Patagonia Altvia Alpine Pants
The best alpine-ready pants of 2021.
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