What the manufacturers say:
The Men's Alpine Road Pant by Royal Robbins are a timeless piece for summer hiking and adventures. These quick drying, water resistant and durable trousers are perfect for those tough days out on the hill, out on the coastal paths or just simply staying comfortable when venturing afar on those long-haul flights.
Features:
- NEW slimmer Active fit with stretch for durable, contemporary performance
- Gusseted crotch and articulated knees for increased range of motion
- Zippered side utility pocket - cell phone size
- Reinforced bartacks and flat fell seams for increased durability
- Interior safety button and tricot lined waistband for cleaner fit
- Adjustable cord lock at leg opening
- Bluesign® approved fabric
- Fabric: Alpine Melange Stretch - 6.5 oz. 66% Nylon, 31% Polyester, 3% Spandex
- High performance fabric designed for the most active adventurer: the durability of nylon, wrinkle resistance of poly, with
4-way stretch for maximum ease of motion.
- Quick Drying & Water Resistant
Royal Robbins Alpine Road Pant on test:
Royal Robbins is an iconic name in the outdoor industry, the company's founder was both an early pioneer in sponsored or professional climbing and instrumental in the emergence of Yosemite as the United States' climbing Mecca. With such a history the Alpine Road Pants have a lot to live up to.
The Alpine Road pants are a classic hybrid pant, as at home on a transatlantic flight as on the slopes of Skiddaw. The fit, which has been revised this year is "active" with a 4 way stretch fabric to give a stylish look without losing any funtionality. The predominantly Nylon/Polyester mix (with a little spandex for stretch) gives a good balance of durability and crease resistance - which makes them eminantly suitable for travel, along with being quick drying.
The Two main front pockets are mesh, with a small internal pocket set in the right hand front pocket similar to that found on jeans but larger. A further pocket on the right hand leg is aligned diagonally and curves around the side of the leg and is large enough to accommodate today's larger mobile phones like the iPhone 6S or 7S. Rear pockets are "jeans style" fabric pockets without mesh.
In use the Alpine Road Pants are water resistant rather than waterproof but even after a complete soaking they dry very quickly with even a slight breeze. The combination of 4 way stretch fabric and articulated knees makes movement and stretching easy and flat seams not only improves durability but means no annoying rub points.
Along with a tradtional press stud fastening and a wide set of belt loops the pants have an extra, internal, button to ensure they stay in place. At the bottom of the legs an adjustable cord can be used to form a secure fit around the ankle/boot. If there's a problem with the Alpine Road Pant this is where it lies: while the choice of waist sizes is excelent and specific rather than a limited choice of S,M or L, there's fewer options when it comes to length. Should you need to shorten the pants this inevitably means losing the tightening cord.
The combination of the cut and lightweight, quick-drying fabric, makes for a classic travelling pant, but The Alpine Road works equally well as a trail pant; durable while remaining flexible and designed for comfort. At £70 they're mid-range in price, but with street prices around £55 they make a good, flexible, option ideal for those mixed trips where days are spent on the trail but evenings may include going out in town or a hotel for dinner.