I really have had a hard time finding a better, more versatile backcountry ski pant. Fabrics are mapped out well, thigh vents are huge and double zippered so you can open them even with a harness on. Inner gaiter for those are fans, and if not, zip them out and lighten the pant! Fabric does great in the elements, all but the wettest storm days keep me dry and nice.

My only two gripes are that the pockets are a little small for stuffing lots of things in - personally I like bigger cargo style pockets, and second the lower pant leg is a little tight to get over ski boots.

I've been using these things for a while now, mainly for alpine climbing, and they're amazing! They move extremely well. They are well proportioned in every different are of the pants...ie. side zips, gaitors. OR really thought out the ventilation of these pants with the thigh zips that work extremely well. I read before I purchased them that the pockets were too small but I thought of the alternative of having large pockets and trying to find things with cold fingers or thin gloves on and felt that having smaller pockets was much better than not being able to find anything. The one thing you might look at, depending on your waist, is to pick up some suspenders from OR. My waist was a bit too small for large's but I needed the length so suspenders are working out really well! By far my most used and favorite pants in the collection!

Riddle me this Batman: what can't these pants do? They are totally windproof, thanks to the Gore Windstopper lining, they are highly water resistant (see: waterproof minus seam taping), they have a nice stretch fit, they are warm, and they're great for picking up gear girls. The built in gaiter (zips out if you don't want it) is awesome for skiing/snowboarding, and the side vents are absolutely invaluable.

I took these babies out skiing and they were awesome. I could have used another layer of insulation underneath (it was -27 Celsius), but they cut the wind beautifully. They also came ice climbing with me in early January. Again, needed more insulation underneath (it was -34 Celsius) but they stood up to the ice and snow. I put a couple holes in them with my crampons, but they are easily patched. Alternatively OR offers the most comprehensive warranty in the business and they could fix/repair the pants for free.

I'll have to agree with Evan Stevens' review that the pockets are a little small. I also found the fit to be a touch on the small side. I'm a 32" waist and the medium was almost too small. My roommate is a 33-34" waist and had to get a large.

That being said these are easily my favorite winter pants for skiing/ice climbing/looking hardcore at the grocery store. I would recommend them to everyone.

I took these out during storms in California to walk the dog for a good 45 minutes to an hour. During all that wind and torrential rain, the pants held up really well. I was warm and dry before the seams near the crotch and knees started leaking about 35 minutes in. They're water-resistant, not water proof so I wasn't really upset.

I expected a little bit better, but was pretty pleased with how it held up given the weather. In drizzle and snowy conditions I think these pants would hold up great.

Love the removable gaiters and the water tight zips. All in all, a great soft shell pants that can be your do everything pair.