Blog

Used extensively by Cairngorm Treks throughout Autumn and Winter 2017/18 within the Cairngorm National Park, Skye, and surrounding areas

The Montane Limantour Pants promise to be lightweight, versatile and robust. On first inspection this certainly seems likely, as the subtle stretch to the fabric immediately suggests that flexibility during use will not be an issue. They feel light but by no means delicate – a very promising start. We received a black pair, a colour that you can’t really go wrong with, but if you prefer more colour there are also blue and green options that nicely highlight the reinforced knees and seat with varying colour. These colour choices are also refreshing when often presented with purples and pinks that seem to be used widely across many women’s ranges.

When put on, the waist is high and comfortable with a good, wide waistband. The fit is good and there is minimal excess material flapping around and getting in the way. Adjusting the ankle baffles means that there is a nice snug fit above the boot, and this also stops any snags while preventing material from peeking out when waterproof trousers are also required. There are five pockets – three of which have zippers. The two zipper pockets on the thighs are particularly well located and allow easy and quick access with good visibility of contents.

When out trekking, the Limantour Pants remained comfortable throughout with no chaffing or tight spots. Their robustness and flexibility became apparent when doing some mild scrambling – granite was no match for the nylon stretch double weave panels that reinforce the knees and seat area and there was no restriction in regard to movement. At this point it was easy to see why these pants are considered to be so versatile in regard to outdoor activities.

The Limantour Pants are very dry and breathable, and moisture was wicked away quickly during more strenuous climbs. Even in light showers they repelled a good amount of water, enough to forego adding waterproof trousers for short amounts of time. This is particularly handy on warmer days when the constant to-ing and fro-ing of adding and removing layers can become gruelling. If waterproof trousers are required during more sustained downpours, then again, their breathability means that clamminess is kept to a minimum. Despite all of this, if the pants do at any point become wet, then they dry extremely quickly – this is a great feature particularly for multi-day trekking when the last thing you want are damp garments that will also dampen your spirit.

Our Verdict

The Montane Limantour Pants are a great all-round pant, suitable for multiple activities where flexibility and robustness are required. Their ability to deal with moisture is extremely welcoming, and while they are not overly warm, the fact that they dry quickly means that they are a great addition to a three-season kit.