Whether you’re skinning, boot packing, sled skiing, or hitting the resort on pow days, this pant is going to hold up to any abuse you may throw at it.
I love the fit and look of the Snowtastic Shells, but the durability of the fabric is what, in my mind, gives this pant a five star rating. Durability is an absolute must for me in the backcountry.
Even though these pants are considered a shell, the lining is a super soft material and so it doesn’t feel like you are wearing a cold, uncomfortable shell. The material moves and flexes with your body, another amazing feature of the Snowtastic pants.
The waterproofing capability of these pants is on point, and I have yet to get wet underneath. It’s been a pretty wet spring snow that I’ve been skiing and I haven’t noticed any wet spots on the pants. Simply put, water does not get through this fabric.
With such amazing waterproofing, one would think that the breathability would be slim to none. Not the case with the Mountain Hardwear’s Dry.Q fabric. My temperature is always drastically changing from one minute to the next when I’m out skiing because of hiking and then skiing etc. Keeping the water out is important but when I sweat, I want to be able to get that moisture away from my skin.
If the breathability within the fabric just isn’t enough for you, these pants have a ¾ length zip all the way down the outside of the leg. This is sweet because you can easily regulate your temperature with the zips and the pants are super easy to get on!
The fit of the Snowtastic pants is spot on for me. While there is some adjustability in the waste, the length is perfect and the waste comfortable. These definitely run large though, because I am usually a large in a ski pant in the large Snowtastic I was literally swimming! If you’re tall, don’t worry about length with a medium. I have long legs and I am 5’10 and I even have a little bit of extra length with the mediums. You also have some suspenders to use if you need. The suspenders are comfortable and flat so if you’re wearing a backpack all day, you wont have any raw spots at the end of the day.
I can’t say enough positive things about these softshell pants by Mountain Hardwear. I’m convinced they are the ultimate backcountry pant and while they are only a shell, you have plenty of room to layer underneath on cold days. Most importantly, these pants will keep you dry, block the wind, and be breathable when you get a little sweaty. Give these a shot! You won’t be disappointed.
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The Women’s Snowtastic Softshell Pants
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