- Written by Mat Young. Outdoor Professional, Tasmania Guide, and an Ambassador for K2 Base Camp. -
Tested in Tassy - Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants Review
I purchased a pair of Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants a few years ago while working at K2: I was chatting to Pasang about finding a nice, durable pair of pants for the Overland Track, and he said, “oh, you’ve got to get these.” I wasn’t convinced at first, but after giving them the old squat test, I decided to take his advice.
A good pair of hiking pants should never restrict your range of motion or knee lift. Think about it like this, a regular day of hiking is 20 thousand steps, a big day could be 40 or 50 thousand. If your pants restrict your movement, then every single step takes more effort than it should…Well, that effort adds up why would you want to waste energy simply because you’re wearing poorly designed pants?
As far as what I like about the OR Ferrosi Pants, they’re incredibly durable, comfortable and a great fit. I’ve worn them on numerous multiday hikes down in Tassie, bashing through Scoparia and all manner of heathy scrub. They’ve also been my workhorses for a couple of seasons' worth of guiding. Lastly, they’ve endured the abrasion of countless rock climbs, which again I love them for because they don’t restrict my movement. Best of all, after grovelling up some enduro cracks at Ben Lomond or slogging up a rough trail in the Western Tiers, they’re presentable enough to wear while grabbing a post-adventure schooner, the most satisfying of any beverage
A good pair of hiking pants should never restrict your range of motion or knee lift. Think about it like this, a regular day of hiking is 20 thousand steps, a big day could be 40 or 50 thousand. If your pants restrict your movement, then every single step takes more effort than it should…Well, that effort adds up why would you want to waste energy simply because you’re wearing poorly designed pants?
As far as what I like about the OR Ferrosi Pants, they’re incredibly durable, comfortable and a great fit. I’ve worn them on numerous multiday hikes down in Tassie, bashing through Scoparia and all manner of heathy scrub. They’ve also been my workhorses for a couple of seasons' worth of guiding. Lastly, they’ve endured the abrasion of countless rock climbs, which again I love them for because they don’t restrict my movement. Best of all, after grovelling up some enduro cracks at Ben Lomond or slogging up a rough trail in the Western Tiers, they’re presentable enough to wear while grabbing a post-adventure schooner, the most satisfying of any beverage
On top of that, it’s their breathability that really sets these pants apart, for a wind and water resistant fabric, they are not stifling on warmer days and dry quickly once wet.
I did find that after a couple of years of hard use, the stitching came undone in both pockets, as well as the inbuilt belt thing. But I’m buying another pair, so it must not have been too much of a downside.
I wore these pants almost every day during my trip to Peru. I’d gone over to have an adventure and do some alpine hiking and basic mountaineering. I spent 3 weeks exploring the trails around Huaraz, ultimately attaining about 5800m altitude (in different pants). Huaraz is an incredible base for access to the Cordillera Blanca, where you can find a number of world-class alpine hikes, including the Santa Cruz and Huayhuash Circuit. This trip was my first proper experience with altitude, and I learnt a lot. I say this all the time, but having gear you know you can rely on gives you a lot of confidence when you’re heading into the unknown; confidence that can be the difference between success and failure.
As the saying goes, ‘he who buys cheap, buys twice,’ and nowhere is that more true than with outdoor gear. Shop around, get a good pair of pants, invest in quality and reliability, it can make all the difference.
Happy adventuring, Mat.