Outdoorgearlab.com publishes a comprehensive resource for customers interested in purchasing hiking pants for women.
PRLog - Jul. 2, 2014 - CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- OutdoorGearLab.com, a website known for its real-world comparison tests of outdoor equipment and apparel, has made a new women's hiking pant buying guide available. This guide is a free resource to help educate consumers and steer them through the process of purchasing technical pants for hiking. Through the spring and early summer of 2014, the OutdoorGearLab test team took eight popular pairs from well respected brands, such as ExOfficio, Kuhl, Marmot, The North Face, and Columbia and put them through rigorous head-to-head tests over the course of hundreds of miles of hiking and backpacking. The pants were worn in national parks in Colorado, Utah, and California and a few pairs were taken by a northbound thru-hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail to test for durability and function over the course of a long term trip. With this rugged hands-on experience, lead test editor Briana Valorosi compiled her findings in a buying advice article to help others choose the best possible hiking pants.
Valorosi's lengthy article begins by describing different types of technical pants for hiking. There are standard long pants with no convertible options, which are best for cool environments or high alpine conditions where the temperatures are low and the sun is intense. The lack of convertible features makes these pants lighter in weight, but limits their functionality. Then there are roll-up pants, which have a way of securing the pant cuffs at ¾ height. These models are best for those that may be spending time near water or who like a little added ventilation. Lastly, there are zip-off pants that convert into shorts. Many convertible pants can both zip-off and roll-up, but some pairs only do one or the other. Fully convertible pants are best for those on a long term trip or who want to limit the weight they carry by having multi-function gear.
Next Valorosi describes how to select the best fit in a pair of technical pants. She explains that they should be comfortable and flexible without restricting movement. A higher rise waist is desirable for backpackers, because it adds a layer of padding and protection between the pack and the lower back. Valorosi also brings up the point that having some method for adjusting the fit around the waist is preferable, especially if someone intends to wear her pants for multiple days in a row. Pants can stretch out over several days of wear, and over the course of a long term hike, a woman's weight can fluctuate. Pants with included drawstrings or attached webbing belts are ideal for compensating for this change in fit.
Lastly, Valorosi describes some additional features of hiking pants such as sun and water protection. Many pairs of pants for outdoors enthusiasts come with some type of UPF sun rating. She describes how clothing with this rating offers additional protection from UV rays than regular clothing without a rating. All clothing offers some protection from sun, but clothes with a specified protection factor will protect from the sun far more than clothes without.
In addition to this helpful buying guide, Valorosi has written a comprehensive review comparing all eight tested pairs of hiking pants and announcing the winners, which were the highest scorers in her tests. The full review can be found on OutdoorGearLab's website in addition to individual reviews of each specific test model.
OutdoorGearLab, LLC is based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and is a free resource that encourages consumers to make informed purchasing decisions about outdoor equipment. The site, www.outdoorgearlab.com, produces detailed comparison reviews of outdoor apparel and equipment, including complimentary buying advice guides for each category. The review team performs head-to-head tests of gear in real world settings, and publishes their findings in comprehensive essays, complete with photos. Select products are scored across a range of weighted metrics, ranked against one another, and awards are given to the highest scoring models. Readers can then find the most suitable product without investing too much time in personal research. These reviews will aid anyone interested in activities such as backpacking, hiking, climbing, yoga, mountaineering, running, swimming, and cycling.
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Buying Guide for Best Women's Hiking Pants Issued by OutdoorGearLab
July 02, 2014 at 11:46 AM EDT
