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Montane for many years now have been one of the ‘go to’ brands we look for when purchasing a pair of technical walking trousers.The Terra pant being a common sight on many an outdoor adventurer throughout the UK. The Terra Mission is Montane’s answer for when the temperatures start to drop, with them describing the Terra Mission as “Technical winter mountaineering pants. The fabric construction delivers high levels of performance, wind and abrasion resistance.”

Winter trousers can often be a hard product to accommodate to an individual as we all have differing levels of what we find ‘warm’, something that always seems harder to match when it come to our legs. To put in perspective, I’m a shorts kind of guy and find my legs rarely get cold, so please base this review on someone on the slightly warmer scale.

The Terra Mission pants came as a bit of a surprise on first appearance. Compared to the usual heavier weight of winter kit the Terra Mission feel light to hold and weigh in at low 544 grams. The Granite Stretch Thermal nylon which makes up much of the Terra Mission doesn’t have the expected bulk of a winter product. The fit, although for us just a tad long in the leg, hits a good mark between not being too tight or too baggy. The 4 way stretch fabric makes for non-restrictive movement creating a natural feel, especially important for travel on steep ground. This is something we had expected from Montane and followed suit from their other products making for a very comfortable wear in a wide range of environments.

There are reinforced Cordura panels around the ankles and knees which offer increased durability. After much use throughout the colder months the Terra Mission Pants are tough piece of kit, with no signs of stitching starting to come away or noticeable scuffs or tears.

We did prefer to wear gaiters or a waterproof shell to add an outer layer when travelling through deeper snow, boggy ground, or in prolonged wet conditions. The Terra Mission are great for knocking away low to moderate windspeeds, and although there has been a DWR finish applied, they don’t hold up well at all against wet weather and will just about get away with a short burst of light rainfall or snow shower. As with all kit in winter once you get it wet its near impossible to dry, so best to keep a waterproof layer quick to hand especially whilst on longer expeditions.

In terms of warmth, as mentioned earlier, we tend to not feel the cold generally in our legs apart from on the coldest of days or when the pace travel lessens. A more common issue is over heating which leads to sweat making for a difficult time in winter conditions. The Terra Mission being a lighter winter grade pant fitted perfectly for us, with the side ventilation offering a good level or airflow for when the workload increased. On the coldest of days worn under a waterproof shell would increase protection, with this combination working perfectly throughout the harsher days this winter.

Two mesh lined hand pockets were large enough to store a small map and compass whilst also increasing ventilation when needed. The security pocket and the thigh pocket we couldn’t find much use for and personally would have preferred a saving of weight in this area.

The waist band has a microfleece finish which is comfortable, and the included belt and dual fastening offers a solid hold. A two-way zipper would have been preferred for when wearing a climbing harness but these are small complaints to what are a great set of pants.

Our Verdict
The Terra Mission pants from Montane are another great addition to their excellent range of outdoor trousers. We would say they better suit those who tend to not feel the cold quite as much and should be considered as a lighter-weight winter trouser. The Granite Stretch Thermal nylon fabric offers protection against moderate windspeeds and light snow showers, but importantly feels very natural to wear with excellent stretch qualities throughout. The Cordura panels along with the high build quality we have come to expect from Montane are hard wearing, which was a great match for the changing environments we experienced throughout the colder months. They can certainly not be regarded as waterproof, so best to have a waterproof shell handy for when the wet weather comes in.

Trek Scotland is a small family business based in the picturesque village of Tomintoul in the North East region of the Cairngorms National Park. They provide bespoke Mountain Guiding for Single Day Walks and Lightweight Multiday Trekking experiences, including wild camping, in the stunning Cairngorms wilderness and surrounding areas. Whether in the high mountains or lower valleys, their Multiday Treks are equipped with high quality, lightweight camping and trekking gear. They only work with small groups and, whatever your ability, pride themselves on designing your outdoor experience completely to your needs and with professional guidance and expertise. Adventure is waiting... Read more from Trek Scotland