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Published Dec 16, 2022 12:48 PM
Sure, these fleece-lined denims and wool baselayers may need saved you heat in the course of the early shoulder season, however as quickly as sub-freezing temps hit you’re going to want you had a extra critical layer. That means puffer pants. That’s proper, the identical down that retains your higher physique heat can be utilized in your decrease half as effectively. To discover the very best puffer pants, we took down-filled fashions from Mountain Hardwear, Rab, Stone Glacier, Montbell, Goosefeet Gear, and KUIU out into the sphere to place them to the check.
How I Tested Puffer Pants
Puffer pants had been examined in quite a few environments, together with by members of the Outdoor Life crew throughout a December deer hunt in Missouri. We wore the puffer pants on mile-long scouting treks on public land, on the gun vary throughout goal apply, and whereas sitting in deer stands in each late afternoon and early morning hours, when temperatures dipped effectively beneath freezing. Puffer pants had been evaluated on their consolation, match, heat, and general performance.
In addition, I additionally thought-about how the fill energy and fill weight of every pair of puffer pants balanced heat with layerability, in addition to different options, comparable to closure mechanisms and facet zippers. Finally, I seemed on the packed dimension and weight of every pair.
What to Consider Before Buying Puffer Pants
Insulation
The two most important varieties of insulation are down (sourced from geese, or much less generally, geese) and artificial. Each has their very own professionals and cons.
Down is definitely the higher insulator and offers extra heat for weight than simply about every other materials utilized in out of doors gear. If you take a look at a down feather, you’ll see that it’s made up of innumerable wisps linked to a brief shaft. The lack of construction to those feathers creates small air pockets, which entice warmth out of your physique and insulate it from the chilly outdoors air. Down-feather high quality is measured by fill energy (fp), or how a lot down it takes to fill one cubic inch of area. For occasion, one ounce of 550fp down will fill about 9 liters, whereas one ounce of 900fp will fill nearly 15 liters. The Achilles heel of down feathers has all the time been moisture. When down will get moist, the pockets of air disappear, eliminating nearly all of its insulating properties. In latest years, producers have began utilizing down feathers handled with a waterproof coating, typically known as DownTek, however there are a number of totally different names. While the water resistant coating offers some safety, a soaking-wet down coat is not going to present wherever close to the identical insulation as a dry one. With down merchandise, it’s additionally price checking whether or not the product is RDS (Responsible Down Standard) licensed, which helps be certain that no geese or geese had been unnecessarily harmed (comparable to reside plucking).
The sleeping baggage of slumber events are a superb instance of artificial fill. High-end artificial fill mimics the qualities of down through the use of quick filaments to create pockets that entice physique warmth. Further, artificial fill retains warmth whereas moist with out the necessity for extra remedy. The highest high quality artificial fills can method the insulation-to-weight ratio of 550fp down, however these synthetics additionally method the price of decrease high quality down. Due to the decrease warmth-to-weight-or-size ratio, we didn’t take a look at any artificial puffer pants on this check.
While the fill energy measurement is one consideration when on the lookout for the warmest (or lightest) puffer pants, one other is the burden of the fill. The extra fill you’ve got, usually the hotter a pair will likely be. Although, if you’re layering your puffers below a tight-fitting shell layer, it may possibly cut back the variety of heat air pockets in comparison with if it was unimpeded.
Shell Material
Down and synthetics are usually encased by nylon of various thicknesses, which is measured in denier (D). Most puffer pants use materials between 10D and 30D.
Closure Mechanisms
There was a stunning quantity of variation in how the puffer pants match on the waist, from a regular zip and button closure, to nothing greater than an elastic waist or drawstring closure, to facet zips with velcro tabs. Which one is best for you will rely in your wants. If all you care about is the warmth-to-weight ratio, go along with the elastic waist or drawstring closure, whereas if you happen to want your puffers to be simple to take off within the area, select a mannequin that means that you can zip alongside the edges to scale back the necessity to take off the greatest climbing boots within the area.
Why It Made the Cut
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer had the very best combine of heat, weight, and options of something I checked out.
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s S-XXL; ladies’s XS-XL
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
- Fill Power: 800fp
- Fill Weight: Unavailable
- Shell Material: 15D ripstop nylon
Pros
- Different inseam measurements obtainable
- Only puffer pants in my check with pockets
- Lightweight
- Can be taken on and off with out eradicating sneakers
Cons
- Expensive
- Not as heat as different puffer pants in my check
Product Description
The corollary to the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer—one of many greatest puffer jackets round—is that this pair of deceptively easy puffer pants. While at first look, they seemed like nothing greater than a pair of puffy tubes, this one excels within the particulars. With an elastic waist and a snap-button and zip closure, this one pulls on extra like a typical pair of pants than others I checked out. The Ghost Whisperer was additionally the one pair to incorporate pockets—helpful if you’re pulling it on instantly over your different clothes because the night temps drop. Zips on the cuff that run midway up the calf enable you to drag it on over (some) boots with out having to take them off.
Like the jacket it will get its title from, this isn’t an exceptionally heat pair of puffer pants—it’s a center of the street puffer, greatest suited to summer time alpine or early shoulder season actions until you intend to put on it solely whereas climbing or run particularly heat. What it’s, nonetheless, is light-weight—solely a few ounces greater than my greatest ultralight decide, the Montbell Light Down Pants, which has far fewer options.
Why It Made the Cut
The Montbell Light Down Pants do lots to maintain your legs heat in shoulder season temps whereas disappearing into your pack because the day warms up.
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s S-XXL; ladies’s S-XL
- Weight: 7.1 ounces
- Fill Power: 850fp
- Fill Weight: 3 ounces
- Shell materials: 10D ripstop nylon
Pros
- Lightweight however sturdy
- Small packed dimension
- Slim profile layers effectively below shell pants
Cons
- Run small
- Not heat sufficient for winter circumstances
Product Description
At 7.1 ounces, the Montbell Light Down Pants are the right match for early-season backpackers and alpine adventurers. I’ve carried earlier variations of the Montbell Light Down Pants in every single place from the High Sierras to the North Cascades and by no means as soon as regretted the additional weight in my pack. The three ounces of 800 fill energy down is sufficient to hold you heat in 30-degree temps within the night (or 20-degree temps if you happen to’re on the go), whereas nonetheless compressing right down to in regards to the dimension of a pair of socks in your bag when not in use.
While I checked out a pair of the most recent mannequin of the Montbell Light Down Pants for this story, I’ve a pair in my gear closet that I’ve had for near a decade—it’s picked up precisely one tiny rip in that point, testifying to those puffers’ general sturdiness.
Why It Made the Cut
The low fill weight paired with the facet zips and bolstered sections of the pants marks the Kuiu Super Down Ultra Pant the perfect selection if you’re on-the-go
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s M-XXXL
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Fill Power: 850fp
- Fill Weight: 1.7 ounces
- Shell Material: 12D ripstop
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to tackle and off
- Reinforced on the seat, knees, and cuffs
- Built-in stuff pocket
Cons
- Not sufficient insulation for excessive temperatures, or for sitting nonetheless
- Expensive
Product Description
The drawback with the very best puffer pants is that typically they work slightly too effectively—if you happen to’re constantly taking off your puffer pants three minutes into climbing, it could be time to change to one thing with rather less fill.
The Kuiu Super Down Ultra Pant hits the candy spot of efficiency: higher heat for weight than you’d get out of even the greatest base layers for searching (and extra packable than fleece) however not a lot heat that you simply’ll be soaking the down with sweat ten minutes into an uphill climb. It had the bottom fill content material of any puffer I checked out (1.7 ounces for an 8-ounce pair), making it acceptable for both early shoulder season circumstances or thirty-degree temps when you find yourself on the transfer. While at first look it seems like facet zips imply you can placed on or pull off these puffers with out having to take off your sneakers, they solely unzip from the highest to the underside—you’ll should unzip these into two separate items to take them off within the area with out eradicating your sneakers.
While most individuals select to put on their puffer pants below different layers of clothes, the KUIU Super Down ULTRA Pant incorporates a thicker 30D nylon on the cuff, knee, and seat for added sturdiness within the occasion you make this your outer layer.
Why It Made the Cut
The capability to customise in your actual dimension and temperature scores makes the Goosefeet Gear Down Pants an incredible choice for individuals who know precisely what they want.
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Just about any you possibly can dream of
- Weight: depends upon your chosen specs
- Fill Power: 850fp
- Fill Weight: Customizable
- Shell Material: 8D or 20D
Pros
- Comfortable
- Ability to customise nearly all the pieces
- Comparatively cheap
Cons
- Simple drawstring closure versus the elastic band of different fashions
- Five-week lead time
Product Description
The extra time you spend outdoor, the extra attuned you get to your actual wants. For a pair of puffer pants, you may need a way of the precise width and inseam, the precise temperature ranking, the options you need, and those you don’t. (This goes double for backpack hunters and backpackers.) So if you happen to’ve been scouring this listing for a pair of puffer pants that match what’s in your thoughts’s eye, then you possibly can cease scrolling right here.
While the Goosefeet Gear crew despatched me a pair of puffer pants to check out—Assistant Editor Ashley Thess took them out into the sphere and was impressed by how sturdy and comfy the 20D nylon was, in addition to how heat they had been for the burden. However, this configuration isn’t what I might design if I had been planning a backpacking journey. For that, I might select a 20D shell with an 8D liner to avoid wasting on weight. Next, I might add a pair of 18-inch zips on the facet of every leg (Other choices embrace: 24-inch, 30-inch, 36-inch, full-size zips, or full two-way zips, just like the Stone Glacier Grumman).
Then you possibly can select your 850 down fill energy weight from 2.5 ounces (early alpine mornings) as much as 8.5 ounces (expedition weight). Next, choose your waist, hips, inseam (between 20” and 38”), thigh circumference, and calf circumference.
This degree of customization just isn’t for everybody, however for critical, weight-conscious adventurers, it’s a should.
Why It Made the Cut
The Rab Argon Down Pants saved me lots toasty whereas sitting in a deer blind in beneath freezing temps.
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s XS-XXL
- Weight: 13.2 ounces
- Fill Power: 800fp
- Fill Weight: 13.2 ounces
- Shell Material: Pertex
Pros
- Seriously heat
- Comparatively inexpensive
Cons
- Difficult to layer beneath shell layers
- Need to take away sneakers to take off
Product Description
When searching plans referred to as for getting up effectively earlier than daybreak to take a seat in a deer blind in 28-degree climate, there was no query which puffer I used to be going to check: the Rab Argon Down Pants. At 800fp, it didn’t have the very best fill energy of the puffers I checked out, however what it lacked in high quality, it made up for in sheer amount. With 5.6 ounces of down packed into its 13.2 ounces, the Rab Argon Down Pants had a little bit of the normal “sausage” look that the puffers of yore had been identified for. And I used to be glad of it. With nothing greater than a base layer beneath these puffer pants, my legs had been truthfully hotter than my double-base-layer, down-layer, shell-layer-clad torso.
While the Rab Argon aren’t precisely UL, they’re extraordinarily light-weight for his or her efficiency. The draw back of that’s that these lacked a few of the performance of different puffers, just like the Stone Glacier Grumman. The solely on-off-mechanism is a zipper, snap-button, and belt on the waist, making it tough to each average your temperature or take away the pants with out first taking off your sneakers. Snag a pair of those if you happen to plan to be primarily stationary or if you happen to count on unusually chilly temperatures.
Why It Made the Cut
The considerably heavy Stone Glacier Grumman incorporates heat and on-the-go performance.
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s S-XXL
- Weight: 16 ounces
- Fill Power: 800fp
- Fill Weight: 4.2 ounces
- Shell Material: 15D Pertex
Pros
- Warm sufficient for late shoulder season circumstances
- Side zips imply you possibly can take off the Grummans with out eradicating your sneakers
Cons
- Heaviest puffer pant I checked out
Product Description
If you spend sufficient time outside, you ultimately get used to all of the outfit modifications. You begin the day, frost on the bottom, air steaming with breath, sporting mainly all the pieces you’ve got with you: base layers, midlayers, insulation layers—perhaps even a shell layer. As the solar rises within the sky, you begin to peel off the layers till you’re right down to your base layer, all the pieces else dumped into your pack. This will get fairly previous after some time, particularly if it’s a must to take off your sneakers every time you need to shed a layer.
While different puffer pants I checked out integrated some facet zip factor, the Stone Glacier Grumman took it one step additional: Two zips on either side meant that I might pull down the zips on the high so far as I wished to simply pull the puffer pants up, whereas zips on the cuffs made it simple to drag the pants on over my sneakers. (In truth, it was really easy that once I did lastly begin overheating at deer camp, I used to be capable of simply discreetly pull them off proper the place I used to be sitting). Even higher, the Grumman stayed heat even once I wasn’t doing something extra bodily exerting than sitting completely nonetheless in a deer blind, offering loads of warmth for this cold-blooded author throughout low-40 temps.
Final Thoughts
After testing six pairs of the very best puffer pants in quite a few environments, together with a December Missouri deer hunt and in a single day snowshoe journey, the Outdoor Life gear crew was capable of establish quite a few glorious choices for various out of doors eventualities. Anyone trying to hold the burden down of their pack ought to decide up a pair of both the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer or the ultralight Montbell Light Down Pants. Conversely, people going through the coldest circumstances (or who simply run chilly) ought to snag a pair of both the Rab Argon or Stone Glacier Grumman or customise a pair from Goosefeet Gear to satisfy their wants.