Montane Terra Pants

Terra pants are designed to be lightweight, hard wearing, weather resistant, highly breathable trousers suitable for a range of outdoor sports. They may be lightweight, but they carry a hefty price tag.

Not wanting to be dinner for ticks or to get sunburn I walk in the summer wearing trousers these days. It is not as comfortable as wearing shorts, but the "shorts and walking boots" look is not a good look and at least I know I am protected. I was drawn to the Montane Terra Pants because Montane are a British Label. However, like most gear these days, they are made in China. The quality of the stitching is OK, but I have seen better.

The trousers fit well and were comfortable for wearing over extended periods of walking. The sides of the trousers have two zipped vents so if the mercury rises you can vent some of the heat. This works best if there is a bit of a breeze. The lower leg zips are useful for pulling over footwear though, like most people, I put my trousers on before my boots. Then again, if you are hung over or very tired this might be a useful feature. There are zipped pockets and a couple of "secret" pockets for things like keys and money. They come with a belt, but I discarded this as I do need to wear one.

Being lightweight the fabric is not as durable as some though the knees and seat are made from slightly thicker fabric to offer some resistance to wear and tear. I would wear them hiking but wear them climbing in the knowledge that they may not last as long. There again, I’m a big fan of needle and thread and making things last as long as I can where possible—I’m not strolling down the high street in them after all. I would not wear them in winter as they are designed to keep the wearer cool.

In summary, these are a great choice for trekking/hiking/walking in summer conditions. The vents help to keep your legs a little cooler and you’ll have the reassurance of not being bitten and avoiding sunburn. They are not as comfortable as shorts, but worth the sacrifice. You may want to consider a pair of trousers such as the Montane Terra Converts that have zipped lower legs so you can enjoy the best of both worlds. 

Background

Long distance walking on trails in the UK in spring/summer conditions.

Light, very comfortable, and dries very quickly.

Bought these for walking in the lakes, very comfortable and light to wear. When they get wet they dry out very quickly, saves wearing waterproof.

Only paid £56 so value for money. Don't think they would be warm enough in winter unless worn with a baselayer.