The North Face Apex Randonee Pant
January 27, 2008
This is one of the best of the outdoor pants I’ve tried (forgive me as I struggle with the semantic differences between “these pants are” and “this pant is”). Lightweight, stretchy, breathable, thin and somehow incredibly warm, this pant goes from a mid-winter hike to a apres-climb pizza and beer with ease, comfort, and style (once you take your gaiters off, that is). I have worn this pant with thermal tights underneath in single digit temperatures and have yet to be even a little cold. Well placed and large pockets with sealed zippers add utility to an already outstanding product. 10 out of 10 for performance.
The pant is obviously tailored for women. Nice trim waist with roomy hip and thigh cut, a cut that will be welcomed by athletic women with muscular legs. I ended up with a size larger than my regular size, simply because it’s the last pair that was available, and they fit nicely with lots of room for insulating under-layers. I find that The North Face pants are sized a little small so I’m not surprised that I’m happy with one size up. I mean, if I wear a size small on top, I should wear a small on bottom, too, no? Wait, never mind; I just answered my own question. I could do with a slightly lower rise, but a higher waist also equals more coverage and therefore less snow down the back in the event of a fall or slide into deep powder, so that is just a style quibble. The cut of the legs is – dare I say it? – even fashionable, and I don’t feel like a complete tool walking around town in these pants, high-ish waist or no (I just wear a fleece over, and no one can see the waist of the pants anyway).
This is a great product for moderate winter conditions, and a solid mid-layer for colder days.
