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| Post Number: 1
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cuester 
Group: Members
Posts: 293
Joined: Jul. 2005
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 8:38 pm |
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A) no flame wars intended. Just a simple honest question
I'm looking for a pair of hiking pants. Something with cargo pockets. Something designed to be comfortable when i'm running with a k9 team. I've looked at maybe half a dozen tactical pant manufacturers. Seems like all their pants are made of cotton.
Now growing up I always heard cotton kills and cotton has little place in the outdoor world. Do I have the wrong notions about cotton? If I'm right why all the cotton pants? Mind you i'm looking at tactical pants which tend to indicate not a lot of time spent in the woods or wet enviroments so maybe it's not an issue there
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| Post Number: 2
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treelinebackpacker
Group: Members
Posts: 410
Joined: Aug. 2011
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 8:47 pm |
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If you're going to be in cold wet environments, especially in snow, then cotton is bad. Very bad.
But normal conditions, you should be fine.
Rain, cool weather, etc. Just avoid bad weather and have rain gear and you'll make it out alive.
I backpacked in cotton for years before I actually picked up any synthetics.
However, cotton underwear are the devil. Fact. Chaffing...ewww...
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| Post Number: 3
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nogods
Group: Members
Posts: 5418
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 9:04 pm |
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Take a pair of polyester pants and a pair of cotton pants. Toss then in the washer for a cycle. Now compare the weight. Then hang them to try and check in 8 hours. You'll learn first hand why cotton in wet weather is a poor choice.
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| Post Number: 4
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10498
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 10:15 pm |
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And if you sweat while hiking, again...you may not like cotton pants. They will stick to your legs.
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 5
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BigRick
Group: Members
Posts: 84
Joined: Sep. 2011
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 10:51 pm |
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Im a polyester fan, or even polyester and nylon if its hot outside. Cotton in anything wet is a disaster. Polyester all the way for me.
Check out Rivers west clothing. waterproof windproof fleece. polyester. They make some tactical camo pants with cargo pockets. I dont have the viper pants but i have their hunting pants and a hoodie. Great quality and made in the USA. Tear resistent, and dont wear out. I belive the viper pants are the lighter weights ones as well
http://riverswest.com/viper_pant_camo.html
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| Post Number: 6
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BigRick
Group: Members
Posts: 84
Joined: Sep. 2011
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 11:01 pm |
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Note
they are heavier than hiking pants because they are fleece. But if you are working with dogs you are going to want something more puncture resistent maybe. Should be solid for cold weather and fall but too warm for summer.
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| Post Number: 7
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gregpphoto
Group: Guests
Posts: 304
Joined: Apr. 2010
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 12:10 am |
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As part of my trail crew internship we were issued Carhartt double knees. My first thought was "cotton? for real!?" but as they broke in, I started to really enjoy em. They do take forever to dry out though. Get as much of the mud off as possible, even if it means soaking em further in a stream or something, theyll dry faster.
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| Post Number: 8
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| Post Number: 9
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treelinebackpacker
Group: Members
Posts: 410
Joined: Aug. 2011
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 8:28 am |
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I've never hiking in fleece pants.
How is that?
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| Post Number: 10
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| Post Number: 11
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| Post Number: 12
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RidgeHiker
Group: Members
Posts: 269
Joined: May 2006
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 6:00 pm |
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If I expect to be in brush I wear cotton to protect my legs.
If I expect to be in rain or snow I wear waterproof breathable synthetic.
If it is hot and I am not wearing shorts I prefer synthetic.
If it is cold and not wet I prefer cotton.
If it is wet and cold enough I prefer waterproof breathable synthetic with a merino wool base layer.
If there are multiples of the above conditions I compromise.....
Hmmm, what would I do on a hot, wet, day in heavy brush? 
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| Post Number: 13
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10498
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 9:11 pm |
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(RidgeHiker @ Dec. 14 2012, 3:00 pm)
QUOTE If I expect to be in brush I wear cotton to protect my legs. If I expect to be in rain or snow I wear waterproof breathable synthetic. If it is hot and I am not wearing shorts I prefer synthetic. If it is cold and not wet I prefer cotton. If it is wet and cold enough I prefer waterproof breathable synthetic with a merino wool base layer. If there are multiples of the above conditions I compromise..... Hmmm, what would I do on a hot, wet, day in heavy brush?
neked...
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 14
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21830
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 9:23 pm |
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(Tigger @ Dec. 14 2012, 12:25 pm)
QUOTE
(treelinebackpacker @ Dec. 14 2012, 5:28 am)
QUOTE I've never hiking in fleece pants.
How is that? From my experience, Hot... I can barely stand it in winter even in strong winds at single digits.
Same here, although I can tolerate them in single digits as long as I'm not working too hard. For me, fleece pants are good mainly for sitting in camp.
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| Post Number: 15
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cuester
Group: Members
Posts: 293
Joined: Jul. 2005
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 9:26 pm |
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Seems like a lot of options, opinions and seasonal choices. I might just have to pick up a few pairs of pants and put them all to the test. I appreciate all the advice/ thoughts
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| Post Number: 16
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RidgeHiker
Group: Members
Posts: 269
Joined: May 2006
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 11:38 pm |
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(Tigger @ Dec. 14 2012, 9:11 pm)
QUOTE
(RidgeHiker @ Dec. 14 2012, 3:00 pm)
QUOTE If I expect to be in brush I wear cotton to protect my legs. If I expect to be in rain or snow I wear waterproof breathable synthetic. If it is hot and I am not wearing shorts I prefer synthetic. If it is cold and not wet I prefer cotton. If it is wet and cold enough I prefer waterproof breathable synthetic with a merino wool base layer. If there are multiples of the above conditions I compromise..... Hmmm, what would I do on a hot, wet, day in heavy brush? neked...
OUCH!
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| Post Number: 17
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BFAyer
Group: Members
Posts: 39
Joined: Apr. 2010
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Posted on: Dec. 16 2012, 8:33 pm |
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The military uses cotton because it does not burn and melt like synthetics do. Yes there are better fabrics than cotton for that purpose, but not for the cost.
Military clothing has different requirements than recreational clothing, so in general one does not work well for the other.
I think something like Arborwear tech pants would meet your requirements. without the cotton.
http://www.arborwear.com/products/pants/tech-pants
They are built like a tank, but are designed for climbing trees and working outside all day in all conditions.
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When traveling in bear country, never go alone and carry a big stick 
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| Post Number: 18
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eggs
That's sofa King assume
Group: Members
Posts: 4235
Joined: Nov. 2007
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Posted on: Dec. 17 2012, 5:33 am |
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You might look at these guys
I use these for around town or when I'm in the shop working. Not backpacking though. But they are roomy and comfortable
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Eggs
Home of the egg
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| Post Number: 19
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DustinTN
Group: Members
Posts: 33
Joined: Apr. 2012
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Posted on: Dec. 17 2012, 11:17 am |
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While not nearly as durable as some of the other pants mentioned, these have become my favorite hiking/backpacking pants: REI Adventures Pants
I have two pair and wear them constantly. They are light enough to run in, the nylon in these is softer than many other synthetic pants I've tried, and they are pretty durable considering their light weight. Dry very quickly. Great sale price on them right now.
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| Post Number: 20
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cuester
Group: Members
Posts: 293
Joined: Jul. 2005
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Posted on: Dec. 17 2012, 6:22 pm |
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I'll have to check out those arborist pants. I wonder what REI's shipping to Canada is like
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| Post Number: 21
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SmokeyBear
I know shoe-fu
Group: Members
Posts: 3667
Joined: Mar. 2009
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Posted on: Dec. 20 2012, 9:19 am |
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REI's shipping to Canada isn't a great deal, but at least they send things through USPS instead of UPS so you only pay a $5 brokerage fee instead of $40.
If you're in Canada, you should definitely check out their REI counterpart:
www.mec.ca
I quite like their river pants for hiking:
http://www.mec.ca/AST....ens.jsp
Unfortunately they changed the fit this year and the new model doesn't work for me (inseam too long). But the pants themselves are very durable and reasonably breathable for nylon.
I'd stay away from cotton unless you're hiking in dry areas. Where are you planning on hiking?
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| Post Number: 22
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| Post Number: 23
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| Post Number: 24
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| Post Number: 25
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Fester
Group: Members
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug. 2012
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Posted on: Dec. 26 2012, 12:10 am |
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Some good info here, on a subject I was also curious about.
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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
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| Post Number: 26
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Fester
Group: Members
Posts: 18
Joined: Aug. 2012
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Posted on: Dec. 26 2012, 12:18 am |
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Some good info here, on a subject I was also curious about.
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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
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