Meet the reviewer
Montane Women's Terra Stretch Lite Trousers: first impressions
For some reason, hiking pants don’t inspire a flutter of excitement in the same way other items of outdoor kit do. Yet when I got the opportunity to test the Montane Women's Terra Stretch Lite Trousers – on the dusty, limestone trails of the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan – I had some specific requirements in mind. Would the trousers be the right length (tick), would the trousers have a means of adjustment at the top (tick), would they be okay temperature-wise if the thermostat reached over 30°C / 86°F (tick)?
• List price: £95 (UK) / $125 (US)
• Weight: 300g / 10.6oz
• Materials: 88% Nylon, 12% Elastane
• Size: UK size 6-16; Short leg: 29in; Regular leg: 31in
• Colors: Overland / Eclipse Blue / Black
• Compatibility: Trekking, Walking
Packing for exploration in a mountainous environment meant passing through lowlands with people, often in rural remote communities not used to western visitors, so I was also conscious of dressing modestly, covering my hair in areas with other people in the vicinity, making sure not to expose my shoulders or chest, and having a top that covered my bottom. I found the Montane Terra Stretch Lite trousers one of the most worn pieces in my wardrobe on this trip, simply because they could be worn outdoors but were also casual enough to be worn in the city.
Montane Women's Terra Stretch Lite Trousers: on the trail
The Montane Terra Stretch Lite trousers were worn over a three-week trip in the Fann Mountains and Pamirs in Central Asia. I wore them in harsh, sunny conditions, where there was strong UV light, and also wore them while trekking over mountain passes with fluctuations in temperature and camping in remote backcountry. Often the main challenge faced was wearing them on back-to-back activity days where we weren’t guaranteed running water, instead resorting to using water from streams and rivers. I liked the construction of the trousers, which seemed well made, and the addition of the belt made sure there wasn’t too much strain on the button alone. I would have liked to have seen a slightly thicker reinforcement panel near the bottom of the trousers, though, so they could also be worn for climbing / mountaineering.
I particularly liked the fact you could remove the belt, which had a smart metal buckle and webbing loop that was very lightweight. However, it would have been good to see this incorporated into the trousers more, as it was quite easy for this to detach and get lost – so maybe slightly stronger belt loops are needed.
Another benefit to the Montane Terra Stretch Lite trousers is the use of the PFC-free DWR – a durable water repellent coating that makes these trousers showerproof – though I’d still opt to wear a pair of waterproof trousers if it was really bucketing it down. In Tajikistan, we were fortunate to have stable mountain weather and this coating kept my legs dry when it looked like there was a chance of moisture.
Two features I felt needed improvement were the lack of roomy pockets and the thickness of the fabric on the back. There were two mesh-lined pockets, which were good for ventilation but not for storing anything practical, like a map or a smartphone. I would have liked to have seen a pocket across the front leg to store a phone for easy access. I’d also suggest that there needs to be a slightly thicker material across the seat of the trousers, as this material seemed quite thin at times and I had to think about practical undergarments that wouldn’t cling to the trouser material.
I did like the way the trousers moved, though, meaning it was comfortable to walk on all terrain regardless of how high the steps were – they were super-flexible and easy to wear hiking trousers that could withstand the changeable mountain weather.
