Boulder Gear Valiant Polartec® NeoShell® Ski Pants - Waterproof, Insulated (For Men)

Nice pants, but yes, you get what you pay for. They are not North Face, Mountain Hardware, Marker, Spyder, Black Diamond, type quality. But for the price, heavy use 2-3 seasons, sure. What the hell.

Large was the right fit for me. The velcro tabs at the waist make the plants nice and snug. Great quality and very waterproof without the noise of some other products out there. For me it was a great buy.

Fit was accurate, and pants are extremely comfortable. Warm and waterproof in the first 5 outings of the season. Comparabale in quality to my North Face ski pants.

I can't comment on durability yet because these just arrived, but impressions out of the box couldn't possibly be any better. There's no need to go into the attributes of Polartec NeoShell as a material - you can find plenty of literature on that elsewhere. Suffice to say it's a top-tier W/B fabric that competes with the best out there (Gore-Tex Pro, Dry.Q Elite, Helly-Tech Professional, etc.). If these were nothing more than NeoShell sewn in the shape of pants with nothing else on them, they would be an amazing value because even the cheapest examples out there are a couple hundred dollars, but these also happen to be some of the best thought-out ski/snowboard pants I've ever seen. Here are a few features worth noting:

1) Vents on the inner-thigh: Who has hot outer thighs? No one - so why do so many pants have vents there? Its the inner-thigh, closer to you know where, that will produce the most moisture and heat so these make perfect sense. They're also easier to reach and operate, especially on a lift.

2) Cargo pocket with top and side access: When you're sitting down, it's super easy to get at anything in the cargo pocket. The zip is right there at the top of your thigh so you can open it, grab something and drop it back in (phone, whatever) while seated without having to twist around at weird angles.

3) Clean design: It's not a "feature," per se, but it's great to have a highly technical pant that doesn't scream for attention and the lack of superfluous details means they are very light for an insulated pant.

4) Nice insulation and cozy interior fabric face: These feel so good next-to-skin that you could definitely forego a full-leg base layer and be very comfortable - probably more comfortable (plus it would let the NeoShell work its magic more effectively.

Now to some sizing matters. There are a few reviews here that have me scratching my head. People saying the "large" is so tight they can't move or sit down. I'm 6'4" and typically wear a 34"x34" pant in casual clothes (think a pair of Levi's jeans). I bought the large in the Valiant pants for two reasons - one, they had no mediums available here at STP and, two, there's only one inseam to choose from and I was worried a smaller size would be too short. I'm not in fantastic shape, but I'm not carrying a lot of extra inches anywhere so I'd put myself on the "fit" side of average.

The with side tabs left at their fullest position these would drop off of me in a base layer. I can put my entire fist between my hip and the waistband. That's fine because on insanely cold days I might want a fleece or down pant between me and the shell and this will accommodate that with room to move. I'll also note that using just the side tabs I can cinch these down to a tight fit and could get into action without the need for a belt so there is great flexibility.

Length-wise, they are just about perfect for a ski pant on my frame. They fall almost exactly at the top of my foot with virtually no break. That means they'd look ridiculous with a pair of sneakers (they're also very baggy around the leg so keep that in mind, too). With ski/snowboarding boots, though, they are just right and won't leave you with a pile of extra fabric stacking up around your knees. My large (with my very own fabric tape measure) comes in at 32" for an inseam, but, perhaps more importantly, at 43" for an out-seam.

With the side-tabs fully extended, the waist, measured from the inside, is right at 38", which I think is sensible for this type of garment. If anything, I'd peg these a tad loose so I'm very puzzled by anyone who said they were too tight (maybe there are some wide variations in the manufacturing of the pants, perhaps the reason they are available at such a steep discount).

If you are buying these pants for the purpose they were engineered for I struggle to envision any complaints one might have. STP has different sales and coupon codes going at any given time so I won't share exactly what I paid, but this is the bottom-line in my mind: These compete with any $500 ski pants from any manufacturer you can name and you can have them for less than the price of pair of designer chinos from Banana Republic. Buy them now or forever regret having let this opportunity pass you by.

Fit and quality of manufacture are first rate. I have a 35" waist and purchased the L which is slightly loose and therefore in accord with manufacturer's specifications. ( Easy to cinch in with the side adjustment panels.) I am 6' tall and the length is exactly right. I find the neoshell fabric - the latest Polartec iteration of the search for the ideal balance between weatherproof and breathable - soft and quiet. Bought the pants for skiing but the trip is still a month out so have not tested these pants 'in the field'; but judging from the quality of manufacture expect no problems. Price on STP unbelievable for neoshell.