Description of The North Face Free Thinker Pant - Men's:
Ideal for 100+ day skiers and heli-ski guides, The North Face Men's Free Thinker Pant uses the burliest Gore-Tex Pro Shell fabric available and a unique polymer infusion method to reinforce high wear areas. The Pro Shell uses a woven backing to cut weight and improve durability, and The North Face uses a polymer infusion technique to reinforce areas around zippers and pockets—the areas that receive the most abuse. This creates an incredibly durable pant that is still lightweight and flexible. This drop seat, waterproof breathable pant's detachable high back and suspenders keep the snow out on powder days, while The North Face's chimney venting system keeps air flowing through the pant while hiking. A RECCO reflector built into the Free Thinker pant may help ski patrol find you in an in-bounds avalanche.
Bottom Line: Designed by over-caffeinated engineers for hardcore mountain athletes.
For deep powder days this has turned out to be a really good pair of pants. The suspenders fit really well and these things are bombproof. The suspenders are detachable which is also a nice feature. Sizing seems to be dead on. Wish they came in more colors.
In crapy coastal wet skiing conditions these pants worked great!Very tough pants,I would consider wearing them for construction work in inclement weather conditions.To nice a pant to get dirty though!
I would only use them on short hikes and ski tours because they tend to overheat.
Unless you were hiking in extremely cold conditions!
They fit a little tight if you have a hockey butt,or bubbble butt when you get into a squat position!
Found a pretty bad flaw skiing in these with high winds. The vent zips are poorly protected and when I had wind from behind I could feel the wind right through the vent zipper (it's one long continuous zipper across your rear). Unacceptable... my cheap hyvent north face pants don't have this flaw and I won't accept it from $400 pants.
