RailRiders

They're a little pricey and I was able to pick up two (different) pairs on sale. I like them; they are quite tough, well built and have taken moderate hiking, scrambling/bouldering abuse. Sizing seemed a little long for me, so I had to return one pair...just make sure they fit well and give'em a good work out.

ROCK6
 
Yeah the price has definitely prolonged my purchase decision, but I seem to burn through a couple pair of Gander convertibles every year so I'm going to give them a try for this canoe season and see how they hold up.

Thanks for the advise and info., much appreciated.
Helle
 
I had a pair of double seated, double kneed pants and they held up well, unfortunately, I increased in girth and the price is a bit much to replace them.
 
Knees and butt outlast most other pants I've ever tried, and yet they are very light weight. Still not as comfortable as old fashioned BDUs though.
 
You should buy them! They are by far my favorite pants for the woods. Very comfortable and very tough. I even wore them grouse hunting and they are in the same condition as before. My only complaint is the rear pockets are deep and when I keep my wallet there it bounces against the top of my leg. You'll probably want to replace the belt they come with for a good leather belt.
 
Too expensive. Look into Wranglers "Riggs" workwear BDU style ripstop pants. About $35 and rugged. Look for them at any work clothing store or on line at Gempler's.
 
Crap! $95 is a butt load of cash! You could buy a few pairs of BDUs for that! I thought the 5.11 pants were high.
 
I just got a pair of their Winter Weatherpants - on sale. Gotta be nuts to pay full price. Or maybe not: these pants are great. I'm a fat little bastard and they fit real well, with a comfortable low rise, too, not up around my chest. Also, they now offer more and more styles in 30" inseam.

The Weatherpants have 2 front and 2 zipped back pockets, none of the mall ninja cargo pockets, so they are really low-key. I replaced their wienie web belt with a ring belt.

Now I'm afraid I'm hooked. They've been sending me catalogs and I like the look of a few of their shirts, too. But you really have to buy from the website to find what's in stock and what's on sale.
 
I am looking at these as well from the packing weight perspective. Any input on the sizing in relationship to other brands. Are they pretty consistent?
 
I don't know about consistent but mine are on the snug side rather than loose. (They fit perfectly, not baggy.) They also have elastic at both sides of the waistband, so there's no binding there.
 
Thanks Esav. I am right in between on pant sizing. Some pants I wear a 34, others 35, and still others a 36" when I want to carry an inside the waistband holster. On the Railriders site someone that wore 36" waist pant said that mediums were perfect, hence the confusion. I was looking at buying several different pairs in both actual sizes and the large. The only ones on sale on the website were the winter weights at $20 off, Since I would want to wear a layer of polypros with them the larger size on the winterweight makes sense.
 
The reason I lean heavy to the nylon pants is for all the in and out of the canoe while portaging on my trips.

I bought a Kevlar canoe in 03 and can't run her into the portage mouths like a good old aluminum or Rolex, which for me means I'm usually unloading and loading the canoe in just below the knee and on a couple of occasions waist deep water. I know, wear shorts and I do, but not on portage days. Anyway I've found nylon pants dry faster then anything and have been on the hunt for a bomb proof pair, enter RailRiders, I hope.

I have used and currently own a few pair of BDUs and I like them but again the nylon drys faster and I have awful luck with buttons.

Helle
 
Thanks Esav, good to know, I was looking at the weather pants as well and am more likely to go that route. May sound odd but I'm thinking less pockets could be a feature for me.

Helle
 
Helle, you might also want to check out "zipoffs" - do a search for them at REI and Cabelas and Campmor, sites like those. You will find outdoor pants almost always in lightweight nylon that zip off into shorts. Lots cheaper than RailRiders and the ones I've gotten are pretty good. (Although the ones I like for myself now are cotton.)

Another good point about the RailRiders is that some of them have a long velcro tab at the ankle, so you could pull the leg up and velcro it snug at the knee for those shallow landings.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Helle, you might also want to check out "zipoffs" - do a search for them at REI and Cabelas and Campmor, sites like those. You will find outdoor pants almost always in lightweight nylon that zip off into shorts. Lots cheaper than RailRiders and the ones I've gotten are pretty good. (Although the ones I like for myself now are cotton.)

Another good point about the RailRiders is that some of them have a long velcro tab at the ankle, so you could pull the leg up and velcro it snug at the knee for those shallow landings.
Click to expand...

These are what I've been using, the zipoffs, I've been calling them convertibles.:) I like them, I just keep wearing out the knees leaving me with a pair of shorts.

That's a nifty ideal with the RRs, I hadn't thought of pulling them up and cinching them off with the Velcro tap, good ideal.
I also like that feature for keeping ticks out.:thumbup:

Thanks
Helle
 
The RailRiders also have another neat trick. They use a tougher material for the doubled seat and knees, which they also use to line the waistband and the cuffs (under the velcroed area) which prevents wear at those points, too.

I rely on the zipoffs when I'm out walking a lot, since they let me remove the right lower leg to get to my prosthetic foot to snug it up. Hiking in the woods or over rough ground generally will see it loosen up a bit otherwise.
 
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