UKH

With their active cut and tough, stretchy softshell fabric, the Exodus are great trousers for winter hillwalking and climbing. But is there room for improvement?

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In reply to UKC/UKH Gear:

£120 for some trousers is madness.

In reply to UKC/UKH Gear:
Please can we stop calling trousers "pants" - it's bad enough that we've started calling films "movies".

In reply to simes303:
Simes I thought I remembered you leaving a comment a bit like this on one or more of my reviews so clicked back on your post history:
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?n=631556&v=1#x8204167
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=633844&v=1#x8229796
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=644330&v=1#x8331168
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=645085&v=1#x8341201
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=647459&v=1#x8365068
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=651139&v=1#x8407796
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=615357&v=1#x8043944
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=593390&v=1#x7835538
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=579340&v=1#x7683384

In my future reviews, I can just add in a wee comment that Simes303 will of course tell us this is an "insane amount" to pay for a jacket/"pants"/pants/pot/pot to piss in/etc/etc. and save you the time.

In reply to TobyA:

Full marks for research, Toby

In reply to TobyA:
WOW! I'm genuinely surprised at that.
They must have been posted over a long time period.
But seriously, some of that stuff is ridiculously priced.
I'll try to stop myself in future but it won't be easy.
Cheers, Si.

In reply to simes303:

Commenting on the high prices of things is one thing. But, if you do make such comments, it might be more helpful if you suggested cheaper alternatives that people might consider.

I note from the links Toby has found that you only once made a suggestion of an alternative, and that was to buy your clothes from a charity shop. That really isn't very useful; you may be in the happy position of not needing much in the way of technical fabrics or features to suit the activities you do, or else lucky enough to find a good range of discarded, good condition Arc'teryx clothing that happens to fit you perfectly, on the one time you pop in to your handy charity shop. I, on the other hand, have never been fortunate enough to find anything I'd want to wear, for casual use, or active use, in the many charity shops I frequent on a regular basis (trawling for electronics and CDs).

In reply to captain paranoia:
Hi, Pretty much everything I wear, from the clothes I wear to work, to clothing I climb in, to the clothing I've climbed in in Scottish Winters, the Alps, and the Dolomites is either from charity shops or home made, with the exception of waterproof stuff, some footwear, and underwear. My £40 waterproof from GO Outdoors is perfectly adequate for pretty much any activity I can think of other than running. It really winds me up that people are made to think that they NEED to spend loads on "technical" clothing, whatever the hell that means. It's like shopping in Waitrose when there's an Aldi next door. Everest was climbed in '53 with very basic clothing, most people won't come anywhere near operating in conditions as extreme as that. I accept that charity shops are very hit and miss, but the cheaper stuff in the outdoor shops will be fine for most people. I went into GO last week for a cheap thermal top and was shown one for £64. Sixty four quid for a thin top? Good god. I bought one for a fiver which will do perfectly well. "Well it won't wick away the moisture will it?" I've never noticed that as a problem. I've run the Lake District "4 peaks", the "14 threes", loads of other running in cheap base layers, with no discomfort. I climbed Mont Blanc in thermals from the market, a couple of woolly jumpers and a coat my dad made, as did my two partners. I really can't understand how a pair of basic trousers can possibly be worth £120. Cheers, Si.

In reply to simes303:


Agreed. So recommend it; point out specific cheaper alternatives. That's what I try to do...

Try not to do it on review threads, though; given that this site is funded by advertisers, who submit items for review, it's rather bad form to post alternatives on review threads. Keep your recommendations to threads where people ask for suggestions.

My recommendations over the years have strongly featured the discount supermarket 'specials', clearance chains, and large European chains. They very rarely include high-end manufacturers, because I'm more concerned with value for money than absolute 'performance'. I am generally found head-to-toe in clothing from a large European chain. And underwear bought direct from China.

Good fabrics and technical cut/design aren't essential, but they can make life more comfortable. But good fabrics and design aren't the exclusive domain of the likes of Arc'teryx. Or Rab...

In reply to captain paranoia:

I have no idea about specific items. I go to a shop, find something cheap, and buy it.
I couldn't even tell you what make my own boots or waterproofs are.