Description of Outdoor Research Mentor Pant - Men's:
Outdoor Research created the Men's Mentor Ski Pants to give you total weather protection in the nastiest storms you'll ever encounter in the mountains. Waterproof breathable Gore-Tex Pro fabric and fully taped seams fight off snow without a second thought, so you can push through the storm and get back to camp without a forced bivy. Outdoor Research gives you full-length size zippers for easy ventilation on backcountry tours and to allow easy layering under the Mentor Ski Pants. Removable suspenders keep these versatile pants from dropping when you drop in.
Bottom Line: Battle through the weather in the Outdoor Research Mentor Ski Pants no matter how bad the weather gets.
An exceptional technical pant for skiing, mountaineering and all backcountry activities that is set apart by its trim, athletic cut. No bags, sags or bulges here. It fits true to size but unlike the display photo and description, it is a mid-level bib with suspenders that can be detached in front but not removed. On a recent wet snow outing it proved to be completely weather proof and very breathable. The well tailored cuff and its drawstring eliminate the need for an external gaiter under most circumstances. Minor issues: the fly needs zipper pulls and the stretch back panel does not fit smoothly against your back.
I almost bought Arc'teryx in fact I tried both on at backcountry's retail store..... I liked these better. They fit great, harness fit perfect around them and they're water tight! There's plenty of venting but the gators work great! I use a pair of external gators when I'm in crampons just in case but these are really the best. They're lite but very durable! Probably one of the best things I've added to my arsenal!
LIGHT, BUT BEASTLY. Bottom Line: Add this to your mountain arsenal.
Goretex Pro is incredible - Shucks water like oil. Even literally sitting on water, wet snow, etc. I never once got wet. The detachable internal gaiters are a genius innovation, not seen by many (if any???) other brands. The mid-level bib is a perfect compromise between pants and full bibs. The lighter fabric on the back does not compress completely against your back, however this is a purely aesthetic gripe as I noticed absolutely no excess fabric while wearing a pack. Full-length zips allow venting to your liking. As far as color, the gray is darker than the picture shows and looks fine.
