I've been paddling a long time, and I had only ever been wearing rain pants. These are the first pair of legit paddling pants I've owned, but I have no doubt that I made the right choice. To start off, I put them through a hard summer of paddling. An extended trip, along with many day trips, and quite a few other rainy day uses. This year I'm working towards paddling 300+ days, and i'm nearing the 100 day mark. So they're pretty well used.
-We'll start with the padded knees.
The extra padding during a long day of touring, not only improves the comfort level, but also helps to keep you a bit warmer. The pads feel like closed cell foam- think the blue foam sleeping pads, but half the thickness.
-Ankle closures.
I usually paddle in rubber boots- Xtra Tuffs. The water up here is pretty cold to have anything short or not completely water proof. These cuffs go over the boots no problem and seal out water when tightened down without restricting movement or circulation. They don't open quite as wide as i would like, but for most paddlers (not wearing rubber boots) this will not be a problem. The cuffs also do a great job around the ankle and with getting stuffed in the boots.
-Waistband.
Woah. Super comfortable. I've got a bit of a gut, and this fits right over it. It sits up higher than normal pants would, but that's the advantage of it. When you sit into the yak, there's no exposed back. The band is super soft, and comfortable. Also, its not restrictive in the least (I've ridden my bike with em on..)
- Pocket.
tiny, but better than most rain pants with out. perfect for a tide book, keys, or something similar. These babies are pretty heavy weight and I am not in the least worried about durability. No problems on post paddle hikes, while setting up camp in the trees, or washing dishes on the rocky beach - again with the knee pads.
I'm a 36" waist and 30-32 inseam and the large is great. Plenty of room in the butt, through the thighs, and down the legs. Not overly long or baggy.
Outstanding pants. Highly recommended.
