Great stretch and comfort with a lot of protection. Only downside for me was that I'm 6'3" and have a 34 waist but the pants just weren't long enough to give full protection in snowy conditions, so I opted for the 36 inch waist pants, so I have to wear a belt which adds weight to the pack if I'm not wearing the pants. Most people probably aren't going to have that problem so great pant all the way around.

This is my second pair of Guide Pants from Patagonia. I had one in the '90s that I outgrew. These are even nicer. Excellent stretch, very comfortable, with a snug fit. Haven't used them for anything stressful yet, but I just know that they will hold up and look great. Very nicely designed.

I used my new Guide Pants on a climb up Lone Pine Peak in the Sierra Nevada. It was early in the season and we had a snow storm hit us while we were climbing the mountain. The climbing got a bit tricky and my knees took a beating that they normally would not have. I can say for sure that the Guide Pants are tougher than skin. They were also warm enough even with no under layer and very comfortable.

So even though these pants were expensive, I think they were worth the money.