Outdoor Research bill these as 'trim' fitting, but we beg to differ. Very roomy in the bum and thigh, and only tapering towards the lower leg, the Ferrosi has a casual fit that will not suit everyone. We guess the baggy cut is meant to allow full freedom of movement for climbers, but given the amount of stretch in the fabric OR could easily have got away with a closer, less breeze-catching fit without compromising this at all. No women's version is available. Revised for Spring/Summer '16, our highly successful technical climbing trouser, the Torque Pant, is now even lighter and better than ever before.

The fit is on the slim side throughout, which we prefer for mountain use where excess material is annoying. There's a small diamond at the crotch and a bit of a bend in the cut at the knee, neither being as marked as on some other trousers. The cut combines with the very stretchy fabric to give minimal restriction when climbing. The only limit we've found to throwing our legs up high has been, well, our legs. Three different leg lengths are available, so there ought to be a pair to suit most men. Unfortunately however there's no women's version. One criticism, at least on us, is that the knee panel comes a little too low down on the leg despite the Pateras being a great fit everywhere else. It's annoying to have a seam right across the kneecap. If you prefer the baggy look then you'll hate Torque Pants. These are among the most form-fitting trousers in the review, but with a leg cut at a slight bend, a crotch panel, and the general stretch of the fabric, the feel is not remotely restrictive. There is little excess material to catch the wind or get in the way, and aside from making you feel nice and streamlined this must help shave a few grams off the weight. Down at the ankle the fit is close enough that there's no need for a drawcord or popper to take it in further; a zipped gusset creates enough room to accommodate big mountain boots. The only downside to this is that it does not hold a turnup as readily as a non-gusseted ankle. Sadly there is no women's version of the Torque. Though Mammut say the Courmayeur Advanced Pants are 'regular' fit we actually find them pretty slim, and on us they almost feel like leggings. This doesn't matter, since thanks to the quality of the cut and a fabric with plenty of stretch, leg lift is unrestricted. Around the bum, crotch and thighs there's little excess material to get in the way or catch the breeze; however the lower leg is cut straight rather than tapered, which looks better in photos but does mean a bit of flapping at the bottom unless you're wearing big boots. A popper adjuster at the ankle allows some fine tuning, but it doesn't go quite as tight as some might prefer, given the closeness elsewhere. Fabrics: 86% nylon, 14% spandex 90D stretch woven body, Cordura® 91% nylon, 9% spandex stretch woven side and knee panelsBurly™ double weave—46% nylon, 46% polyester, 8% elastane, 275 g/m². A hard-wearing, durable, stretch woven fabric with a smooth outer face and a soft inner face that is comfortable next to the skin. Fabric: Schoeller stretch fabric with 3XDRY treatment for water repellency and breathability, 120g/m² Though not the tightest in this review the fit is certainly on the close side, making them spot on for the mountains. The tailoring at the knee is really good, and though there's no crotch panel the Valis don't seem to need one. You can get you legs as high as you wish; you could probably do the splits (you're welcome to try).

New for 2016, Váli is a richly-featured versatile softshell mountain pant using water repellent material developed by proven Swiss fabric technologists, Schoeller®. Fabrics: Fortius 1.0™—84% nylon, 16% elastane, 160 g/m². Lightweight, durable, non-insulated, stretchy nylon/spandex blend textile. Fabrics: Matrix DWS™ fabric with lighter weight articulation zones / Matrix SWS™ reinforcement on knee and instep EXOLITE 275 stretch double weave Soft Shell seat and knees. Durable, double-weave stretch Soft Shell fabrics with smooth outer faces to improve abrasion resistance and soft inners to provide all-day next-to-skin comfort.

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The Ascendor AS is an all-round mountain pant, providing durability and protection from wind and weather. Suitable for scaling mixed terrain in all seasons, they have a slim fit and a wide range of movement. They’re great for anyone who's looking for trousers made of durable materials and who enjoy being outdoors no matter the weather. Sometimes, wearing ski or snow trousers is unnecessary because softshell trousers provide enough protection against the cold and snow. In addition, these trousers are more compact and a lot more flexible, which comes in handy whilst climbing in particularly challenging environments. These technical pants are designed with a slim fit to provide greater freedom of movement. A thin baselayer can be worn underneath these pants.