When you want to try insulated pants, do you BUY them from Backcountry for $200?

Or do you MAKE them?  

You know the answer if you’re reading this. I had bought Polartec Windpro Stretch and ripstop last year from The Rain Shed to try the Controlled Exposure pants again in a stretchier fabric. But when I saw the quilted Backcountry pants, I pivoted and used my tried and true Brassie joggers pattern and scraps of Thinsulate leftover from my parka.

I quilted the  ripstop to the Thinsulate for the fronts and used the stretch Polartec for the backs. I also used scraps from my magic fleece (Polartec Alpha Direct) to line them–the fronts totally and the backs from gaiter height to parka height:

I went up a size from normal and they fit over my hips no problem–and they are DELIGHTFULLY WARM. I should only need a base layer in the coldest hikes–this test run was about 35 degrees in the sun and 25 in the shade and they were perfect.


The face you make when you spend $0 and get exactly what you want!