Arc'teryx Lefroy Review

At 9.6 oz, these pants are one of the very lightest in this review. They have commendable breathability and a minimalist feature set that we found to be sufficient, but not exceptional.

Performance Comparison

Comfort & Mobility

For everything these pants have going for them, comfort and mobility are not their strong suits. They do have a gusseted crotch and articulated knees. The 14% elastane suggests that they would be sufficiently stretchy, but testing revealed that these qualities were not enough to overcome the slim fit of this model. The legs slide up when high stepping, and even while walking up a moderate incline, we could still feel their tug.

Furthermore, the feel of the inner fabric is the same as the outer fabric, which is to say, it is rough and synthetic. We experienced some uncomfortable thigh rub after a few miles. They also aren't super comfortable to sit in.

Venting & Breathability

This is probably where these pants shine the most. They are one of the lightest weight models in this review and the fabric is noticeably airier. They thrive on warm, breezy days when you want the protection of a long pant still want to stay as cool as possible.

In terms of venting, these pants forgo any formal features (save for the partially mesh-lined front pockets) and rely solely on the breathability of the fabric. Notably, they do not include any cinch cords in the cuffs to support rolling them up.

Versatility & Style

Because they go all-in on lightweight fabric, these pants are somewhat limited in their versatility. As noted above, they are nice for warm and breezy hiking. However, their restrictive fit makes them a poor choice for climbing and they aren't an ideal option for paddling either.

However, when taken all together, they certainly look the part of a technical pair of trekking pants, so if that is important to you, with its slim fit and sleek integrated belt, this an aesthetically pleasing pair.

Weather Resistance

On the flip side of venting and breathability, these pants don't fare quite as well concerning (wet) weather resistance. Their fabric is non-absorbent, and they certainly dry out quickly. However, outside of the light rain, they aren't especially water repellent. In fact, we suspect that the reason they dry so fast is that moisture just passes through them directly to the skin.

Similarly, they have poor wind resistance. In their defense, this appears to be an intentional feature, but if you tend to hike in places with unpredictable and/or consistently wet weather, we would look elsewhere.

Features

The feature set of the Lefroy can be accurately described as minimalist. They come with a standard five pockets, but everything about them looks and feels low profile. The two front handwarmer pockets are partially mesh-lined, the two rears have protective security flaps and the thigh pocket is zippered. Though we think that the fly is oddly short and somewhat ineffective, we do like the sturdiness of the front snap, and the thoughtful rounding of the fabric just above where the two snap halves meet, which eliminates abrasion and chaffing just below the belly button that a lot of other models cause.

We love the integrated belt. It has an easy-to-use hook and loop system and has a wide range of adjustability. There are no traditional belt loops and no cinch cords in the cuffs.

Value

Unless you are unendingly loyal to the brand, we don't feel that these pants offer the best value out there. There are a handful of top contenders out there that tend to cost less and perform better. The manufacturing quality is excellent, so if you have your eye on this model specifically, they won't wear out on you, but we wouldn't say they are a spectacular deal.

Conclusion

The Arc'teryx Lefroy benefit from lightweight and airy fabric that keeps the breeze moving through even as you work up a sweat. They certainly have their moments and specific uses in warmer weather, but they lack some of the versatility and features that make the very top contenders stand out.