Long winded review of the products, and a few others. Hope it helps somebody. I ordered the X1, Headwall, and Praxis pants..and the first like corrugate foundry pants…and the DeHavilland lites…and they KUIU Talus hybrids…and the Black Ovis Terrace Pant. So you get a quick review and comparison of all of these.
X1- Really super light weight. FOR ME, the fit was perfect (6’, 190, 42 Chest). I really like this piece and due to its weight, will be in my pack all the time. Tried it on with just a sweatshirt. Then tried it on over the SG puffy. A little tight there, but wasn’t suffocating. I think for an early season rain jacket it is going to be awesome. Interesting to see how it fits other people.
Headwall - Have a Jetstream and this. Jetstreams are always baggy around my waist and belly to get sleeves that actually fit me. This is just the opposite. This is a fitted jacket. The whole thing fits me perfectly…except the arms. The arms on this thing have got to be some of the longest I’ve ever seen. Not in a bad way. But for me that normally has a 35/36 inch dress shirt, these sleeves go to the mid back of my hand. I’m guessing about a 38. Again, not complaining, as I finally have a coat that covers my arms. Regardless, I’m keeping it. I like it better than my jetstream. Also layered it over a sweatshirt and was a great fit. Pretty tight though when I went to the sweatshirt, puffy, and then this.
Praxis…so close to loving these, but I sent them back. I bought the DeHavilland Lites, KUIU Talus Hybrid, First Lite Corrugate Foundry, Black Ovis Terrace Pants, and then the Praxis. I was wanting a warmish early to late fall hunting pant, and to be able to pair them with some zip off bottoms that I could take into cold weather. I normally use some Outdoor Research Ferrosi when it’s hot (and a thin KUIU zip off bottom when it gets a little cooler). Anyway, on to my synopsis. There is lots to like about the black Ovis pants on paper…but I ordered up 1 full size and I still couldn’t get them on. I’m a 33 waist, ordered the 34, and probably would need a 36 to have a fighting chance. I could get them on, but they were TIGHT everywhere (moose knuckle crunch), and I couldn’t zip them up. So they went back just due to fit. But they have a lot of potential. The fit on the Praxis was nice. Super quiet. Nice fabric. Maybe just a hair thicker than the DeHavilland Lites and First Lites. No where near the KUIU Talus hybrids. BUT they have two seams right on the knee and every time I took a step they would rub like crazy on my knees. I couldn’t figure out why the seam was there for the life of me. But it was obnoxious to me. Enough that alone became a deal breaker for me. The Corrugates and DeHavilland lites are a very similar pant. Significantly louder than the Praxis and the KUIU pants. KUIUs fit me great (did have to size up one size), but I actually didn’t like the mesh zips down the side cause it got caught every time I tried to zip them up. I wasn’t sure they were going to dump heat like the other pants. And because of the mesh it would make it a challenge to get to any of the zip off bottoms that I would like to wear under them. Also they have SO MANY pockets. I’m not sure I would need a pack if I put stuff in all of the pockets of this pant. Probably the most comfortable of the 4 pairs. Anyway, sent them back, but probably were my #2 choice. Sent them back based on too many pockets, difficult accessing zip off bottoms, and because of a reason I will mention shortly. First lite Corrugates feel funny with the knee pads in and I didn’t love the suspenders. Took them out and liked them better for sure. Fabric between the DeHavilland lites and these are almost identical. Ultimately though I decided to keep the DeHavilland lites because of one main difference…the adjustable waist and incorporated belt. The KUIU and corrugates would cause me to have to wear a belt, and don’t offer any flexibility in my waist. This is what sold me on them over anything else. Now with that being said, I’ve been using them for 2 seasons and they have their drawbacks. They aren’t the quietest. The aren’t the toughest. They don’t have amazing DWR properties. But they are an all around good pant. The full length side zip isn’t a huge selling point to me as I only use it to get off bottom layers, and to help get crap that falls in through the openings when unzipped. But I rarely zip them past the knees anyways. Back to the original topic…I think if the Praxis didn’t have those funky seams, and some odor protecting capabilities they would have been my pant. But I couldn’t get over the seam and it’s constant rubbing.
Sorry for the long post but hopefully it helps somebody.
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