Columbia’s well designed cold weather sports clothing is fast becoming a favorite of this traveler who loves to play outside but hates to be cold. I wrote up their Frosty Forest parka here — a great companion for that jacket is their Back it Up ski and snow pants.
The pants are made out of a breathable waterproof material that lets moisture escape and keeps you dry. They’re lined with Columbia’s Omni-Heat fabric — it’s designed to reflect your body heat inward while still letting sweat escape. All the technical stuff is great, but alone isn’t the reason why I like these pants. It’s the details. Where to begin?
The waist has a soft fleece inset at the back — it effectively raises the waist of the pants without giving you that classic 70s high-waisted ski pants look. That inset zips out if you don’t want to use, but I rather liked the extra height at the back for keeping the cold out. The sewn in gaiters have rubber grippy stuff around the ankle, are made of nylon, and will keep you dry in deep snow (and probably about eight inches of water, though I didn’t test this). Zippered cuffs make it easier to deal with clunky boots and to secure the gaiters. They’ve got extra reinforcement on the inner ankle, too, to protect against wear and tear.
Mesh side vents let in just a little bit of air — enough to cool you off without flapping around. The pockets are fleece lined to warm your hands and zippered to keep your lip balm secure. I would have liked a zippered wallet pocket on the backside, too, a minor shortcoming. Unlike a lot of other gear I’ve been trying on lately, the sizing on the pants seems accurate — my size fit just right with a pair of long underwear underneath.
The pants are comfortable, it’s easy to move around in them, and hey, they look cute, they’re a flattering cut. They’re bulky, so if you’re looking for low profile, super light gear, this isn’t it. But if you want to stay warm and dry when you’re playing in the snow, and look good in the process, Columbia’s Back it Up Pants are just the ticket.
They’re $150 from Columbia (where there’s also a version for men), or you can get a pair from Amazon.
