Discussion: Pants

I hate pants. I exclusively wear tights for racing and training. But it has been a while since I've looked at alternatives.

What do you guys like?

Women.

In tights?

O9Man, I race exclusively in tights after doing a rogaine several years ago in stretchy softshell pants. I was thinking that I would only be running for a small portion of the 24 hours and the pants would be tougher for bushwhacking. Well, it rained and I got nasty chafing on my legs from the stitching under some of the pockets and zippers. I am now back to tights. I will occasionally put shorts on over them for increased durability but that is rare.

I did my last three rogaines (including E2C) and some long AR treks in these and have found them decent enough.

Lately I'm using the same ATAK pants, the 2/3 version or whatever. Combined with a compression sock. Gives some good movement and protection.

ANY pant you grab. Soak in water and start walking straight up hill. See how long it takes before it grabs over the knees and pulls down allowing a "birds nest" to get built in your underwear. You listening to me product reps? :-)

I did some racing in ATAK pants too and had no problems except that the fit was kind of strange on women. They are more tear-resistant than tights.

Bash did you have the women's fit? I think they just came out with them 1-2 years ago.

No, I bought them before they introduced the women's fit so if a woman was looking now, she should give them a try. The folks at Axis Gear are great people.

The last time I wore pants I had all the same problems. The Ataks look interesting. What is the material like? Any potential for spontaneous combustion on a warm day?

The material doesn't seem too much different than other technical type pants and on warm days can be much cooler than most tights. They are very lightweight, not as heavy/warm as you're probably thinking by the description, I wouldn't do a winter or sub-zero race in them as they woudln't be warm enough.

Any room for tights underneath for the winter?

I wouldn't see the point but possibly. The pants aren't going to provide you with any extra warmth and in the winter the brush isn't nearly as bad so I wouldn't bother with the pants at all, just the tights.

Cool.

Does Axis Gear actually have a walk-in store, or are they all online?

They occasionally will set up a kiosk at some local Ontario races but otherwise I think just online.

Thanks again.

how are they biking? Any chance of getting caught in the gears/chain? Do you tape them up?

I live really close to Axis Gear. They have let me come in and try stuff on before. But no actual store.

I had my local sports-sewing place armour the shins and knees on some tights wtih 1/4" neoprene. Also did some leg warmers that way too, which work well with shorts.

I often commute in thin softshell pants on rainy days though, so much that mine are almost shot.

I think "leg warmers" are out. Maybe you should call them "compression calf sleeves".

Not exactly the Jane Fonda type- I'm talking about the ones that convert bike shorts into long tights and go over your knees.

In the midwestern USA, tights and looser-weave orienteering pants quickly get shredded by thorns, and get so full of burrs that unless you enjoy sitting for hours in front of the telly, plucking burrs into a bin, you might as well plan on throwing away a pair every run or two. It seems like a very tight-weave nylon running pant is the only thing that doesn't get the burrs, and of course those don't breathe well & can get uncomfortably hot.

I've been thinking on using a pair of pants for an upcoming race towards the end of August, part due to the amount of bushwacking we are reported to be doing, but also due to the Poison Ivy that seems to be rather crazy from last year and I think this year will be another bumper crop considering I am already suffering from legs that look like they have Leprosy from the knees down, pants or gaiters are in my future.

I have a pair of these in the shorts and 3/4 shorts for Mtn Biking and they are awesome. Mind you they are a bit odd in the fit. They are both Large and both are about 1" off in waist.

http://www.endurasport.com/Product.aspx?dept_id=11...

D