Outdoor Research

Cirque III Pant - Men's

Amazing mountaineering softshell pants

I bought this to use as a double weave softshell for alpine mountaineering and it's been perfect. It works as advertised and it's hard to find any fault with it. It's flexible and breathes well so you don't get sweaty with it on. It's sufficiently and modestly wind resistant and water resistant. Light snowfall and sitting on snow didn't soak through and it held up fine against heavy winds (enough so that I didn't feel a need for a hardshell on top) It's pretty durable and has taken accidental impalements with a crampon without falling apart, likewise for catching it with an ice axe. It's marketed as 3-season pants but I took it up Mt Fuji for a winter summit and it performed great. Great all around.

Odd Design / Could have been much better pants

The design is odd with a net pocket within the front right (zipper) pocket, no rear left pocket, a flimsy buckle that will probably not last sub zero temps. Material seems durable and I do like the gusseted ankle zipper pant legs and reinforced scuff guards.

Big guy needed big Pants

I am a big and tall guy. 6’ 3” 300+. But I still absolutely love being outdoors and going on adventures, I have never been able to find a pair of outdoor pants that would ever fit right. Let’s be honest, there are some really cool companies that only make sizes that stop at the XL size. Not OR, I wear a 48” waist and 34 length. And these pants fit so unbelievably well. I got them for a three week trip across Europe. We started in the rain in Amsterdam and finished in the snow in Zermatt. These pants fit every single occasion I threw at them. Warm when they needed to be, cool enough not to overheat, dry in the rain, and stretched perfectly on the slopes. Basically, they just fit right.

Great pants for backcountry skiing!

I’ve been using these pants for backcountry skiing and have been extremely satisfied with them. Despite being a soft shell, I have not issues with water or windproofness. The expandable cuff is fantastic for fitting over ski boots without being excessively large when wearing other footwear. All in all fantastic gear!

Cirque III alpine pants are very well made, reasonably priced, and will be a good addition to my backcountry gear. They also have shorter inseam lengths which is appreciated. One item that is lacking is an inside powder cuff on the pant legs. I'm an avid alpine and backcountry skier averaging 50+ days/year so they will get used often.

Great, but please bulk up the pocket zippers!

I have had two pairs of the cirque one pant prior to this one. Sadly I had to warranty both of them on account of the little zippers failing on the pockets leading me to sew them shut to keep from getting pocket fulls of snow. Thankfully OR has a fantastic warranty and warranty service!!! Disappointingly they are still using the same zippers on these pants. I live and ski in Utah. I wear these pants both the resort and in the backcountry and find the stretch and breathability of the pants to be just what I want while still keeping out the cold and wet. I have ice climbed in them, and done mountaineering adventures in them. While they can be too warm for summer missions and not water proof enough for winter attempts in the cascades they cover are just right the majority of the time and paired with a hard shell for full on blizzards are still my go to pants for snowy adventures in the mountains!

Great pants for outdoor adventures.

Having never had true mountaineering pants before, I did some research, and decided on these. I don’t regret it. They’re quality made, tough, and thoughtfully built. I’m 5’8 and got the small and short size, as I have shorter legs, and the fit is good. I will update this review if anything changes with the pants.

Great active pant

I bought these pants after the reviews here and getting a review from some friends on the company overall. I have been hiking the past couple days out in Utah and these pants have been amazing. They have been able to withstand the snow, wind, and mud. The pockets allow for venting which is nice because the temps have been changing quite a bit. Sizing runs true to fit so be prepared for that. Would highly recommend these if your looking for something for winter activities that require you to be active in.

Excellent

Best softshell I've ever worn! Warm a durable with no loss of movement. Have been perfect for ice climbing and winter biking.

Great pant for rough conditions

Just received these pants 2 weeks ago. As soon I tried them on I knew they were special. I own the Cirque I pant in small, which are a bit short and tight @ the waist. These new model I bought in medium, and they seem just right. The pockets have changed, however, and for the better. All are larger, and quite capacious.