What X-Bionic Say

 

DEVELOPED WITH THE HIGHEST TRAVEL DEMANDS IN MIND. Outdoor means to blaze your own trail, wade through rivers, climb mountains and survive in jungles. The unique, abrasion-resistant Trilith Pants is the perfect partner in every situation and on every terrain.

 

What My Outdoors say

 

I haven’t tried to survive in a jungle, although I have been ankle deep in a stream (not on purpose) and I have definitely climbed a few mountains in them. There has been a couple mountain bike trips and some outdoor and indoor climbing.

 

So the techy bits: on several locations in the pants there is what at first glance look like stretch panels. I suppose they are. The thin panels on the outside of the knee provide the articulated knee to move easier, if you look closely at the panels on the leg you can see how the panels are attached together to allow it. Their ease of movement was particularly evident when I was using them climbing. They vent pretty well too. The stretch panel in the crotch area works on the same principle. Both panels do suffer from a bit a wind penetration but that’s a trade-off for the dexterity.

 

 

There is what looks like just a stretch panel at the rear below the waistband. In X-Bionic style there is much more to it than that. The panel is used to vent and absorb perspiration from that particularly susceptible area. The way the material bunches up pockets the moisture, in SweatTraps®, then wind will take it away. The idea being that it will keep you cool during activity and prevent damp material causing friction and sores. There is more on the technology here. In practice, it all works or should I say I haven’t noticed at any point that it didn’t work, which is the main thing. The panel does take a bit of getting used to as when you bend over or crouch down it feels as though all you may be exposing a builders bum to the world. However, it is the stretch panel expanding giving the sensation.

 

 

The knee panels are interesting, the best way I can describe them is a corrugated insert on to the inside of the knee. It’s a bit like a low profile knee pad, the reason is for kneeling down outside to prevent cold transfer. X-Bionic call them ISO-PAD™, in their other garments they use them on specific areas for insulation depending on their requirements. The pads on the Trilith’s are big enough to provide the protection from cold transfer and neat enough that they go unnoticed in the long term, you notice them a bit at first. They are quite a good defence on the climbing wall for banged knees when technique is poor!

 

 

Towards the ankle they get quite neat, they are slim fitted down there, more than I am used to whilst walking. The ankle zip does allows you to open them up a bit to allow them to drop over a boot. What I did find the slim fit was good for was mountain biking as they didn’t catch on the front chainrings.

 

 

The hand pockets are both zipped as well as the rear butt pocket. The leg pocket has a pop stud closure. All the pockets are a reasonable size and work well.

 

 

The Trilith Summer Pants are well thought out and equal the technology that their running tops contain. The material stretches well on all the activities I have used them for and I’ve never found them uncomfortable, it doesn’t take long to get used to the features I mention above. There are also Winter and Mountaineering Pants in the same range. It is top quality gear and for that you will have to pay a premium but I would urge you to give them a try.