The Outdoor Research Snowcrew Pant Keeps you Ready For any Adventure

Forget dire wolves; Outdoor Research has brought back a unicorn with their Snowcrew Pant. An insulated pant you can actually tour in? I didn’t think it was possible. But OR has delivered, with a pair of pants that keep me warm on the coldest of days (like that hut trip in Montana during a -5 to -15 cold snap) yet don’t overheat whether I’m touring off the pass or hiking a bootpack.

OR Ventia Membrane Wards Off Wind and Wet

A good snowpant needs to keep your legs dry and prevent the wind from getting through. We’ve had one of the wettest winters I can remember in the Tetons — like “rained every month” wet — and I all but lived in these Outdoor Research Snowcrew pants. Their Ventia 2L shell never pushed the heavy rain through, and kept these wild Targhee winds from chilling me to the bone. They’ve also been bomber on the warm hays that smashed out snowpack all winter long, and as I push into the high peaks this Spring. Especially with this 75D x 150D Plain Weave Mechanical Stretch Shell, which acts like an extra bit of shell so much that when I spilled coffee on it, while the stain stayed the hot caffeine distribution system never got through. I even wore them fishing, these OR pants are all-but-waders.

VerticalX Eco Insulation

Outdoor Research’s VerticalX Eco 100% Polyester lining for the Snowcrew is perfect. Just perfect, no other way to describe it. Yeah, I never got cold touring through our double-digit-negative days. But I also never overheated as I fought my way up and out. The VerticalX Eco is just the right balance between warmth and breathability, no doubt helped out by the Snowcrew’s 50D Taffeta Lining. Usually I can only wear insulated pants while resort riding since I tend to run hot; these I rocked everywhere. This was probably also due in part to the vents, while the other features were pretty perfect too.

Snowcrew Extras

Pants need pockets. The Snowcrew pants have a pocket on each thigh but no butt pocket, which is good because as a snowboarder, much less lapping lift-powered hotlaps, you’ll spend enough time sitting to make butt pockets awful. The internal leg vent zips are simply awesome, though. Somehow they get all the cool air and ventilation through the insulation so no matter what I was doing, I never overheated. Even on warmer days where I was worried that my insulated pants would be too much. The mech on the vents worked like air conditioners. Oh yeah, and the Nylon 420D Oxford Scuff Guards on the bottom of the Snowcrews were all but bulletproof, handling the edges of my split when it ran down the bottom cuffs of my pants.

Outdoor Research’s Environmental Ambitions

Outdoor Research is obviously dedicated to sustainability given the Snowcrew pant. The Ventia @L outer is 56% recycled. The taffeta is 100% approved, and the VerticalX is 85% recycled. The Ventia and Lining are both bluesign certified. This adds to OR’s long tradition as being gear for mountain adventurers who care about these majestic places and want them to be there for a long time. And these pants are made in Indonesia, a nation which has managed to work with and around the tariffs so you don’t have to worry about them disappearing, unlike pants made in other places. It might be a factor going forward regardless where you stand, and it’s one OR has already adapted to, ensuring it won’t be an issue here. This is a thing.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Exceptional Versatility & Temperature Regulation: The Snowcrew Pant excels in a wide range of conditions, keeping you warm in extreme cold without overheating during strenuous activities like touring or bootpacking. This is largely due to the VerticalX Eco insulation, which strikes a perfect balance between warmth and breathability, further aided by highly effective internal leg vents.

• Superior Weather Protection: The Ventia 2L shell provides excellent protection against wind and wet conditions, proving durable against heavy rain and strong winds. The fabric’s mechanical stretch shell even repelled a coffee spill, highlighting its robust barrier properties.

Cons:

• No Butt Pockets: While the absence of butt pockets is presented as a positive for snowboarders and those who sit frequently, it might be a con for users who prefer or are accustomed to having rear storage options in their snow pants.

• Potential for Bulk (Implied): Although the review praises the pants for not overheating despite insulation, the very fact that it’s an “insulated pant you can actually tour in” suggests that traditionally, insulated pants are often considered too bulky or warm for touring. While OR has overcome this, some users might still perceive or experience a slight increase in bulk compared to uninsulated shell pants, depending on personal preference and activity level.

Overall Impression

Outdoor Research has long made amazing gear and the Snowcrew Pant ($229) is no different. These things keep off the elements like a force field but keep you the right temp like having your own built-in HVAC system. I rocked these all season from yurt trips to tours to resort hot laps and it was a miracle how well it kept my old ass from overheating but never let the biting cold get its bite. For unbeatable protection combined temperature regulation out of some sort of shredder’s dream, the Outdoor Research Snowcrew is unbeatable. And their Snowcrew Jacket is neat too!

We dig these pants too:

1. Burton [AK] Tusk Bibs
2. Patagonia Snowshot Pants
3. Dakine Sender Stretch Pants