Gear Review - Rail Riders Eco Mesh Pants

August 30th, 2008 Wade

When doing an outdoor gear review there are certain main qualities that I always look for.

1. Durability - Is it in the”Tough as Hell” range?
2. Functionality - Does it do what it is supposed to?
3. Aesthetics - Will it make me look like a total goofball?

These pants did well in all three categories.  They are tough as hell, they function well (breath), and they look decent. I took these on the gear testing trip to the Bighorn mountains of Wyoming a few weeks ago and put them to a two-day high altitude test. The zippers slide down the legs to reveal a mesh panel and didn’t get stuck with all the zipping and unzipping I did to control body temperature. There is elastic around the waste to adjust to different waste sizes, but there are also belt loops and a built in belt if you like that stylio.

I put these pants through the usual backpacking muck. They stretched well when pulling big steps on uphills. The pants also did well for abrasion. I did some scrambling on granite and they held up well with no visible signs of wear. They even kept me at a comfortable temperature when the air temp was around 35 degrees. When it comes to sun, they are 30+ spf, so you don’t have to worry about sun exposure even though they breathe well.

I do wish the bottom cuffs were adjustable, that might make them perfect. But if you’re looking for durable all-purpose pants, these fit the bill. I did some scrambling on rocks with no visible wear. I would recommend these for adventure racing, backpacking, and general camping duty.

The retail is $69 on these, but you can find them cheaper if you shop around.

Entry Filed under: Adventure Racing, Adventure Travel, Backpacking, Camping, Fishing, Gear, Review