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THE LATEST INNOVATION IN OUTDOOR KIT
Montane’s Terra pants are hugely popular walking trousers, but a little lightweight for winter use. But now there are new Terras on the block, which are beefed-up, burly and ready for winter.
You’ll see a lot of Montane’s Terra pants out in the hills. They’re lightweight, breathable, vent-able, quick-drying, and surprisingly robust for such comfortable and unrestrictive trousers. They’re more than adequate for most hiking challenges from spring through to autumn, but come winter they can start to feel a little too lightweight, and even long-time fans of the Terra (us included) will tend to look for alternative legwear.
Well, now there’s no need. The Montane Terra XT pants provide an addition to the growing range of Terra trousers that has winter covered. That said, this isn’t Montane’s first rugged take on the Terras. The Super Terra pants were just that, and found a significant number of fans in their own right. So where do the XTs fit in?
Put simply, they are an upgraded replacement for the Super Terras, designed for a range of mountain activities, and take up the mantle of Montane’s most rugged and technical trousers. Let’s take a closer look at the latest Terra pants to see if they’re up to the job of making the Terra collection a truly year-round range.
SERIOUS STUFF
MONTANE MEN’S TERRA XT PANTS
■ PRICE £175
■ MATERIALS Main: 97% nylon, 3% elastane; Reinforcement face: 97% nylon, 3% elastane; Reinforcement backer: 100% polyester
■ SIZES 28in, 30in, 32in, 34in, 36in, 38in, 40in; all in short, regular and long lengths
■ WOMEN’S ALTERNATIVE Montane Terra Stretch XT, £150
5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
The main materials in the Terra XTs are Montane’s Granite and Granite Hydro fabrics. These have been given a DWR (durable water-repellent) treatment which is free from PFCs (perfluorocarbons) for boosted weather proofing. While not waterproof – you’ll still want a pair of overtrousers for that – they will shrug off a little drizzle and keep the worst of the wind out.
An extra layer of fabric adds reinforcement to high-wear areas of the trousers, including the knees, seat (your bum) and inset (inside leg near the ankle). This extra toughness means the Terra XTs can handle more abrasive mountain activities, such as scrambling or winter mountaineering.
Thicker, tougher trousers are often more restrictive than lighter-weight alternatives. The design of the Terra
