"Down Pants"

[Robatman]

Interesting title isnt it! no it's not some pics from a bucks weekend away! or more likely a report from my latest leech infested walk in the Blue Mountains.

I'm looking for something lightweight to wear around the campsite/tent and maybe as an option to enhance my 10yo bag when snow camping. If i supplement my bag with pants when camping sub zero it gives more flexibility to use the bag when warmer than getting bag refilled and thus only good for real cold camping.

I ordered some Montbell UL down inner pants last week from Campsaver but got a reply a day later saying cant ship to Aus. I know Western Mountaineering also do down pants but have read they too wont ship to Aus.

Does anyone know of a US (or other) site that will ship here without using a forwarding company? or Aus shop that has them. I'm not looking for weatherproof, are there other lightweight (or more importantly for me, compact) solutions to keeping toasty when snow camping? looking to spend $200.
Thanks
Robert

[gayet]

I have ordered (and received) down gear from Feathered Friends in Seatle - no worries about shipping to Aus. They have several weights in down pants.
http://www.featheredfriends.com/picasso/Garments/GarmentsMidweight.html

Moontrail also ship to Aus - received Mont Bell super spiral down hugger this morning! They stock FF pants as well as WM.
http://www.moontrail.com/b_search.php?mode=search&page=1

I have had no problems with either - Moontrail may be better as you get bonus points that can be used on other stuff

[Nuts]

hmmm, pretty sure i bought MB from campsaver... anyhow there are other sources, ive sent a pm suggestion, have a couple of others if that doesn't work out?

[Robatman]

Thanks guys,
the feathered friends look pretty toasty!
I checked the other sites and sent an email to one as they dont list XXL (i'm 6'6) but its on the Montbell site and the Campsaver i originally ordered, so will see how we go.

Either way prob wont be here for my snowshoeing trip in a couple of weeks

Robert

[Moondog55]

My experience with my Mont down pants tell me that which-ever brand you decide to buy spend the extra money to get full length side zips and make sure the pants are made with bagged legs.

[Franco]

Be careful that some of those pants, for example the Mont Bell mentioned as well as the WM Flight, are meant as an inner warm layer, not to be used as the outer garment if there is a chance of rubbing or snagging against sharp surfaces.
The WM pants have a nylon covered "seat" area but the rest of the fabric is very thin...
BTW, there is a thread, in the lightweight section , from Tony that covers some of your questions.
(my new Western Mountaineering something something)
Franco

[Moondog55]

Not "Camp-fire" friendly either

[Robatman]

My experience with my Mont down pants tell me that which-ever brand you decide to buy spend the extra money to get full length side zips and make sure the pants are made with bagged legs.

Thanks for the feedback- Can you elaborate on the full length zip? is it just for access while wearing boots or similar or do they get real warm and need to vent?

also what does "bagged legs" mean?

From some links from the others WM do have 2 pants- the flash and flight- the flight being slightly more fill and full zips for $35 more. But i guess this comes at the cost a little more bulk when packed?

Robert

PS intention is only for around camp and youre right about the fire but I'm pretty careful as I normally have goretex or similar on and dont want any little holes!

[Empacitator]

I have the Montbell down pants (purchased from Campsaver) and they are fantastic.
As Franco said above, they are a great mid layer. I usually wear merino wool leggings, down pants and my normal hiking or hard shell pants over the top

[Franco]

For the extra 100g or so , with the Flight pats you get twice as much fill as well as the full length zips and heavier duty fabric on both the seat and knees.
BTW, I thought long and hard about the Flash and the Flight.
I have the Flash jacket and am familiar with the Flight jacket and pants but had not seen the Flash pants, however I expected them to be similar to the top and Tony Beasley (thread in the light section) gave a thorough review with pics and based my choice on that.
So I opted for slightly less weight but mostly more compressibility wanting to use the jacket and pants as a camp and in bag layer not to use them walking .
I don't think that you can really go wrong either way, go with the one that appeals to you.

Franco

[Moondog55]

Bagged knees have tucks/ gussets/ extra fabric to give room for bending the knee, if you don't have them the down gets compressed when you sit or bend your knee for any reason, in my pants this leads to thinner insulation and cold knees I really should pull them apart and fix it

[forest]

Another option is for a custom made pair of pants. (this was something I don't think anyone did until getting a pair a few months ago)
I've a pair that Ben from Goosefeet.com made for me a few months ago.
Mine are only like 3/4 pants though as I wasn't after full length but they have more fill/loft and weigh a less than the MB (Cost was less including postage too)
They have 2.5oz of 900 fill, made from a momentum fabric and weigh in at 151grams. I opted for drawcords on the leg bottoms so I can close them up fully and wear them like down socks to bed as my feet get chilly.
Only an inner garment though as they are very thin.
Sizing is exactly to my dimensions and he made / shipped them in record time.
PM me for more info if you would like, pic's etc..

[crakar]

there is a place in canada called "Taiga Works" that will ship to Australia
by Ship Is about $65 and they have down pants and lots of goodies
karen Dowling

[Moondog55]

A really cheap option and not too heavy is a pair of army trouser liners, about $20- last pair I bought but they get dearer as they become less available

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/US-MILITARY- ... 0285139562

I have a few pairs and the are quite warm when worn as intended