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What are the Switch Pants?
Whether in Scotland or the Himalayas, the Switch Pants are quick-drying, windproof, fleece-insulated trousers designed for mountaineering and climbing in cold weather. You can wear them as a lightweight outer layer for dry conditions and shoulder seasons, or as a warm, protective midlayer underneath waterproof trousers when the heavens open.
What are they made of?
Face fabric: The outer face material is made with lightweight, 20D RS Nylon that is completely windproof. It features an FC-free DWR (durable water repellent) to provide light water resistance and a light mechanical stretch to enhance freedom of movement when climbing or using equipment such as axes and poles.
Lining: These trousers are lined with a warm, lightly insulative yet breathable Octayarn Warp-Knit fleece that offers premium comfort for long, hard mountain days. This fleece is made from a combination of recycled and non-recycled polyester to reduce its environmental impact and feels incredibly warm and soft on the skin. It's highly breathable, keeping sweat build-up at bay, and low bulk to ensure movement is left unhindered for steep, technical ascents.
The hem of each leg also features a snow-shedding lining that prevents snow and ice from building up around the bottom, ideal for those tackling tough, wintry conditions and freezing temperatures.
Materials used to create products in the Switch range are Fair Wear approved. Fair Wear is a non-profit organisation that promotes fair labour conditions for factory workers worldwide. It works directly with M.E factories to ensure ethical conditions for employees and keeps track of the progress these factories are making to maintain Fair Wear standards.
What are its features?
A low-volume waistband and drawcord allow you to optimise the fit while reducing bulk around the mid-section for improved mobility. The fly is fastened with a subtle zip, making it easy to answer nature's call when needed.
The Switch Pants come in an 'Active Fit', which sits trimmer around the legs, minimising excess material and volume to help prevent the trousers from snagging on jagged rock and allowing you to slip a waterproof layer over the top. They have a gusseted crotch that allows for extra stretch and mobility in vital areas, relieving seams from stress to help prevent any embarrassing trouser-splitting accidents!
Two hand pockets and a zipped thigh pocket are ideal for storing small essentials like trail snacks, a GPS device, a mobile phone or gloves. For travelling, you can pack the trousers into one of the hand pockets, which has twin carabiner loops for hooking it onto a backpack, kit bag or even belt loops if you want to keep a spare, insulative layer close to hand.
Features:
- Lightweight 20D RS Nylon outer fabric is wind resistant, with mechanical stretch and FC-free DWR
- Octayarn Warp-knit lining for exceptional insulation, breathability and comfort
- Active fit with gusseted crotch
- Low volume waistband with draw cord closure
- Fly zip
- Two hand pockets
- Zipped thigh pocket
- Snow shedding hem lining
- Packs into pocket with twin karabiner carry loops