In the short time I have worn these , they stand apart, fit and function excellent. In the first two days of wear over 21kms of mixed terrain (including a 4hr ascent over rock and ice) these came into their own. I would recommend these absolutely.

I first became aware of these pants when a guide was using them during a mountaineering class. I later was in the market for soft shell pants and I hunted them down - I'm really glad that I did. These pants are great: lightweight, breathe well, repel water well and dry quickly. The pockets are well placed and useful, and the snap closures at the ankle are useful when trying to keep a snug fit between the pants and a boot. While doing some cross country hiking in Ecuador I snagged the pants on a barbed wire fence, and was thankful to find that a tiny hole was poked in the pant rather than a long tear being created. Perhaps the single biggest perk to me was the color: the taupe color lets you wear these in the bright sun without the heat buildup that can happen with black pants. Plus, dirt doesn't show up as much on the taupe pants - a definite bonus when you are going to be out for a while. The European sizing means that you should be able to find a size that is perfect for you; for pants I find this sizing much better than the S/M/L that many American manufacturers offer. The only thing preventing me from giving these pants a 5 star rating is that some of the stitching near one of the pockets started coming out. Mammut was great about repairing them and they are now as good as new, but I still prefer for something in this price range to not require repairs after only two weeks worth of wear.