Having had Vapour Rise products before, I was excited to try the Torque Vapour-Rise hiking pants, and they lived up to the reputation. A warm yet light feeling and breathable trouser, that held it’s own in winter is a real treat. Unfortunately a size 8 wasn’t available for this test, so I had a size 10 which was slightly loose but did the job, however a size 8 would’ve been a better fit. They’re a mid waist fit, which still lets you tuck layers in and is fairly slimline. The closure is poppers and a double ended fly, although I’m not sure why it needs to be double ended! There’s belt loops and brace loops, although braces don’t come with the item.
Kirsty Pallas Recommends
These are a great technical winter option, and one that I really valued on those chilly days out.- Weight for warmth
- Crampon patches
- Thin mesh pockets
- No way of tightening hem
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £165 Weight: 431g for UK size 10 Materials: Body 95% Polyamide, 5% Elastane; Panels 55% recycled polyester, 45% polyester; Lining 100% polyester Features: Zipped thigh vents, reinforced knee and crampon patches, stretch material Pockets: Two zipped hand pockets, one zipped rear pocket, one zipped thigh pocket Hem: Expandable zip ankle gusset, holes to add a cord underneath a boot Sizes: UK 8 – 16 Mens version: No URL: https://rab.equipment/uk/women-s-vr-summit-pants |
I found the length a little long, but this is the only trouser in the test that doesn’t have some way of tightening it up a bit. While it didn’t affect me when I had boots on, it did feel a bit longer when moving around. There is a zip to expand the hem for ski boots, and reinforced patches in the inner ankle and back of the hem to protect against crampons.
There’s four zipped pockets, all lined with a thin and stretchy mesh. While this saves weight, my concern would be putting a hole in it with something sharp like a set of keys, and then things being lost between the outer and the lining! The pockets are a good size though.
A softshell outer is wind proof and has a Durable Water Repellent coating to shed some weather, and reinforced knee patches to protect from snow and rock. The lining is where the Vapour Rise comes in, with fluffy panels in the areas that usually get coldest, so around the bum and thighs. There’s less insulation in the back of the waistband, behind the knee, and around the lower leg, as they tend to not get quite as cool after working hard. Zipped mesh thigh vents are small but do the job of ventilating on those sweaty uphills.
These are a great technical winter option, and one that I really valued on those chilly days out.
