Black Diamond Recon Stretch Pant - Women's Review

Performance Comparison

Weather Resistance

The fabric specs for these pants are impressive, and in our tests and on-snow experiences, these pants kept our testers completely dry. Instead of opting for a stiff nylon shell of many shell pants, Black Diamond utilizes a flexible, 3-layer fabric that doesn't lose waterproofing or durability despite being stretchy. It is a little heavier than nylon shells, but we were happy with the trade-off. The seams are fully taped, and the zippers are waterproof. Instead of a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane, Black Diamond constructed these pants with their proprietary BD.dry membrane, which likely helps to keep the cost of these pants down. Our testers love the innovation in the fabric of this pant, combining flexibility with strong wind and water protection.

Similar to other pants tested in this category, the Recon Stretch Pant was put through the thorough “shower test,” in which testers wore them in the shower for two minutes to assess its waterproofing functionality in a human-made downpour. After examining seams, pockets, and inner dryness, testers remained dry but found one minor issue.

During the shower test, the Recon Stretch Pant kept the testers' legs dry, and it successfully beaded water from the fabric without getting heavy from absorption. However, it was discovered that the pocket designed to hold a beacon does not zip fully closed, allowing some water to get inside the pocket. This design is likely intended so you can use your beacon, tethered to the clip inside the pocket, out of your pocket without leaving a gaping opening at the mouth of the pocket. Considering this pocket was created to hold a valuable electronic device, we would prefer a watertight pocket. Unless you spend a long time in very wet weather, though, we don't expect this to be an issue on backcountry ski tours and resort skiing. Despite some water getting into the pocket in our rather extreme shower test, the water didn't move from inside the pocket to our legs.

Fit and Comfort

The Recon Stretch Pant's four-way stretch shell fabric is a big reason we recommend these pants. Our testers found this fabric and relaxed fit to provide both a stretchy and comfortable feel that allowed for optimal mobility on the mountain. From crouching down to evaluate snow pits in the backcountry to getting tricky at the resort, this pair provides some of the greatest range of motion of any ski pants we have tested. Say goodbye to stiff, uninsulated shells.

Our testers found these pants to be true to size, fitting well in the waist and a little baggier in the legs, achieving the “relaxed” fit. The removable, low-profile belt is discrete but effective at fine-tuning the fit around the waist. Articulation in the pants' knees and seat, plus a gusseted crotch section, adds to the mobility. The ideal ski pant is one that you can forget is there, and the Recon Stretch Pant achieves that through its stretch and adjustability.

Ventilation

Counter to warmth, ventilation is another key component of a pair of backcountry ski pants. Vents allow for better temperature regulation when you work up a sweat touring uphill. These pants feature two vents, one on each leg, that allow for adequate temperature regulation, although there is room for improvement.

The vents are located on the outside of the thighs, which is better for promoting airflow than those placed on the inside of the thigh. This model also lacks a mesh lining, which is ideal for maximum ventilation. However, the vents themselves are not very long, and on an especially warm, early-season day, we wished for a little more airflow found on models with more extensive leg vents. This is our biggest complaint with this pair of pants, and it's only because we can imagine ventilation being a little bit better. We think ventilation is sufficient in the Stretch Recon for most pursuits, though.

Warmth

If you are on the hunt for a backcountry ski pants, you are likely looking for a pair that is an uninsulated shell that isn't very warm. It is for that purpose that the Recon Stretch Pant was designed, acting as a 3-layer shell that is intended to be worn with layers on cold days. Because of this, it scored low on the warmth metric—which can be a positive for those looking to set the skin track or simply prefer to use base layers for insulation on ski days. The relaxed fit of these pants lends them to layering underneath without restricting movement.

Features

Our testers appreciate that the Recon Stretch Pant comes fully loaded with features designed to enhance the backcountry skiing experience without forgetting about resort skiers. Like most ski pants, these include a scuff guard on the instep and an internal snow gaiter. The gaiter has a vertical hook and loop closure that increases accessibility to boot buckles and power straps without lifting the gaiter above the boots. There are also zippers alongside the bottom of the legs for easy access to one's boots. We appreciate Black Diamond's efforts to increase the user-friendliness of the interface between the pants and ski boots, and anyone who likes to make adjustments throughout the day will, too.

The Recon Stretch Pant also comes with a removable, built-in belt that allows for a customizable fit and a beacon-specific pocket with an internal clip that our ski touring testers like. It also comes with RECCO technology that, while not meant to be used as a standalone snow safety measure, can assist in rescue endeavors at resorts. Overall, our testers found these pants to be fully loaded with features that are actually useful and appreciated.

Style

The Recon Stretch Pant comes in only a few color options, and the design doesn't take any stylistic chances. There isn't much to report here. Backcountry enthusiasts, though, might appreciate this streamlined look with fewer pockets to fuss about. Throughout testing, it was noted that the pants became scuffed and dirty easily. For those who prefer a sleek, non-flashy look, the Recon's minimalist design may be appealing.

Value

Compared to other products on the market, the Black Diamond Recon Stretch Pant is nicely priced for technical function. It performed well during our on-mountain testing and kept us comfortable throughout the process. Technical pants usually cost much more than this pair.

Conclusion