The best I've come up with is wicking long underwear, with fleece-lined jeans. Works well- comfortable, tough, warm, but I worry about the cotton outer layer and the cold/wet cotton thing. I see fleece pants at REI, etc., but I don't imagine them to be very rugged. Haven't found wool pants I've liked yet.

For some reason, a search here didn't turn up anything.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

David

i've been using the same thing..waffle long johns with lined jeans.if i'm active,X country skiing,i'll just put on my gore tex rain pants over the waffles.thats worked to 10-20 below.for just walking the dogs i'll pull snow boarding pants over the jeans i'm wearing around the house.those were a good find,light weight and nylon with some sort of poly insulation, they are easy to wear unlike the heavy German military wool pants i was using.gaiters to cover the boot-pants interface are a must unless you have tall snow boots.i have lighter nylon ones i wear with jeans when i ski and it keeps the cotton dry around the cuffs.

If it's about 0F or below, then the general formula is base layer, insulation layer & shell layer. Basically, I'd go with my snowboarding gear. If it's not super cold, I'll skip the base layer on my legs. Also, I don't wear anything cotton. Base and insulation are polyester/fleece. Much trial and error got me to the correct gear that's comfortable for me.

I go with nylon pants. As it cools, add a synthetic layer underneath (capilene tights), followed by a gore-tex shell over all, for still cooler temps. I size everything so there is room for an additional layer of fleece under the shell for real cold. I don't wear jeans for hiking - too heavy, no insulation when damp, and way too restrictive.

Railriders make pretty good nylon pants for outerwear. Under that I wear wool long underwear from either Filson or Smartwool if the temps dictate.

If it was really cold I might consider Men's Lined Yukon Work Pants for the outer layer; I haven't had a need to try those yet.

You might want to check out Rivers West products.

Pete

2-3 layer system

long johns+ wind pants

or long johns+ insulating pants + wind pants/ shell

I carry some ultralight insulation and rain wear, all of it together weighs about 20 ounces and easily fits into a day pack with room to spare.

http://www.amazon.com/Driducks-Rain-Suit-Khaki-sm-Gear/dp/B001C3YJI8

http://www.gearzone.com/Montbell-Thermawrap-Parka-p/165-15710.htm
http://www.gearzone.com/Montbell-Thermawrap-Parka-p/165-15710.htm

That said, I do dress appropriately for the expected conditions and for extreme cold like my Swiss Army surplus wool pants.
http://west.loadup.com/military/surplus/23259.html

Laksen Sika Pants - Really cold.

Craghoppers Bear Grylls Lined Survivor Pants (unlined versions available as well) - Cold.

Montane Terra XT 2.0 Pants - not so cold.

Trousers for keeping warm in camp rather than active wear.

British Army Bivi Pants - Very cold active use.

For temps in the 10-35 degree range I like the military surplus wool pants found at the local surplus store.

The best deal for me has been $10 a pair.

Layering up is a requirment in winter.

This is a great thread and I look to more comments.

Blake
www.outdoorquest.biz

Back when I was worried about it I used one of two , thin poly or heavier poly/wool long john bottoms, a pair of mid or heavy weight fleece pants over that base, and thin but tight weave cotton/poly tropical BDU (they wear like iron and dry fast) and/or rain pants bottoms for exterior wear or wind/rain protection.

Thanks for the replies. Those railriders look like a good bet. Come to think of it, I have a pair of BDU pants that might be nylon, or a cotton/nylon blend. I'll see if I can dig them up, and see what their made of. I am trying to avoid cotton, and go with something more quick-drying.

Ny/Co mixture BDU pants are good. 100% cotton are not.
The interior label will say.

The advantages of cotton, hard wearing and a weave that tightens in moisture and is both wind resistant and highly breathable, and its use as an exterior layer well away from the insulation layer and skin, a thin layer that holds little water, make a cotton/poly blend a forgivable sin IMHO.

Wear the same pants all year long, Mountain Hardware Canyon pants. I use a base layer when its cold. Have Sierra Design rain pants for waterproofing.

I wear these Airborne Vintage pants from company called Surplus Raw Vintage almost all year (except summer) - http://www.surplus-shop.de/start.php?wrk...job=&lang=2 . In winter I wear them with one thermo layer under. They are 100% cotton pants though so probably not what you are looking for. I wouldn't wear them in some really harsh weather but for shorter trips and trail running, they are great and extremely comfortable. They are also good if I am near a fire, they don't rustle and last but not least they look good.

Working not around machinery I start with wool longies (right now Cabelas Marino wool) and Filson grey heavy wool pants. If wet or on the snow a lot, I add some rain/wind pants. If really wet (working through the ice, etc.) I use a set of heavy Gore Tex coveralls. If it gets much colder, then I add a pair of insulated bermuda shorts :-). Learned the trick from an Inuit in Tuktoyaktuk - he wore a pair of polar bear shorts. It keeps you warm but does not restrict your walking/running behind the dogs (plus my mukluks go almost to the knee anyway).

Working around machinery (grease and oil) I typically use some surplus (Swiss I think) wool pants in place of the Filsons. They wear better but are not as comfortable to me. I don't like the leg pockets - too stiff. I sometimes wear light cheap pants over them to keep out the dirt.

Just for fun I sometimes wear my woolies with a set of down insulated underwear covered with a good rain/wind pant. Super light and flexable, but do not wear well for work. They are also not as adjustable for temp. and have the usual problem of down around water - great in the dry snow.

The best,

Jerry

Outermost layer:
In dry conditions or only light rain/sleet/for a limited time: A cotton/synthetic blend called G1000 by the Swedish firm Fjällräven. It seems to be composed of the same mix as the venerable "511" trousers, but I don't know how the quality compares. Anyway, my Fjällräven pants is by far my favourite pair of outdoors anything trousers for any season with temperatures below 15C / 60F.

In dry winter conditions (dry snow, below freezing), pure cotton has lots of advantages if spun to be wind proof and of the right quality. The "G1000" seems to be slightly better, but modern membrane (goretex or whatever) clothes will still keep you dry longer in wet conditions.


In wet conditions, I typically augment that with a goretex-equivalent pair of trousers that are wide enough to just slide over my boots and all. I also use this as an extra wind blocking/insulation layer if it is really bitterly cold and blowing hard - it gives highly improved wind resistance and a little extra insulation without slowing me down and hinder any movements. My particular pair is of the material "dermizax" made by the Norwegian firm Bergans. Good stuff, but there's tons and tons of similar stuff out there.


Underneath my outer layers, I put one or more layers of merino wool "long johns" (long underpants), depending on temperature and level of activity. Great stuff. I LOVE wool.


All this is for moving about. If I need to stay still I will add a snowmobile suit. Down would be great - maybe next Christmas.