Isis Bernina Pant
November 4, 2008
I get to try out a lot of pants. Shell pants, soft shell pants, rain pants, ski pants, climbing pants, pants pants pants. So it’s really not too easy to capture my interest with pants design, but Isis has done it with the Bernina pants. Instead of having a front closure, they have side closures, which I was skeptical about at first. Gimmick alert, I thought to myself as I set out to test the pants. All other side-closure pants I’ve tried usually don’t stay closed. Once I even had to climb down from a peak holding my pants up because the stupid side zipper just wouldn’t stay shut. Isis knows what they’re doing though, and after a few excursions in the Berninas, I’m sold on the design.
The lack of front closure makes it more comfortable to carry packs, avalanche transceivers, and radios by eliminating the bulk associated with front closures. Usually a pack waist strap will end up right where the pants closure is, and this usually means the pack waist strap has to be pulled below the pants closure or the pants closure gets pushed below the pack waist strap, and everyone knows where that ends up – Bust-A-Sagville, population: you. The Berninas sport double-snap closures on both sides, ensuring that the side zippers are free from pressure and will therefore stay shut. The full-length side zippers, usually unflattering due to bulk, are virtually unnoticeable but make for easy on/off. Elastic gussets on the back of the waist improve comfort without allowing the pants to shift, and grippy cuffs keep the flying snow on the outside where it belongs. Snap closures on the cuffs ensure defense against precipitation no matter what boots you’re wearing, and they can accommodate ski boots as well as hiking boots.
The Berninas are high-waisted, but the design is so good I actually don’t mind. It’s so nice to not have a front closure competing with my backpack waist strap and my transceiver harness that I don’t even notice the high waist. The elastic on the waist is limited to two gussets on the back, which really seems to be the way to go. It’s functional AND flattering, since the gussets make the back of the waistband fit snug to the, well, waist. Imagine!
The Berninas are tough, too – they’re completely waterproof and resistant to tears and rubs. They feel substantial but not bulky; just perfect for a day of spring skiing or a long day of ridge climbing. As I’ve pointed out in other reviews, Isis makes only women’s gear, and it’s apparent that they have put a lot of thought into their design to expand gear options for women. They even made high-waisted pants that I like – doesn’t that just say it all?
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