New to the Flylow collection this year is the Compound Pant. The top model consists of a three-layer Neoshell membrane from Polartec. This promises waterproofness, 99.9% windproofness and significantly better breathability than comparable materials. I was looking for a pair of pants for all kinds of activities on two boards. Whether for telemarking, freeriding or touring - a pair of trousers for everything - that are resilient, robust and yet comfortable to wear.
Test conditions
The trousers have been worn on around 20 days in the snow so far. For telemarking in sleet in the Black Forest, on sunny ski tours and in deep, damp powder in the south. In terms of temperature, I've been between a foehn-like +10°C and a pleasant -8°C. I always wear merino wool ski underwear under my trousers.
Fit and cut
These trousers have a casual cut, clear design and a good fit. At a height of 176 cm and 72 kg, size M fits perfectly.
The trousers are cut slightly higher and narrower at the waist, so they fit well. The side Velcro fasteners allow the waistband to be individually adjusted to the hip circumference. To be on the safe side, I always use a belt to ensure that the trousers don't slip when riding. The leg length is perfect for me - neither too long nor too short. The pre-shaped and reinforced knee sections are very beneficial, especially when telemarking and touring, and don't have a negative effect even with large ranges of motion.
Material
The first impression is very good and the trousers feel comfortable. The material is significantly softer and more stretchy than comparable shell layers. The important areas such as the knees and leg ends are reinforced with Cordura and have not yet shown any signs of wear. When telemarking in particular, I do come into contact with the ski edge protector time and again due to my less than perfect technique. But it still looks like new.
The Neoshell membrane from Polartec works perfectly. Even during more intensive, sweat-inducing activities, the pants feel comfortable without any moisture settling anywhere. In my opinion, only the insulation properties are slightly lower. I can't say whether this is due to the material, the wider cut or my perception of cold.
In contrast, the zippers for ventilation on the inside and outside of the legs are really impressive. This allows you to create a good draught, especially on warm days with a hairdryer. They look high quality and are easy to use. Only the cords that are attached to the zippers constantly come undone and have to be painstakingly knotted again.
The pockets are where they belong: Two at the back, two at the front and one above the knee. This can be used very practically to store a FreerideMap, SnowCard or other map without restricting movement.
The pants also have press studs for a snow catcher system for a matching jacket (Flylow Lab Coat), but more on that later...
Conclusion
If you are looking for one-for-all pants and are not bound to Gore-Tex and the like, the Compound Pant from Flylow is the right choice. They have a casual cut and the good ventilation options make these pants the perfect companion on the mountain. Only the (subjectively perceived) lower insulation properties could be a little better, as well as the loosening knots at the zippers. Otherwise, the pants have already become one of my favorite pieces of clothing. The only thing missing now is powder in the north...
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Wide, casual fit
+ Good breathability
+ Very good ventilation options
+ Robust and stretchy material
- Moderate insulation properties
- Cords attached to zippers
Product details
RRP: €475,-
Details
waterproof, breathable Polartec® NeoShell®
compatible with a jacket snow skirt
reinforced, particularly robust leg ends
gaiters
reinforced, pre-shaped knee section
waterproof, full-length side zips for ventilation
here is the manufacturer's product information, here is where you can buy the Flylow Compound Pants in our partner store and here is more information about Polartec® NeoShell®
