Alpen Outdoors Women’s Ridge Pants Review: The Most Versatile, No-Compromise Outdoor Pants

literally, every When I left the house wearing these pants, I received compliments. The flattery and the never-ending questions, “What are those pants?” So let’s start here. This is the Ridge Pant made by Alpen Outdoors, thanks to Montana founder Merritt Geary. She set out to create the ultimate pants that “help women get from mountain tops to rivers and everything in between.” It fits beautifully and doesn’t compromise on performance. In fact, the tagline or selling point of her pants is “fit above all.”

After nearly a year of testing, I have nothing but praise for these great women’s pants, especially when used for hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing. So far, in every use, these pants have shined.

in short: Based on everything Alpen boasted about the Ridge pants, I was expecting thick, durable, Fjallraven or Carhartt-like material. no. Alpen Ridge pants are seemingly thin and stretchy, yet durable. wonderful For layering fabrics. I was skeptical at first, so I pushed myself to the limit with my tests. Scraping on sandy granite, belaying and climbing all day in a harness, backpacking through dense pine forests, lots of high steps and squats, hiking narrow singletrack, and even CFI Sometimes he spent eight hours a day doing trail work: splitting logs, grading trails, and hauling rocks.

Even in rough terrain, dense forests, and rocky areas, ridge pants ($149) was maintained. The fit is great, you can easily fit the pants over a base layer, and the pockets are great.

Alpen Outdoors Ridge Pants Review

At GearJunkie, we’re always very hesitant to say we’re all about one piece of gear, or in this case, apparel.Having said that, it is also hopefully evident in our research review that we all follow that pace StrictlyIt’s cool when the gears move stand out from others. After years of testing, I’ve found the near-perfect winning gear for me. (Here is an example for your reference.)

But I’m not sure I can say this about apparel until Alpine’s ridge pants come out. These are near perfect for me and will accomplish all of my outdoor pursuits as pants. As claimed, the fabric and fit are the main reasons.

Ridge Pants: Materials and Construction

First, let’s take a look at the fabric of the pants. Ridge pants come in two different types. The base fabric is a 4-way stretch nylon made for movement. The second fabric is a reinforced double-layer nylon that surrounds the rear seats, knees, and pockets, providing additional protection throughout.

“The main fabric is woven to stretch without losing its shape and provide breathability to the wearer, while the other fabric supports you in any activity,” says Alpen. ” he said.

The second big advantage of these pants is their stretch.In this pants So Excellent stretchability built into the fabric. Easy to stretch to wear over base layers in cold weather, stretch to perform heel hooks while climbing, or easily stretch to help bend your legs and hips more easily while hiking. Masu.

The overall fit of the pants is important, but if we’re talking about adjustability and inclusion for the user, some amount of stretch (aka spandex or elastane) is probably more important. The pants retain their light water resistance while also allowing for two-way stretch.

These pants offer a great balance of weight, stretch, durability, and comfort.

Ankle cord adjustment

Other than the fabric and pockets, I also have to mention one more feature added to these pants. It’s an ankle cord switch. This is a simple but underrated feature, and not all pants have it.

Being able to tighten your ankles is useful for many activities, especially activities such as climbing. It’s also a good idea to tighten your chosen socks/footwear when hiking, especially in sandy or dusty areas. Ankle cinch protects from sand, mud, wind and cold.

pocket etc.

These pants have six pockets: two in the front, two in the back, and two drop-in thigh pockets. They are all very deep and can carry almost anything. I’ve used it to hide pocket knives, lip balm, snack bars, gloves, sunglasses, phones, hats, and more.

The pockets have the same stretch as the entire pant fabric and are reinforced to withstand weight, stretch, and frequent use. More importantly, an advantage that can only be determined by testing, is that it is deep enough to prevent very small items (hair ties, stuff sacks, etc.) from falling out.

However, one zippered pocket (or option For the zippered pocket pant version). I know this is a must-have for climbers, many guides, and some outdoor enthusiasts in general. It’s even rarer to find zippered pockets on women’s pants or shorts (my current favorites are the She’s Gnara Go There pants).

The final verdict on Ridge Pants: Who is it for?

These pants are for go-getters, fast-paced hikers, climbers, rock-hopping enthusiasts, and alpine hikers. This item is perfect for trail moms, with plenty of pockets to carry all your gear. This is a pant for strong-willed avid thru-hikers, backcountry athletes, and women who want the peace of mind that their pants can stand up to anything they throw at them on the trail. Recommended for people who don’t need 10 minutes to get ready in the morning.

No compromises. These pants are for the outdoors woman who can go anywhere, is always on the go, is always on the move, and isn’t afraid to get dirty.

conclusion

Overall, I had a great time testing these Alpen pants outdoors. After my first few backpacking trips and day trips on obscure trails and afternoon hikes around town, I ended up backpacking on every trip I’ve ever taken.

Are they perfect for everyone, for anything, in any weather? That’s a tall order, but it’s about the same. If there’s a downside to the pants, it’s that, like any small brand just starting out, they come in limited colors and sizes (current pant sizes 2-12). Since the pants arrived in the mail, he has undergone many vigorous tests, but he has only been testing them for 4 months.

I’m impressed with the durability so far, but I can’t speak to future performance. As with all the best pants on the market, Praana Hale and Outdoor Research Ferossi, I’m looking at you, but by the time I reach my unquestionable verdict that these are actually less than It takes years and ideally multiple testers. The most amazing pants.

Hopefully we can get there. Until then, you’ll probably see me and my ridgepants hitting many more trails, eagerly pursuing beautiful views, challenging miles, and exhilarating peaks. All this is accomplished with pants that feel good, look good, and don’t sacrifice anything. As for performance.