My "I miss Colorado!" pants!
Written: Sep 03 '04 (Updated Sep 03 '04)
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Pros: Convenient storage, well-made, waterproof, adjustable waist, boot gaiters, durable, and cute.
Cons: Snap broke off, label keeps coming off, a little pricey
The Bottom Line: These pants look great, wear well, and will last for years.
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| twenty3skidoo's Full Review: Roxy Snowboarding Pant Womens |
After my freshman year of college, I decided I could use a break. So I told my parents I was taking some time off from school (you can imagine how thrilled they were) and loaded up my car and drove off to Colorado to seek my fortune. But however unwise (but fun) this decision was, the decision I made in the shopping mall in Denver to buy these pants was equally wise (and equally fun!)
While I had been on many ski trips before, I had always borrowed clothes from my friends, so on my way out to the slopes, where I ended up spending two ski seasons, I stopped in Denver to outfit myself. I tried on innumerable pairs of pants there, but the best pairs were definitely at Zumiez, a trendy shop there in the mall. (http://www.zumiez.com/)
There I encountered a selection of snowboard gear like I had never before seen... it was amazing. But the pants that by far stood out in fit, fashion, and flexibility were these Roxy Snowboarding Pants for Women.
1. Basic Information:
The pair I have is a pale cream color that has matched 4 different jackets I have owned flawlessly. The material is waterproof, but soft. They are polyester on the outside with polyester and nylon mesh lining.
2. A Perfect Fit:
At the waist they have several features that allow for an accurate fit, even if you gain or lose a few pounds, or just shed or add a few layers of clothing on the slopes. There are two snaps and a zipper at the waist, with belt loops and one-hand waist adjusters that are so easy to use that even mittens won't stop you from getting your ideal fit. There is a little plastic sliding adjuster that when pressed loosens the pants. If you pull the elastic string that is attached to the adjuster, the pants become tighter.
They are also longer than many of the pants I tried on. In most pants I wear a 32-34" inseam, and these pants are long enough to break at the top of my snowboarding boots.
They are also cut fairly loosely in the legs. Their cut allows for optimum range of motion without making you look like a saggy-bottomed bum!
3. Storage, storage:
The pockets on these pants offer plenty of safe storage for your belongings. The front top two, which are located in the same traditional spot as most blue jean pockets, zip closed to ensure that even if you fall, your stuff won't. They are 9 inches deep so that you have plenty of space in there. In addition, they are located between the shell of the pants and the inner liner, so that they are not rubbing against your skin to bug you. There are also two 6-inch deep pockets on the rear that offer velcro flap closures.
One of my favorite things about the storage offered in these pants is the cargo pockets on the side of them, just above the knees. There is one on each side, and they snap shut. They are also 6 inches deep. I would not recommend placing anything too heavy or valuable in there. Because these pockets are located on an area of the pants where the cut is looser, heavy items tend to bang against your legs as you ride, which is annoying. Valuables, especially small valuables, are more likely to escape in a fall in these snap-shut pouches than they are from the zippered pouches at the top.
However, these side pockets are the perfect size to hold trail maps, and the snaps pull open easily to provide quick access, even with mittens on. In addition, due to the location being lower down on the leg, you don't have to do too much shifting and reaching if you want to look at your trail map on a lift!
4. Versatility:
These pants have served me well in a wide variety of conditions. On an early season or spring season trip, you can wear them with no additional layers and be quite comfortable. There is a VERY light fleece lining in the rear to keep your tail end from getting too cold on the snow, even without an extra layer, but extended sitting times, such as when you are just learning or teaching someone, I would not recommend without an extra layer under these pants, even in warm weather. I thought I would die when I was teaching my sister to ride over spring break last year! I kept having to flip over on my knees to wait on her.
These pants are also cut loosely enough to be ideal for very cold weather, though. With a legging and a fleece or sweat pant on underneath, I have worn these pants in temperatures so cold I don't even want to think about it. (Night boarding in February... brrr.)
5. Extras!
These pants offer internal powder skirts for your boots. The material of the powder skirts is a pale blue Hawaiian print, and they are lined at the bottom with gripping elastic that keeps all snow from possibly getting into your boots or onto your long johns. In addition, there is a snap-on loop that you can hook to your boots to prevent your pants from riding up on your boots. However, I lost one of these loops a couple of years ago, and I have still not had any problems.
One thing about the boot gaiters, though, they could be a little wider. I did have a pair of Ride snowboard boots that the skirts fit over fine, but I got new boots this year. They are Airwalk Jill boots, and I have to work really really hard to fit them down over the tops of them, so make sure to try these on WITH YOUR BOOTS before you buy, or they may not fit and you will be disappointed.
6. Lasting Power:
These pants have lasted remarkably well. I lived, worked, and rode in Colorado for two ski seasons. It has been 3 years since my last season there, and I have worn these pants an average of of two ski trips per year. During spring season especially, they get filthy when I ride, but they have always washed completely clean, even with no pre-treating or color-safe bleach. Last season one of the two snaps on the Right hand pocket broke off, but it still stays shut well enough to keep a trail map in place.
There are several Roxy logos on these pants, if you are concerned about that sort of thing. One on every snap (6 total), four on little silver accent buttons on the front pockets, One 1 by 1 1/2 inch logo on the right front pocket,one on the left cargo pocket, one on the right rear pocket, and a Roxy waist tab near the snaps at the top. I have had trouble with the largest one on the right front pocket coming unsewn, but I have sewn it back on myself numerous times, and it is still there.
Overall, these have been great pants. Other than the snap on the side, they look as good as the day that I bought them, and I intend to wear them for years to come. Their timeless design and neutral color have allowed me to pair them with 4 ski coats of various different colors, and I always match. They are comfortable, versatile, and cute, and not too expensive compared to similar-quality pants. If you are looking for attractive pants that will last for years, these pants will serve you well... They make me miss the mountain just to look at them!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 90.00
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Epinions.com ID:
twenty3skidoo
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Member: Kori Daniel
Location: Fayetteville, AR, US
Reviews written: 75
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." -H.D. Thoreau
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