I've used these pants pretty regularly for skate skiing over the past two winters. They are an excellent pant and provide wind protection in all the right places, namely the front, along the thighs. This is the area where you'll end up receiving the most wind during a fast ski and you'll stay warm and comfortable. Along the sides there is a stretchy, highly breathable fabric the allows for freedom of movement and keeps you cool. There are nice little pockets that provide room for some goo or some light gloves. I've also run in these pants and find that they dont perform as well for running as they do for nordic skiing as they are a little tight in the thighs. Overall these are awesome pants and I may buy another pair once this pair goes belly up.

I purchased these pants and promptly returned them after a thorough design inspection. First off, these are pretty baggy throughout the legs and might be better suited for casual wear rather than true technical functionality. The cuff system on the legs is overbuilt and a little too much. I do like the pockets on these pants but that's about it. The leg vents could use some mesh to prevent snow from entering when zips are open.

One of the biggest downfalls is the adjustable velcro system on the inside of the waistband. Firstly, Patagonia might have included suspenders on these rather than the velcro system which is insecure and unpredictable. The worst thing about the velcro is how scratchy it is once your pack pushes it around and forces it to scratch your skin.

These pants might be well suited for someone who anticipates waist size fluctuations on the order of 2-6 inches (very possible during the holidays). Also, if you were just riding lifts and not needing much freedom of movement, these might be the pants for you.