Arc'teryx Men's Gamma LT Pant

A serious performer that is well worth the money.

I don't climb, but I do hike and backpack, and my preference has always been softshell pants. I was a Marmot guy for a while but after another pair found itself covered with Tenacious Tape (my fault...not Marmot's) I bit the bullet and dropped some bananas on the Gamma LT's after reading countless positive reviews.

I've only had them for about three months but after just getting off a long solo in the Sierra's I'll say these are, by far, the best hiking pants I've ever owned. I'm a 32/33 with thick legs and the M fits like a glove. Great stretch, functional pockets, excellent temp control in both warm and cold weather and they've held off some pretty steady rains.

While I can't speak to the long term durability, the construction makes me believe I'll have them for quite a while. I think I might help them along and buy a pair of gaiters for the winter to avoid spike tears.

Overall I'd say these are a good example of how sometimes you really DO get what you pay for.

I just bought my 5th pair (6th if you count a pair that I gave to my sister as a gift, which she also loves) and it is still great.

I wear them every day, biking, hiking, traveling, and just being comfortable. I love the elastic fit which always looks good. Even my 92-year-old mother admires my pants.

The waterproofing is pretty good when new; on older pairs I spray them if I plan to hike in the rain.

I love these pants because they stretch when you need them to do so but do not appear to be stretch pants. The pockets hold a lot of gear and the zippers can be zipped one-handed. I wish I could afford another pair, they are salty but worth every penny. They also do not pick up dirt easily. I wear them on every outing.

In reply to the previous post; the old (up to 07 I think) Gamma LT was Tweave fabric. The new 08/09 versions use a fabric called Fortius. Both are nylon/spandex blends, but Tweave is the heavier one.

I've used this garment for everything from spring backpacking in Yosemite to summer mountaineering in the Sierras to winter hiking in the desert. Has always kept me at the right temp and the comfort is excellent.

Need input. I noticed the fabric feels different than my first pair. Sales guy says it's exactly the same. Anybody noticed? I want the same as what I bought before...3 years ago at Neptunes. Thanks