Backside Line
The Patagonia Quandary Pants are versatile, sturdy, and designed for journey. Constructed with a light-weight nylon mix made from recycled fishing nets, the Quandary continues Patagonia’s dedication to sustainability and environmental care. With options like zippered pockets and loops to roll up the pant cuffs, the Quandary is a superb backcountry possibility and considered one of our finest mountaineering pants.
With its articulated knees, gusseted crotch, and nylon/spandex materials, the Quandary is versatile and agile for hikes, bike rides, and scrambles. The waistband contains a curved design for a safe, tailor-made match, with a zipper fly and metal-button closure. 5 pockets—together with two entrance, two again, and a zippered thigh pocket—present ample storage for necessities.
Though the Quandary lacks the pliability of different pants we examined, we love the numerous options discovered on it that make it extra backcountry-ready. That is one other pant that blurs the traces between city and path with a barely heavier emphasis on the path. The Quandary is a superb pant for anybody searching for a sustainably made and high-quality possibility for his or her subsequent journey.
How We Examined
We examined the Quandary on Alaskan trails, hikes, and peaks throughout the span of a number of months. Each pair of pants we take a look at has been out in quite a lot of climate, and we’re certain to take every pair out for as many miles on path as attainable throughout that point.
Fast Specs
Males’s Patagonia Quandary
Snug, Light-weight Mountain climbing Pants with a Easy Pocket Design
CleverHiker Ranking:
77/100
Value:
$100
Weight:
10.9 oz.
Match:
Relaxed/straight-leg
Material:
94% nylon (recycled), 6% spandex
Professionals
- Easy however sensible pocket design
- Snug common match
- Light-weight
- Stretchy draw twine makes waist adjustable
Cons
- Not tremendous stretchy like different pants
Consolation & Mobility
We used the Quandary primarily for day hikes on Alaska’s mountainous trails. Gear analyst Miles Knotek discovered that it offered good mobility however to not the extent he’d need for lengthy journeys within the backcountry. Even with a gusseted crotch, he typically felt restricted in massive steps and wide-stanced actions. The ninety-six % nylon and 4 % spandex materials offers reasonable stretch however not fairly as a lot as others we examined.
The Quandary undoubtedly is a slim-fitting pant, which is most noticeable by the waist and thighs. For those who’re somebody with beefier quads, then these pants will not be the pair for you. We appreciated the pant’s slim look, however this restricted our motion greater than we favored.
Breathability
Mesh-lined pockets and the choice to roll up and safe the hems are two options that assist enhance the breathability of the Quandary. The power to roll up the legs is one we love. Moreover, the fabric used for the pants is noticeably thinner than others examined which lent itself to extra breathability than anticipated. Though we by no means felt over-sweaty or clammy whereas sporting these pants, they weren’t as breathable as others we examined. Finest fitted to actions the place you don’t anticipate sweating closely, the Quandary affords reasonable breathability.
Climate Resistance
Handled with a PFC-free DWR coating, the Quandary affords sufficient climate resistance to assist block gentle rains. We famous some beading of sunshine rain – even some moisture rolling down our pant legs. Nonetheless, this climate resistance is rapidly overwhelmed by something greater than a mist. These pants rapidly soaked by in a heavy rain, however because of their fast drying skills, additionally they dried out quick. This makes them nice for shifting out and in of sunshine moisture with the power to dry out between rain showers.
Sturdiness
Taking these pants to the mountaineering path, to the climbing fitness center, and round city, now we have skilled no shortcomings of their sturdiness and construct high quality. Nonetheless, on account of their skinny materials, we wouldn’t use these pants for actions like work or outside mountain climbing the place they’d be topic to extra abrasions. They felt skinny after we handed by brush and twigs, leaving our legs feeling whipped. The skinny cloth, whereas fast drying and breathable, doesn’t make the Quandary a heavy-duty possibility for our hikes.
Options
The Quandary comes geared up with 5 pockets: two entrance, two rear, and one vertical thigh. This enables for some versatility in the place to retailer gadgets. Plus, one rear pocket and the thigh pocket is zippered. The largest downside to those pockets is that they’re very small. The thigh pocket barely matches a cellphone, and the hand pockets are tight and restrictive with a pockets and keys in them. Although they’re not capable of carry a whole lot of cargo, these pockets hold the pants glossy and trim. We additionally love the roll-up twine and button fastener on every pant leg to roll up the cuffs when crossing streams or when it will get sizzling.
Ought to You Purchase the Patagonia Quandary Pant?
The Patagonia Quandary is constructed with Patagonia’s dedication to sustainability with nylon constructed with recycled fishing nets to cut back ocean plastic air pollution. This makes it an amazing pant for anybody who needs their clothes to have much less of a destructive impression on the setting. The Quandary matches slimmer our bodies finest and is nice for anybody searching for a backcountry-ready pant with in-town model. It could lack the breathability of different pants examined, however its skinny materials dries rapidly and is nice for shifting out and in of precipitation. We love the roll-up twine and button fastener on the decrease legs to customise the look and air flow of the pants, and 5 pockets hold your gadgets safe. The Quandary is a flexible pair of pants that might be proper at residence in your subsequent journey.
What Different Mountain climbing Pants Ought to You Think about?
Take a look at our full gear information for the lineup of finest mountaineering pants.
REI Trailmade Assessment – Equally designed with a drawstring on the within of the waist, the Trailmade has lots of the similar options because the Quandary however at a cheaper price.
Mammut Runbold Assessment – If the Quandary left you wanting extra flexibility, the Runbold is considered one of our greatest backcountry-ready pants with distinctive flexibility.
KUHL Deceptr Assessment – With a versatile waistband, the Deceptr has a better diploma of flexibility than the Quandary however nonetheless maintains a trim search for trail-to-town versatility.
