Puffy Pants (WM, Mont Bell, Kuiu, ?)

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Looking to lose more weight and volume in my pack for sheep hunting and am focusing on a warm lower/leg option in case I'm sitting for extended periods. I plan to put my waterproof layer over the puffy pants for durability, since most seem to have a pretty fragile fabric. In terms of weight, the Western Mountaineering Flash Pants at 6.5oz of 850+ fill look impressive. While not being the treated down, I'm not overly concerned, since I plan to use them only if it's cold and I'm sitting or as a sleep option. Mont Bell UL Down Pants are the next lightest I'm looking at (7.7oz). The Kuiu Down pants are pretty good looking too, but are heavier yet (10 oz).

Anybody try or compare these pants to each other or have another recommendation I should look into? I have the Patagonia puffy pants, but they're heavier and far less compressible than the down models I'm eyeing. I rarely ever hear anything negative about WM, so I'm leaning towards those at the moment, unless I hear a compelling negative report. Thanks.
 

Justin Crossley

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The only ones that have full leg zippers are KUIU and Feathered Friends as far as I know. I went with the Feathered Friends and after comparing them side by side, I believe they are the way to go. I have only had them in the field once so far so take it for what it's worth.
 
OP
S
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Side zips are not really important to me, as I'll put them on to just sit or sleep in. Once I decide to move, I'll just pop off the boots and change up pants, not a big deal to me I guess. Zippers can fail and I try to minimize them as much as possible if I can.
 
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For what it's worth, I highly recommend the leg zips. Mine get used the most when it's either wet or snowy (i.e. when it's cold), and taking boots on and off would be a major inconvenience at those times. Quick on/off is half the point of the things.

Also, most puffy pants may not layer under rain gear well unless you deliberately size up that layer. Mine certainly don't. No experience with the particular ones you are looking at, but something to keep in mind is that down compresses easily and you will likely loose some loft under normal raingear.

For early August sheep, I have never used a puffy pant layer. I do carry thermal bottoms for when/if the weather turns ugly and I have to hole up, and have been happy with that. I would probably make an exception for the far northern hunts (Brooks Range), and any later season hunt, but have always been alright in the more southern ranges without them.

Yk
 

CtP

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For what it's worth, I highly recommend the leg zips. Mine get used the most when it's either wet or snowy (i.e. when it's cold), and taking boots on and off would be a major inconvenience at those times. Quick on/off is half the point of the things.

Also, most puffy pants may not layer under rain gear well unless you deliberately size up that layer. Mine certainly don't. No experience with the particular ones you are looking at, but something to keep in mind is that down compresses easily and you will likely loose some loft under normal raingear.

Yk

Agreed!

I always bring a pair of MH puffy pants. They were perfect for throwing on with full side zips for glassing periods. Yeah you could pull your boots off, but I wouldn't. With gaiters on it's just a p.i.t.a.

I can't speak for the brands you mentioned, but the MH have served me well. They have a reinforced butt and knees, full zip and syn fill. They come in at 21 oz but those are ounces I'm willing to take.

I have worn them under rain gear, but then again I was glassing for long periods in the wind and rain in the open. They also come in handy when the temps drop at night or siwashing.
 

SJ-AK

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For what it's worth, I highly recommend the leg zips. Mine get used the most when it's either wet or snowy (i.e. when it's cold), and taking boots on and off would be a major inconvenience at those times. Quick on/off is half the point of the things.

Also, most puffy pants may not layer under rain gear well unless you deliberately size up that layer. Mine certainly don't. No experience with the particular ones you are looking at, but something to keep in mind is that down compresses easily and you will likely loose some loft under normal raingear.

For early August sheep, I have never used a puffy pant layer. I do carry thermal bottoms for when/if the weather turns ugly and I have to hole up, and have been happy with that. I would probably make an exception for the far northern hunts (Brooks Range), and any later season hunt, but have always been alright in the more southern ranges without them.

Yk


These are my thoughts exactly. One other thing I find myself utilizing the side zips for is ventilation. If you need to take a short hike it is sure nice to open the side zips down to your knee and not have to take them off or sweat your ass off.
 
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I'm surprised no one mentioned the Sitka Kelvin pants. Full side zip and extremely warm. Available in grey or camo. $189 full retail, but not hard to find at a discounted price.
 
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I appreciate the input on the zips for sure. With my rainpants I have at the moment (Sitka Dewpoint's), I can fit my thicker Patagonia puffy pants under the shells and still have quite a bit of dexterity. If I had to stalk in that setup I could, but probably wouldn't unless it was really really cold and windy. I guess there isn't too much of a weight penalty for going with a side zip on the Kuiu's or other models. This is for an early August, Alaska Range hunt, so maybe I'll abandon this idea for the season and just stick with my thermal merino bottoms and possibly my thin R1 or older Marmot (full side zip) DriClime pants. There isn't much of a weight penalty with the fleece or DriClime gear, it just takes up double the volume.
 

kodiakfly

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Definitely a fan of the full zips, for the boot reason mentioned above. I have a pair of MH Compressor pants and a pair of Arcteryx LEAF puffy pants that I really like because of their Windstopper so I can hole up really nicely without having to put a shell on for wind and both are full zip pants. But these are both synthetic fill and I don't know what they weigh, but like most of what I own and use...I have no idea what it weighs.
 
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Im running mont bell. Both the jacket and pants. They work very well and are pretty easy to layer as they aren't really thick and will compress some under rain gear and such. Amazing warmth for glassing. I run them in my pack while hunting cats in the winter. Can throw them on after a hard run and its instant warmth. Id definatly recomend their clothing. Got my stuff through CaptivateM Outdoors. Mike is a great guy to deal with!!
 

luke moffat

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I have MH compressor pants as my synthetic puffy pants which have full zips, I also have the WM flash pants that don't. Honestly I only bring the Flash pants in early season hunts and backpack hunts. Yes you have to take your boots off but for how I mainly use them for a bivy option in which I'll be staying under a shelter away from my bag or just hanging out in the evenings or mornings in the main camp when I have no problem taking my boots off for then. If you envision your main use being putting them on/off a lot throughout the day then get full zips. But honestly I don't even use my MH compressors that much and often don't employ the full zips if I'm stopping to glass an area for quite a while to curling up for a mid day nap while everything else is napping either.

MH compressors are quite nice, but 3 times the weight of that of the WM flash pants. I feel they are nearly equal in warmth, but each have their place. Last month I took my MH compressors to Kodiak for a mountain goat, however last year I used my WM flash pants on a number of trips. I like having both options. If I coudl only own one pair I'd suck it up and pack the extra 14 oz and carry the MH compressors much like I'd carry tougher shelled synthetic bag over a UL down bag/or quilt if I could only have one.
 
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Im in the same process now of replacing my synthetic sitka kelvin top and bottom with a waterproof down option. remember to look at fill weights when comparing the overall weight of the item.

Right now i believe I'm gonna get brooks range gear Mojave jacket and haven't decided on the bottoms yet

The kuiu super down is 10oz and has 1.6 oz of down fill.

The WM flash is 6.5 oz and has 2 oz of down fill.
 
Last edited:

luke moffat

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The kuiu super down is 10oz and has 1.6 oz of down fill.

The WM flash is 6.5 oz and has 2 oz of down fill.

Exactly...which is why I went that route....basically the WM flash nearly have 1/3 of the weight made of from the down insualtion whereas the Kuiu is more like 15% or in otherwords the WM flash have more than twice the amount of down in them given their overall weight.

Same reason I chose the GoLite Bitterroot jacket over their Superdown hoody as well.
 
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interesting ill take a look at that bitterroot jacket. the problem for me is finding a jacket with long enough torso length and the brooks range fits the bill so i have at least one option which is exciting!
 

Wrench77

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Another option with full zip is the Western Mountaineering Flight pants. I don't have personal experience with these I've just been looking into what pair to get myself.
 

2ski

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So are the only options for camo in down the Kuiu? And in sythetic the Sitka? Throw some camo rain gear over the top and your covered, but are there any other options in camo?
 
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I'm thinking along the exact same lines as what you said above Luke. Early season type setups where I'll have time and the option to pretty easily put them on for sleeping or staying stationary and glassing. I have and like many of my full side zip pants, I just think that these are a different type of use that I have planned for them. How have your WM Flash pants worked/held up Luke? Thanks.
 
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