I just spent this past week Elk hunting in SW Montana. I brought these two pair of pants to wear. I thought I'd post my impressions of both of them. I wore the Sitka Timberlines the 1st 3 days and then the De Haviland's the last 3 days. The temperatures were as low as 0 degrees and 20's for the highs. We had snow in the higher elevations most every day and on 2 of the days we had a total of a foot of snow in areas. I wore the Black Ovis Tuscarora Merino base layer under each pair of pants and was warm the whole time. Twice I had to put on puffy pants but that was when glassing and the temps were close to Zero. A few times I got a bit sweaty but that was due to the pace of the walk out at night. Both pairs of pants handled the snow very well and never soaked through at all.
As far as the Timberlines are concerned they were very quiet, comfortable and warm. However, I don't like the zippered front pockets. Openings are too small and a pain to get into once opened. I'd rather be able to just stick my hands into the front pockets like a regular pair of pants. Cargo pockets are fine and the fabric is quiet. On both pants the belt loops are too small. They say 1.5" and would fit a 1.5" belt but if the buckle were just a bit bigger than that the belt won't work. I had an Arcade Belt and the part that inserts into the buckle wouldn't fit through he belt loops on either pant. I ended up wearing a heavy duty leather belt with a standard buckle instead. So both Sitka and Stone Glacier need to make their belt loops just a bit bigger so that a buckle will fit through them. I didn't use the knee pads in the Sitka pants but really like that they knees and butt are covered with waterproof material. There are only, at least for me, 2 negatives with the Sitka's. No side leg zips and the belt loops are a tad too small.
Now for the Stone Glacier De Haviland pants. I really like the adjustable waist system. I was able to get them to fit perfectly. The little belt system they have is ok but you still need a belt with the pants and as said for the Sitka's the belt loops are too small to get a buckle through. You either have to go with a smaller belt or one that doesn't have a buckle system like the Arcade belts. I much prefer the way the front pockets are setup compared to the Sitka's. The front pockets are big and deep. The rear pockets are easy to access but I could see stuff falling out the way they are designed. They have a flap to cover the opening which works but isn't as secure as a zipper or a snap on the cover. I also like the position of the cargo pockets being upfront instead of on the side of the leg. This is due to having side leg zips. Speaking of which they really helped me to regulate lower body temps while hiking in and out and around where we were hunting. The pants were also warm. The only real issue I had with the pants is that they were a bit loud compared to the Sitka Timberlines.
If I could design a perfect pair of pants, at least for me, It would be the Stone Glacier De Havilands made with the Sitka Timberline fabric. However, I would add a snap to the back pockets to keep stuff from falling out. While I was sitting on a pad I never sat on the pocket flaps so they wouldn't be an issue as far as sitting on them is concerned. Or you could also add side zips to the Sitkas, reposition the cargo pockets and redesign the front pockets like the SG front pockets and add in an adjustable waist system. So a lot less work to do with the SG De Haviland pants compared to the Sitka Timberline's. Regardless they are both a great pair of pants and both of them performed as needed. I'd wear either pant if the other weren't available and be fine. However, if I was forced to choose one pair over the other as-is it would have to be the SG De Haviland pants. Just because of the pockets and the side zips. My changes are purely personal preference and I'm sure someone else may have totally different preferences or possibly none at all.
As far as the Timberlines are concerned they were very quiet, comfortable and warm. However, I don't like the zippered front pockets. Openings are too small and a pain to get into once opened. I'd rather be able to just stick my hands into the front pockets like a regular pair of pants. Cargo pockets are fine and the fabric is quiet. On both pants the belt loops are too small. They say 1.5" and would fit a 1.5" belt but if the buckle were just a bit bigger than that the belt won't work. I had an Arcade Belt and the part that inserts into the buckle wouldn't fit through he belt loops on either pant. I ended up wearing a heavy duty leather belt with a standard buckle instead. So both Sitka and Stone Glacier need to make their belt loops just a bit bigger so that a buckle will fit through them. I didn't use the knee pads in the Sitka pants but really like that they knees and butt are covered with waterproof material. There are only, at least for me, 2 negatives with the Sitka's. No side leg zips and the belt loops are a tad too small.
Now for the Stone Glacier De Haviland pants. I really like the adjustable waist system. I was able to get them to fit perfectly. The little belt system they have is ok but you still need a belt with the pants and as said for the Sitka's the belt loops are too small to get a buckle through. You either have to go with a smaller belt or one that doesn't have a buckle system like the Arcade belts. I much prefer the way the front pockets are setup compared to the Sitka's. The front pockets are big and deep. The rear pockets are easy to access but I could see stuff falling out the way they are designed. They have a flap to cover the opening which works but isn't as secure as a zipper or a snap on the cover. I also like the position of the cargo pockets being upfront instead of on the side of the leg. This is due to having side leg zips. Speaking of which they really helped me to regulate lower body temps while hiking in and out and around where we were hunting. The pants were also warm. The only real issue I had with the pants is that they were a bit loud compared to the Sitka Timberlines.
If I could design a perfect pair of pants, at least for me, It would be the Stone Glacier De Havilands made with the Sitka Timberline fabric. However, I would add a snap to the back pockets to keep stuff from falling out. While I was sitting on a pad I never sat on the pocket flaps so they wouldn't be an issue as far as sitting on them is concerned. Or you could also add side zips to the Sitkas, reposition the cargo pockets and redesign the front pockets like the SG front pockets and add in an adjustable waist system. So a lot less work to do with the SG De Haviland pants compared to the Sitka Timberline's. Regardless they are both a great pair of pants and both of them performed as needed. I'd wear either pant if the other weren't available and be fine. However, if I was forced to choose one pair over the other as-is it would have to be the SG De Haviland pants. Just because of the pockets and the side zips. My changes are purely personal preference and I'm sure someone else may have totally different preferences or possibly none at all.
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