To test which pants truly deserved the title of best women's ski pants, our testing team, of course, went skiing. From Mammoth Mountain to Palisades Tahoe, Snowbird to Telluride and even in the backcountry, we put these pants through the wringer. But that doesn't tell the entire story of our detailed process. We tested each pair of pants for a number of thoughtfully constructed metrics, both on and off the hill, that together outline the different aspects of what makes a pant great, or not.
Weather Resistance
If you can't get the weather you need, make it. Or at least that's what we did for this metric. Each pair of pants was tested not only on the hill in a myriad of conditions but also went through a rigorous, two minute, “shower test.” All seams, zippers, and fabric were blasted with water while the pants were worn for two minutes in the shower to see which pairs could stand up to prolonged exposure. To top it off, pants were worn in windy conditions to test for wind resistance.
Fit and Comfort
Due to the large variety of shapes and sizes of people who purchase women's ski pants, this is a somewhat subjective metric. Everyone, no matter their size or shape, however, is looking for a comfortable fit in a ski pant. To help explore this metric we used some help from our friends. We tried pants on as many different body types as we could. We also assessed if there were any pain points, annoyances, or general issues by moving around extensively in these pants and seeing how they held up through a day of skiing.
Ventilation
Testing for ventilation involved identifying the venting systems on each pant and then testing them in action. Ventilation was best tested on warm, spring-like days, where ventilation was a necessary feature. We also tested ventilation when skinning uphill in the backcountry, which is another situation where this metric comes into play.
Warmth
To test warmth, each pair of pants was worn in cold, snowy conditions to assess how they enabled the wearer to retain heat. Cold chair lifts, check. We even went so far as to sit in the snow directly in an effort to see how they did with direct contact with the cold.
Features
To evaluate this metric we simply observed what each pant or bib included and how well those elements functioned. A pair of pants with more specific functions, thoughtfuly placed pockets, or add-ons like RECCO Technology and fancy gaiters would score higher here. Some pants have pockets that are more style than function, while others have pockets that do both. Understandably, pockets that worked the best, scored higher here.
Style
Style is another metric that is subjective, though we tried to add more measurable aspects. Pants were ranked not just on their general look, but also based on the variety in the product offered. If the product accommodated different body sizes or offered the pant in more than a couple of colors, it scored higher.