MOST DURABLE PANT
- Mountain Khakis Men’s Original
Tra i l P a n t
Hikers are taught to avoid cotton like the plague. But
when it comes to pa nts, we’l l ta ke t his toug h 75 percent
cotton/25 percent nylon blend over pure synthetics
almost any day. The material is the best fabric for comfort
and durability, and the Trail Pant proved resilient over
six months of hiking, scrambling, and canyoneering.
Our tester lauded the reinforced four-way stretch knee
and seat panels after chimneying his way through slot
canyons in Escalante. The Trail Pant’s chino-like style
goes anywhere, and its zippered thigh pockets fit all but
the largest smartphones. Tradeoff: DWR handles light
rain, but this pant takes a while to dry if it gets truly wet.
$100; 14.4 oz. (32 x 30); m’s 30-44, 30-36 inseam;
mountainkhakis.com
BEST WARM TOP
- Duckworth Polaris Crew
From a distance, the Polaris looks like any other mid-
weight baselayer, but closer inspection of its 80 percent
merino/20 percent poly fabric reveals its secret sauce.
It’s covered with raised squares of material, much like
you would find in a f leece; each little interior cell creates
a pocket of a ir t hat ’s wa rmed by your body. They ’re a lso
more absorbent because of their additional surface area,
so combined with wool’s natural wicking powers, this
shirt felt drier and warmer than others we tested, even
when we were sweating. $120; 7.4 oz; m’s S-XXL, w’s
S-XL; duckworthco.com
BEST BOXERS
- Smartwool Merino Sport 150 Briefs
Merino is a premium fabric, so we have no problem advo-
cating for its use in this premium location. We found the
superfine, 19.3-micron merino/polyester blend itch-free,
and it hasn’t pilled after months of testing and washing.
“High marks for odor resistance,” one tester says. “It was
the only pair I wore on multiple weekends of camping in
Colorado’s Front Range, and I never offended my tent-
mate. Yes, I asked.”$30; 2 oz.; m’s S-XXL; smartwool.com
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