Good hiking/mountaineering pants?
I need a good pair of pants that can be used in cold temperatures for hiking/climbing, usually in snow. This is a harder thing to find than I thought. Should they be definitely waterproof or just resistant?
I’ve found these two, which is better and why?
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Piero%E2%84%A2-Pant/OM2819,default,pd.html
http://www.columbia.com/Men’s-Ridge-2-Run%E2%84%A2-Pant/WM8048,default,pd.html#user-reviews
First is more of a climbing style pant and not water proof or very warm, second is more of skiing and is ridiculously warm and waterproof but very constraining and not the greatest for hiking and such. Which is best or any other suggestions that aren’t like a couple hundred dollars?
I would say that neither of those is a great choice for mountaineering. One is for crag climbing and has a DWR coating on canvas, which will not keep you dry in the mountains, even in cold snow. The other is a ski pant that is way too warm and probably not very breathable, which will cause you to overheat and be miserable.
If it is well below freezing, ie in the 20s or below, you really don’t need a fully waterproof pant. Your boots and gaiters will be waterproof and that is what will contact the snow the most. A water-resistant soft shell is great for these conditions and breathes well. It also allows you to move comfortably. Even though most softshell climbing pants are quite thin, they have a reasonable insulating value and will almost always be worn with some degree of long underwear beneath them. I have worn Mountain Hardwear Alpinist softshell pants with a Techwick3 or PowerStretch baselayer and been fine for climbing and standing around camp down to 5 degrees. Your legs are more forgiving than your hands, feet, and upper body in cold temps.
If it is NOT well below freezing and meltwater, wet snow, or mixed precipitation is a concern, you will really need a hard shell waterproof pant. I prefer bibs in these conditions but they are not necessary. In this case you will again wear a softshell or long underwear baselayer beneath the waterproof shell pants for insulation. Pants (like the ski pants in your link) that have insulation and waterproofing built together are not a good option for mountaineering because they don’t give you the layering flexibility that is crucial to maintaining proper body temperature while climbing and at camp.
In your same price range, the following might be better options:
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Winter-Wander%E2%84%A2-Pant/OM1543,default,pd.html
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Synchro%E2%84%A2-Ski-Pant/OM3834,default,pd.html
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Cohesion%E2%84%A2-Pant/OM3510,default,pd.html
If you are willing to spend more, this would be ideal:
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Synchro%E2%84%A2-Bib/OM3697,default,pd.html
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Exposure-II%E2%84%A2-Bib/OM0571,default,pd.html
