Pull on the Spyder Men's Venom Chute Pant and gear up for extreme lines and deep powder. You'll stay dry as you tackle steep lines and gnarly chutes thanks to the 20K-rated waterproof breathable fabric and fully-taped seams. The Spyder Chute Pants' inner cuffs defend against snow, while the zippered thigh vents open up for serious ventilation after laps in the back bowls. The key holder clasp keeps car keys safe and the Spyder ski pants' hem zippers make it easy to adjust your boots. Layer long underwear under the Chute Pants on chilly winter days.
Bottom Line: Take on any line, in any weather, with the Spyder Men's Venom Chute Pants.
I do not recommend Spyder's top of the line freeride pant to any serious freerider for numerous reasons.
The material used on the bottom of the inner pant leg is actually less tear resistant than the material for the rest of the pant. Consequently after only 2 days of skiing tiny slits have formed on the pant. These tiny slits fill the bottom pant leg with snow and exasperate the problem further. At this price point why are there not Kevlar or at least Cordura patches in these locations?
The seam in one of the upper pockets has also blown out causing me to lose my credit card. The same thing appears to be happening on the other pocket. All other seams on the pant appear to be ok.
The cut of the pants and inseam length are ok. I'm 6' and 165lbs. The waist could be and inch smaller but I am on the skinny side. The integrated belt does the trick however the plastic buckle can be difficult to release sometimes. The vents on the inside legs are not big enough. The pants really are too warm for any considerable hike due to the lining.
With numerous holes on the bottom inner legs, hole(s) in pocket and a waterproofness that doesn't come close to Gore-Tex in longevity I'll let you make the decision. If you consider yourself a serious skier DO NOT waste your money on these pants. Trust me, you will be disappointed.
I purchased my Spyder Chute pants as a Christmas present to myself, looking forward to some serious skiing come the new year. Over 2-weeks of skiing (Jan / Feb 2008) I was relatively happy with the performance of my pants. They were warm enough on the glacier, and the vents worked a treat on those warm Spring-style bluebird days.
Unfortunately, as noted by the previous reviewer, the lower leg scuff guards are just not durable. Within my first 2 days on-mountain I had several inch long slits from contact with my skis. Considering that my previous ($50) pair of ski pants lasted several full seasons (ie 70+ days on snow) with only wear on the knees to show for it, I was disappointed to say the least. After 12-days skiing both left and right scuff guards had multiple cut from ski contact. The scuff guard material unfortunately seems to be brittle and more prone to damage than the regular material. In addition, the cuts went through all layers to the boot, had a tendency to hold water and freeze - definitely not good for the pants.
Overall I like my Spyder Chute pants (good comfortable fit, warm but with ventilation), but they just don't have the durability that I'd expect from a premium technical manufacturer like Spyder.
Zippers are glove-friendly to operate. Pockets are fleece lined. Ventilation is in groin/thigh area - just where you need it. Thickness of pant is just right. Zipper on bottom of pant to cover boot accordingly. Waterprooof/windproof. Warm on cold days/light enough on spring days. Enjoy.
