****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Color is a light gray in real life - about like reflective strips or a bit lighter, and without being reflective. Material feels soft but makes noise when rubbed. Two "handwarmer" pockets are zippered and lined in a soft, warm material that does help keep your hands warm, but they are very centrally located, so it will look like you're playing with yourself, and if you have big hands, they may be too small for you. The thigh pocket, also zippered, seems like a great place for a cell phone, but it isn't, because it's too small. You could fit a pack of smokes or maybe some liner gloves, but that's about it. The rear pocket, which you'd really want to have a zipper on, is actually velcro, and is again pretty small for anything but a bifold wallet. The zippered inner thigh things open up a very small way, to help ventilate, which I could really do without, and so far, they don't seem to make a lot of difference, but I'm not swooshing around or anything. The fit is spot on (usually wear a 31/32, and the small regular is good), at least after adding a little tightness with the velcro waist tightener things. Legs are roomy. They're supposed to be waterproof, and I have no doubt that they are. The reflective silver dots all over the inside mean that you literally feel the heat bouncing off the pants and re-warming your legs, within seconds of putting them on. The inner waistband has a particularly soft material on it, which I suppose would be nice if you don't wear thermals, but it doesn't help grab anything tucked in. Finally, the best part - the legs are bell bottoms. That's not exactly the best part, but they are unique. The zippers allow you to put your boots on after putting on the pants - I know - you think they're there to put the pants on over the boots, but in fact, there is an inner liner to the pants, that has elastic around the ankles, which means you have a built-in gaiter - your boots go in-between the inner liner and the outer material, which is sweet. Taking off one star for the fat man's fit (I really hate this trend towards putting velcro waist cinchers on every pair of pants) and small pockets. Otherwise, totally solid pair of winter sports pants.
