Patagonia Altvia Alpine Pants
The best alpine-ready pants of 2021.
Photo: courtesy
Long days in the mountains call for pants that are durable, but not too heavy or bulky. These softshell trousers were just right for an autumn weekend of class 4 scrambling on Kebler Pass in Colorado. They were thick enough to stave off wind and temps down to 30°F, but thanks to 14 percent spandex content the Altvia didn’t hinder us while we high-stepped. A slim cut keeps excess fabric out of the way, and the poly/nylon/spandex fabric is made for squeezing between rocks. An adjustable waistband doesn’t rub under a pack.
m’s 28-40, w’s 0-18