Price:
$149
Our Rating:
I used the Terra Pants (size medium, 340g) practically every day for the past five months on my daily morning walk and on several tramps, including a tough three days on Stewart Island’s Southern Circuit. They received just three washings in that time.
Made from a tight weave Tactel nylon, the pants offer some wind and rain resistance. Rain beads and rolls off the surface – at least to start with and for the most part they offer good protection against biting winds.
The nylon is so soft to touch you wouldn’t know it was a nylon fabric. With hard wearing cordura ripstop reinforcements on the knees, ankles and backside, the pant has the impression it is built to last. I slid down hills and thrashed through some pretty serious undergrowth on several occasions which left little in the way of lasting wear and tear.
During my long test period I found the pants were suitable for a range of conditions. In summer I opened the mesh-lined side vents and zipped open the lower leg to help keep cool and in the autumn months, by closing these vents and zips, I kept the warmth in. A stud at the ankle can be buttoned closed to ensure the trousers don’t flap when this part is zipped open. Montane does a heavier winter pant, but for most trips, including heading above the snowline with a pair of waterproof overtrousers, I think the Terra pants would be fine.
I wore a size medium and found this comfortable and tight enough to wear without using the belt. The elasticated waistband snugly accommodated my gut without feeling too tight and the trousers never felt like slipping down even with the weight of a pack pressing on them.
The pockets are well positioned, though a hipbelt does make accessing them difficult when wearing a multi-day-sized pack.
After each wash, the pants looked as good as new. The dirt and muck that collects around the ankles washed completely away without trace.
If you’re looking for a pair of durable, lightweight tramping trousers, you could do a lot worse than these. I highly recommend them.