Patagonia Women's Simple Guide Pants

The best go-anywhere, do pretty much anything softshell pants — totally dependable and sturdy.

I bought these initially for a mountaineering trip to NZ and they have proved to be the most valuable part of my autumn/winter wardrobe. Suited to almost any cool/cold climate activity, they have skied, snow-shoed, climbed, cycled, and kept me warm and cosy through howling gales and miles and miles of backcountry travel.

A totally bombproof and very comfortable pair of pants — and even after all their travels they still look new!

Made of a soft, yet sturdy, material these are minimalist pants that can pretty be taken anywhere in the cooler/cold months.

True to size, I'm generally a size 4US (UK10) for pants with long legs (34in) — these are perfect. They are a long slim fit, but because of their simplicity there are no spots that rub or sag.

They're pretty weather resistant and breathable—standing up well to any endurance activity in the snow or cold and reasonably good in rain. Obviously in serious downpours you need some waterproofs over the top, but they are slim enough to fit comfortably under these. Saying that, I have often not bothered and kept going as they dry pretty quickly as it is.

They have two good-sized zippered hip pockets and a flat pocket on the thigh. The elasticated waistband has a with drawstring and it fits comfortably under a harness. 

If you're only going to buy one pair of winter soft shells — go for these. They're bombproof, can't be beaten, and of course they're ethically made by Patagonia.