Males’s REI Activator Pants Evaluate| CleverHiker

Backside Line

The REI Activator is a solidly constructed softshell pant that’s good for summit hikes or shoulder-season temperatures that decision for barely hotter and thicker pants. We examined our pair on winter hikes and spring summits in coastal Alaska and have been stunned by its resiliency in nasty climate and heat in chilly temperatures. The Activator is one in every of our high males’s climbing pants for its wonderful worth, excessive efficiency, and inexpensive worth level.

Attainably priced, the Activator is a good pant for these new to the outside or seasoned veterans alike. However don’t let its lower cost idiot you; its efficiency compares to pants that value twice as a lot. The gusseted crotch and extremely elastic materials make for an especially snug and cell pant. We by no means felt restricted or encumbered when scrambling over rocks, and we accomplished a multi-pitch rock climb in it on a blustery spring day. The thicker materials helps to dam the wind and repel mild moisture.

The thick materials that offers the Activator its cool climate efficiency shortly turns into a hindrance as soon as the temperatures climb to summer season temps. These pants are very heat, making them much less enticing for summer season temperatures. Nice for cooler days or alpine summits, the Activator is a high-value pant that’s positive to discover a place in your closet.

How We Examined

We examined the REI Activator pants for 4 months in Alaska – from snow to sleet and springtime rain. Mountain climbing, snowboarding, climbing, and scrambling, we totally examined its sturdiness, consolation, and climate resistance.

Consolation & Mobility

When placing on the Activator for the primary time, we instantly observed how snug these pants are on the pores and skin. The within of the softshell materials nearly seems like a brushed lining. It’s cozy and comfy. Articulated knees and a gusseted crotch improve mobility, and we by no means felt restricted and encumbered when squatting, kneeling, or taking excessive steps. The nylon, polyester, and spandex blended materials has a 4-way stretch, making all actions snug and free. We significantly loved sporting these pants on a multi-pitch rock climb in cooler climate, the place they saved our legs heat sufficient for a blustery spring day.

Breathability

The soft-shell material of the Activator feels thick sufficient to be a winter pant. And, in reality, we wore these pants on winter hikes and located them heat sufficient for reasonably cool temperatures. These pants are most snug in temperatures round freezing and as much as about sixty levels. As soon as the thermometer climbs to extra summer-like temperatures, the Activor shortly feels too sizzling. 

We discovered that these pants don’t have a excessive degree of breathability and usually are not our best choice for warm-weather hikes. With none sort of vents, there isn’t any technique to enhance the airflow, so we turned overly sizzling when climbing in heat temperatures or at excessive exertion ranges. These usually are not those we attain for on heat days, however these pants are nice for cooler temperatures or windy days.

Climate Resistance

Handled with nonfluorinated sturdy water repellent (DWR), the Activator can bead very mild moisture. These received’t change your rain pants by any means, however they’re sufficient to maintain you protected if caught out in a day storm. 

We examined these in spitting rain and postholing by means of deep, moist snow. We have been stunned by how lengthy they saved us dry. That being mentioned, as soon as they did moist by means of, they took a very long time to dry as a consequence of their thick materials.

Despite the fact that the REI activator can get you by in a pinch, don’t depend on them to maintain you dry for hours within the rain. However for alpine environments the place chances are you’ll encounter some combined situations, the Activator is a good alternative.

Sturdiness

For a budget-priced pant, the Activator has withstood all of our checks remarkably effectively. Our pair has but to indicate any indicators of damage or misery. We examined it by scraping up rock slabs on a multi-pitch rock climb, and so they confirmed no indicators of abrasion. As we hiked by means of Alaska’s notoriously thick brush, they protected our legs from cuts or scratches. We now have been totally impressed with their sturdiness. Mixed with its attainable worth level, the Activator is a high-value pair of climbing pants.

Options

The Activator is an easy pant with refined options that improve its performance. Most notably, the ankle cinches seal out snow and sticks once we post-holed off-trail. Alternatively, we used the ankle cinches to carry up the pants when rolled up on the calf. This helps add a bit air flow on hotter outings. 

With six pockets, there’s sufficient capability to hold small objects straight on the physique. Nonetheless, we discovered all these pockets to be barely too small. Even carrying a cellphone pushes them to the max with a good and awkward match. These don’t have the carrying capability of a cargo pant, however their glossy design is nice for fast outings and for individuals who want a extra streamlined design.

Ought to You Purchase the REI Activator Pants?

The REI Activator is a high-value climbing pant with efficiency that punches far above its worth level. This makes them nice for entry-level hikers and budget-conscious veterans alike. We love the tender inside and elastic materials and the thicker materials to dam wind and preserve mild moisture at bay. These pants are finest suited to winter climbing, alpine adventures, and colder temperatures as they maintain heat however lack the breathability present in lighter pants. They shortly change into too sizzling in summer-time temperatures, limiting their versatility. Nonetheless, their excessive degree of sturdiness, low worth, and easy but efficient options make them one in every of our favourite pants available on the market.

What Different Mountain climbing Pants Ought to You Take into account?

Take a look at our full gear information to see all our favourite climbing pants.

Arc’teryx Gamma Evaluate: With nice climate resistance and sturdiness however a better worth level, the Gamma is a premium piece of drugs.

REI Trailmade Evaluate: One other inexpensive choice from REI, the Trailmade is a lighter-weight choice for heat summer season hikes.

Mammut Runbold IV Evaluate: One other nice pant for alpine adventures, the Runbold IV is the latest replace to one in every of our favourite light-weight pants.