It's strange that good wind pants are a specialty item these days. They work a lot better than Gore-Tex in below-freezing conditions.

You're right, most of the athletic pants have a coating that will hold moisture in and foul up your insulation in no time.


I have purchased oversized nylon "trekking pants" in the past, and used them as wind pants. The fit is pretty baggy, which is good for ventilation but lousy for your fashion image at the ski lodge.

Have you tried second-hand stores? If you know what you're looking for, sometimes there are some real gems for five bucks.