The Long Trail Hoody + Crag Pant (Men's/Women's) is a practical layering staple that covers 80% of your body.
Takuro Hayashi, a freelance writer and photographer active in ski, snowboard and outdoor magazines, who also runs the outdoor equipment store "Transit Higashikawa" in Hokkaido, gives us his seal of approval on the ultra-water-repellent product!
When you hold it in your hand, it doesn't really make sense, but when you actually see how it works, you'll go beyond amazement and burst out laughing. Teton Bros. has some crazy products like this in their lineup. To be specific, they have the Long Trail Hoodie and Crag Pants from their spring/summer collection. What makes these products so crazy is that they have such powerful water repellency that it's almost laughable.
When you think of water repellency, you probably imagine raindrops rolling off the surface of the fabric. However, Teton Bros.' water repellency is even more robust. Even if you splash a lot of water on them, the water simply slides off the surface of the fabric without any resistance. The technology used is called Dry Action, and the incredible water repellency is achieved by treating each and every fiber that makes up the fabric. However, this is why their Long Trail Hoodie and Crag Pants can even carry away the water they scoop up. They're not waterproof! They're just fabric! They're water repellent! They can scoop up water! It's such crazy functionality that it's so amazing you'll laugh at how crazy it is.
*As of 2023* The Long Trail Hoody will be available as the Head Wall Hoody (Dry Action Soft Shell) in spring and summer. The Crag Pants will be updated for fall and winter (changed to Graphene Soft Shell material).
However, if you squeeze the fabric with water inside, the water will flow out from between the layers of the fabric. This is proof that the fabric is breathable. In other words, Long Trail Hoodies and Crag Pants have a good combination of high water repellency, which prevents water from getting in (although as we'll discuss later, water will pass through the fabric when pressure is applied, so they are not waterproof), and breathability. You could even say that they combine the comfort of a soft shell with the practical performance of a hard shell.
To begin with, the golden rule for mountain hiking is to "assume good weather" and "prepare for bad weather." In other words, most outdoor activities are carried out in good weather, or between good and bad weather. If that's the case, there's no need to wear gear that's specifically designed for terrible weather. On days when you don't need to worry about bad weather, it can be more fun and comfortable to enjoy the good weather in a comfortable soft shell. If you think about it this way, then "realistic layering" that assumes good weather is possible. It's true that I've been thinking in this way ever since I came across the Long Trail Hoodie.
That's because I started using the Long Trail Hoodie as a shell for hiking up while backcountry snowboarding in the winter. The fabric is moderately breathable, and the full zip makes it easy to regulate body temperature. The well-shaped hood and high water repellency mean you don't have to worry about snow or light rain, and the four-way stretch means you can move freely. I prepare a hard shell and then frequently use a soft shell when the weather is nice. This idea felt right from late autumn through the harsh winter, spring, and summer. In the end, I've been wearing it almost every day for over nine months, making it a heavy rotation.
After discovering the Long Trail Hoodie, I also purchased the Crag Pants made from the same material in early spring 2020. Being completely wrapped up in a highly water-repellent garment completely changed the way I do outdoor activities. I no longer have to worry about getting wet. The sense of security that comes from this makes everything I do lighter and more effortless.
For example, the highlight of hiking in Hokkaido in summer is the first thing in the morning. Under a crisp, clear sky, you're enveloped in the clear air unique to high latitudes. The views stretch out as far as the eye can see, and the wind gently rustles. The chirps of Japanese bush grosbeaks occasionally ring out, along with the sounds of skylarks. This time of day feels like paradise on earth, but as you walk, your legs will be soaked from the shins down with morning dew. So, even with such beautiful scenery, depending on the route, you need to be prepared to start hiking wearing only rain pants. Even though it's sunny, you'll need to be determined to put your feet under the sweaty, uncomfortable rain gear.
However, with Crag Pants, you can walk in the crisp air without worrying about morning dew. Originally designed as climbing pants, they're incredibly light to walk in. While you're walking, you can feel the cold of the morning dew through the fabric. However, because the dew doesn't soak into the fabric, once you've made it through the sea of grass, it's completely dry in 10 minutes. You can maximize comfort and activity, regardless of changing conditions. This is the appeal of ultra-water-repellent clothing.
So, for now, I cycle to work 20km round trip every day, hike in the low mountains, hike in the alpine area, and do a little fishing all in the Long Trail Hoodie and Crag Pants. It's not that I'm comfortable with them, but rather that I'm so satisfied with them that I don't feel the need to pull out other clothing. With just these, I can cover 80% of my outdoor activities. In light rain, I can walk, pedal, and fish without needing to take out my rain gear.
What surprised me was that the high water repellency also makes it difficult for dirt to stick to the pants. Even the mud you get from pedaling on paved roads after a rain can be wiped off in an instant. Since I realized this, I've found them useful for weeding the garden and tending to my vegetable patch. Not only are they comfortable and easy to move in, but even if they get really dirty with dirt, you can just brush it off with your hand. Even the hem of the pants that was stained with bicycle chain oil came off with a simple wipe with a cloth. What's more, they don't seem to retain sweat or other contaminants, so they don't get smelly even after wearing them for a long time. They're truly versatile outdoor wear. In addition, the fabric is durable enough that they won't wear down even if they get scraped a little on rocks.
That said, there are pros and cons to everything. Fabric that repels rain from the outside naturally also repels sweat. If you continue to sweat heavily, sweat will accumulate inside. Pants in particular tend to come into direct contact with bare skin, which can be uncomfortable when wet with sweat.
Furthermore, even the excellent water-repellent properties are no match for pressure. Not only in heavy rain or sideways rain, but also in the straps of a backpack, depending on the amount of rain, the fabric can soak through. When I got caught in the rain while cycling, my upper body was fine, but the area around the saddle, where my weight rests, had large water stains.
As you can see, the Long Trail Hoodie and Crag Pants are not designed to withstand bad weather, such as rain and wind. However, the fact that they are not designed for all weather conditions is precisely what makes these products so useful. They are garments that allow for "realistic layering" for the "good weather" that you spend most of your time playing outside, and they are products that cover the realistic risks that lurk when good weather turns to bad.
When outdoors, people tend to be too concerned about safety and seek out over-spec equipment and take unnecessary precautions. However, such equipment and precautions can slow down your mobility and sometimes hinder the enjoyment of the outdoors. If you worry about not having this or that feature, or you think you'll be in trouble if you don't have it, your equipment will only get heavier. Instead, think about what you can do with this and that, and expand your possibilities. It is this kind of active thinking that makes this product so crazy and so appealing.
Just to be clear, both the Long Trail Hoody and the Crag Pants are available in both men's and women's sizes. We hope that outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and genders will experience the amazing water repellency they offer.