”I’ve been reviewing a couple different pairs of Schoeller pants for Womenspecific.com,” is what I said tonight at dinner with a few friends.
”Shoulder pads?” my friend Ian asked, a puzzled look on his face and god knows what was going through his head.
”No…Shoeller pants,” I again said, trying to enunciate my words better.
We cleared it up, but I keep laughing at another friend’s comment….”All I could picture was the women’s hockey team.”

Well, needless to say, I am not a hockey player. Nor do I wear shoulder pads any other time in my life. I am a skier, a runner, and currently a homebuilder.

I have worn my Cloudveil pants for the latter two activities this fall. They are the softest pair of Schoeller pants I’ve worn. I have plenty of room to move in them – there’s no interfering with my stride while I’m running down Fox Creek and they do the trick as I’m moving lumber back and forth. There are four pockets in this pair of pants – two pockets for my hands, a pocket on the bum, and a thigh pocket that’s big enough to fit a topo map in. This is a WONDERFUL feature in these pants.

These Cloudveil Switchback pants are definitely a lightweight pair of outdoor pants. There will be no skiing in these in the dead of winter. Maybe late spring, but not winter in the Tetons….or maybe I just need to spend less time digging snow pits and more time drinking hot chocolate in the warming hut.
I like the fit of these pants for the most part. Because of the gripper web waist they don’t fall down and they’re long enough for my spider legs. They are really comfortable and soft. My one complaint with these pants is the shape of the legs. They are W-I-D-E for my uses. They are meant for all season travel, therefore, they need to go over ski touring boots; in which case, they’re great. For me, going out for a run in them, I feel like I have a bit too much fabric flapping in the breeze.

All in all, I like these pants a lot. I would like to see them a little more tapered, to make me feel a bit more like I’m wearing women’s pants. They are a great choice for late spring, summer, and fall activities. Again, they are perfect for spring skiing. They’re lightweight and functional, with plenty of places to stash maps, snacks, and whatever else you need along the way. And they are definitely more stylish than a pair of shoulder pads.