Gear Review: Patagonia Women's Capilene 4 Expedition Weight Bottoms
Leg insulation built for a woman's curves.
[baselayer]
Finally, a pair of seriously insulating tights with serious attention to feminine styling. We love Cap 4’s gridded Polartec Power Dry fabric: a plush interior finish with big air channels means that it’s really warm (the grid traps air when you’re stationary), yet still vents heat and moisture. But the new yoga-pants-style waistband is a step up in terms of comfort, because there’s no narrow elastic. Instead, a soft knit mesh lines a 3-inch wide band of fabric. “It kept the pants in place over my hips, but was so unobtrusive it felt like I was naked,” says our gear editor, who wore them for six straight nights in Tasmania. A Colorado tester raved, “They fit me better than any other baselayer I’ve worn, with no bunching, stretching, or sagging. And the smooth, snag-resistant exterior is easy to layer over.” $79; 4.9 oz.; XS-XL; patagonia.com