Lowe Alpine Summit Gore-Tex® Pants - Waterproof (For Women)

I bought the Columbia Sportswear Moonlight Mover Ski Pants (For Women)to compare with these Lowe Alpine pants. The Columbia pants are MUCH more comfortable and fit very well. They were even cheaper ([$] v. [$] and even repel water (compared to the Gore-Tex in these Lowe Alpine pants). I would not recommend these pants - they are very thin (not ideal for skiing) and only repel water. No warmth, or even much room to wear thermals underneath.

The fit will be tricky - the Euro sizes are true to very high-end European/Italian suit sizes. That is to say, I am a 38 in Dolce&Gabanna, Armani and Prada. And the 38 sized waist (fits high on the natural waist, covering maybe the lowest rib) fits perfectly. I am a size 2 or 4 in JCrew, Banana Republic...I'm a size 0 or 2 with the clothing from [@]. My natural waist is 26-27." My inseam is 29 for suit pants and jeans - and the length on the Euro38 is perfect for mountaineering boots. Usually with goretex shells I have inches of extra lumps down by the ankles...not here. Of note though - while the waist sits perfectly with just a wicking layer on, I would not be able to tuck in a thin fleece layer - I would have to wear that over the suspenders and over the pants. Also - I would have given this 5 stars, except the upper leg area (your quads) is looser...I don't have skinny thighs, but the quad area can seriously fit speed-skater thighs...so it's a bit baggy there. But on the plus side I guess that means there's lots of room for movement. It has full zips up both legs, so if you weren't wearing suspenders, you could technically take off the pants without going through the top. I'm 5'4" with a longer torso - and the suspenders felt a bit short. The way the velcro and elastic is placed on the waist (no buttons) means your waist/belly/hip area is smooth and free if you're wearing a harness. There are decent quality, removable gaiters. And I don't think is said it in the description, but the Goretex is the Pro-Shell series - it's really good material. Oh - one last thing about the fit - I have a straight figure - no real curves and the fit is good through the hips. If you are particularly curvy at the hips, you might find the cut a bit tight. Bottomline: if you get the fit right, this is an amazing deal.

I really am impressed with these ski pants after all the bad reviews. My only complaint is not even one pocket. They wear high right at the lower chest which is great since I really wanted bibs anyways. As far as size there is no such thing as true to size. Size 2 is too big on me in Eddie Bauer yet I wear an 8 in Patagonia and if I sew my own I am a size 10. I am 5'6" and 120 and the size 10 fit but were too short so I went with the size 12 which fit well but are a little baggy in the behind.

Waist fits me, but too small for most. Length is great for my short 29 inseam, but too short for most. I normally wear a 4/6 pants (EB size 2)and most are too long. Reading reviews, I got the 40 (tag says US 12) -too big. Ordered 38 & 36. 38 (US 10) fit with room for thermals and movement, 36 tight. Returned 36, 40, kept 38. Fit is narrow in the waist, room in the seat, long waist, and short inseam - just like me! Nice quality, well made.

I bought these in anticipation of a 2014 climb of Kilimanjaro. I wanted Goretex, easy access with or without boots, and a certainty that they were waterproof, windproof, durable, and weighty enough to be my outerlayer in subfreezing temperatures. These pants, which are ski pants, answer all of those needs. The sizing is a little small, in addition to which the label is wildly inaccurate, claiming that they're a size 12, when in fact they are a snug size 8. They aren't the lightest weight thing I could have gotten, but I know they will do what I need them to.