Mammut Nordwand Pants

These are wonderfully designed/detailed pants that don't come cheap for a good reason!

I bought them since there are very few short inseam pants available with suspenders, but they are not quite perfect for my use in area/side-country skiing. However, they would probably be perfect for more aerobic, cold-weather activites (i.e., mountaineering, ice climbing, nordic/BC skiing) due to their light construction, trim fit and minimal pockets (two hand warmers only).

After about 15 days use....

Pro's - very waterproof (GT Pro!), trim but not constraining fit due to the stretchy material (I have very short legs and baggy pants look silly on me IMO), huge/burly kevlar scuff patches and hems, adjustable/elastic waist, high back with suspenders keep snow out (without the need for a constraining bib design).

Con's - the material is very thin and transmits the cold outer temperatures straight through them (even with an additional base layer vs. my previous pants they feel cold when I am on a chair lift), the material may not be as burly as it seems - they tore straight through on the 2nd day of use though I didn't see what I caught the pants on, and a thigh pocket or two would be nice.

Fit - I am 5'5" with a 30" waist, large thighs and a short 28" inseam. I bought a 32"/Short which leaves enough room for a base layer or two but still fits trimly, though they would be a bit constraining if the material didn't also stretch (they are definitely not a relaxed/baggy fit). The generous and elasticized waist leaves room to give while mashing moguls. However, the inseam is 31" (vs. the 29.5" listed in the sizing chart) which is closer to most other brand's regular inseam pants and is too long for me (there's too much materal bunched up at the bottom).

FYI - Some might not like the lack of full side-zips, but they work well for me (I don't use full side zips and un-zipping them up from above the knee provides more convenient ventilation).

Size: I am 6ft 5/8in and initially bought these pants in the same size as I buy blue jeans (34 waist and regular inseam). The inseam was exactly as long as the manufacturer claimed, but after trying them on and moving a bit around I found the pants to bee too short for its use and therefore exchanged them for the ones with long inseam. Now they fit perfectly.

Material: other than most gear with Gore-Tex 3-layer laminate, the material used for these pants stretches (compare with Arcteryx, Marmot, ..., to my best knowledge they all use Gore-Tex 3-layer that does not stretch, except Norrona which uses also stretch material). This stretching of the fabric makes the pants very comfortable to wear and to move around in them - in my opinion a huge plus.

Construction: Quality and construction are top-notch and much attention has been paid to details, as it can be expected for pants from Mammut. However, people that are looking for pants that can be put on and off with boots and probably crampons on should look for different pants. These Mammut pants have a drop seat, meaning that you can open the rear side of the pants down to just about the knees, but not further.

Look: there are hardly any pants from a different Brand that can compete with these Mammut pants when it comes to the look. Many other brands (in particular American and Canadian brands) prefer dull colors, which in my eyes looks often quite boring.

Price: Yes, these pants come with a very hight price tag. You pay for what you get: quality, style, durability and attention to detail. Comparable pants from other major manufacturers are however as expensive, and, most often, do not stretch and do not look nearly as good as these Mammut pants.

I was looking to replace some 12 year old Arcteryx bib pants for all around mountain activities (climbing, telemark, mountaineering). These pants have very nice details such as the cinch at the waist and the lower leg, high instep protection, simple low profile waist closure. The cut seems high enough to not get in the way of a harness and some stretch is really good, not often seen with this material.
My one concern was that not having a full zip would make these impossible to get on/off with boots on but I think they are light enough/breathable/enough vents to just put them on to start with and never take them off, even on days with a long sweaty approach.
Very comfy suspenders that seem to stay in place. Quality appears to be outstanding, lets see how they hold up long term ?

The fit is awesome. I am rather slim but i can imagine this pant fitting a wide range of people well. Take into consideration the velcro tabs on the lower leg that allow for anything from a tight fitting leg to looser for ski boot and a pant that comes in short regular and long hem and you cant go wrong.