RIDGE PANT: Evolving by discarding

Takuro Hayashi, a freelance writer and photographer active in ski, snowboard, and outdoor magazines, also runs the outdoor equipment store "Transit Higashikawa" in Hokkaido, and has sent us a report on Teton Bros.' new product, "Ridge Pants."

Many people check the weather forecast before going outside and only go out when the weather is good. Since we selectively go out when the weather is fine, our outdoor life is premised on good weather.

That said, there are no guarantees when it comes to the outdoors. Even if the weather forecast predicts good weather, the weather can sometimes turn bad unexpectedly. Of course, as you gain altitude, you can expect to be caught in the clouds. That's why you should choose ultra-water-repellent clothing that can withstand light rain and fog. This way, you'll be prepared even if the weather worsens a little. You also won't have to worry about walking on routes where your feet are likely to get wet, such as on a grassy plain covered in morning dew. What's more, ultra-water-repellent clothing not only repels water, but also mud and oil stains, and it also resists unpleasant odors even when worn for long periods of time, making it ideal for outdoor activities in every way.

RIDGE PANT: Evolving through discarding

Although I could clearly feel the comfort of the Ridge Pants in my daily life, it's more fun to go out into the field. So I went hiking to Mount Hakuundake in the Daisetsu Mountains. From Mount Hakuundake in early summer, you can see the striped pattern of the snowfields known as "zebra." In the background center of the photo is Mount Asahidake, the highest peak in Hokkaido, but by the time I reached the summit, it was shrouded in clouds and I couldn't see it. My bottoms for the day were the Ridge Pants, and my top was the Long Trail Hoodie.

RIDGE PANT: Evolving through discarding

In early July, in the Daisetsu Mountains, you can enjoy not only the view but also the fields of alpine flowers. The white ones are Aleutiana, the purple ones are Ezo Himekugata, and the pink ones mixed in between are Ezonotsugazakura.

So, I've suggested that a highly water-repellent long trail hoodie and crag pants be the core of your clothing. Of course, you'll get caught in the rain sometimes. In those cases, just like a folding umbrella, you can take out your rain gear from your backpack. What's more, if that rain gear is so comfortable and easy to wear that you can even enjoy the rain, even the rain can become an accent to your outdoor activities. So, with a lightweight and comfortable feather rain gear, you can continue to enjoy your outdoor activities even if the weather turns out to be fine.

RIDGE PANT: Evolving through discarding

In the last 30 minutes of the descent, the sky suddenly darkened and I was caught in a strong evening shower. The footing was unstable due to the steep rocky terrain. So I decided to hurry down the mountain wearing only my Feather Rain jacket. The Ridge Pants repelled the rain for only about a minute. After that, they absorbed the water, and my feet got increasingly wet. What surprised me, however, was that the pants didn't absorb water and become heavy, nor did they cling to my feet. If the conditions allow and you can manage even if they get wet, then you don't need to worry too much about the rain. These pants are more water-friendly than I expected.

And the good news is that you don't have to worry too much about the weather, and the dirt-resistant, durable outdoor wear also doubles as comfortable everyday wear. That's why the Long Trail Hoodie and Crag Pants are so popular with many Teton Bros. fans as versatile lifestyle wear for everything from the backyard to the Alps.

Although I've listed all the advantages, I'm missing an important point. As I mentioned briefly in the first article about the Long Trail Hoodie and Crag Pants, these fabrics are a little too warm. While they may be suitable for early spring in Nagano or autumn in Okutama, they are far too hot to wear in midsummer on Honshu.

RIDGE PANT: Evolving by discarding

Although I set out before dawn to avoid the heat, the heat rose sharply as I was exposed to the summer sun. The Long Trail Hoodie I had been wearing at the start of my walk was already in my backpack. I realized that the Ridge Pants were better suited to activities where heat was expected than the Crag Pants. For my upper body, I was wearing a super water-repellent PPP long sleeve top layered with the sweat-absorbing and quick-drying Vapor. I also wear this combination in winter, and as someone who sweats a lot, it's a comfortable set that I can wear all year round.

Knowing Teton Bros., I'm sure one of the athletes shouted, "Crag, it's too hot to wear!" With a long trail hoodie, you can just take it off, but not with pants! And the development staff thought, "We understand! Let's make something cool!" While it's good to assume good weather, we shouldn't just consider horizontal weather changes like sunshine or rain. Shouldn't we also expand the variations to include temperature changes that can be considered three-dimensional, like heat or cold?

And so the Ridge Pants were born.

Usually, product development involves keeping the good parts and improving the unsatisfactory parts. If you're making cool crag pants, the theme is how to make them cooler while maintaining their greatest feature, their ultra-water repellency. However, the Ridge Pants, or rather Teton Bros., took the opposite approach. They thought that thoroughly eliminating the unsatisfactory parts would make a dramatic difference!

The main issue he was unhappy with was the heat that came with crag pants. When he thought about how to deal with the heat, he was inspired by climbing surf shorts.
(For more details on this product, which became a huge hit immediately after its release, please see the recent column by writer Tomoko Fukutaki in "WORDS FROM BUDDY," where she wrote about its amazing versatility. I'm sure you'll find that these are the shorts you need, and your desire to own one will skyrocket.)

RIDGE PANT: Evolving by discarding

Here's a photo of some flowers to wash it down. The yellow one is a yellow sclerotium. It is endemic to Mount Daisetsu and only blooms for about two weeks in early July. The pink one in the background right is the queen of alpine plants, Dicentra persica. At the foot of Mount Akadake, which leads to Mount Hakuundake, there is a plateau called Komakusa-daira, where, as the name suggests, you can see a colony of Dicentra persica all over the place.

Setting aside ease of use outdoors for a moment, when considering coolness and comfort, how much water-repellent property is required? Could it be that the water-repellent properties of the fabric mean that sweat remains on the skin? If so, wouldn't water-repellent properties impair ease of use in situations involving prolonged sweating or sudden, heavy sweating?

If that's the case, it would be better to have pants that quickly absorb sweat and dry quickly, which would cool you down through the evaporative cooling effect. If they're pants designed for summer, they're also great for playing in rivers and the sea. You don't need to worry about getting wet as much as you would in other seasons. So, even though the Ridge Pants are supposed to be an improved version of the Crag Pants, they've simply abandoned their greatest asset, the ultra-water-repellent feature, in favor of quick-drying properties.

Additionally, we felt that comfort was key for summer outdoor pants. For example, if you feel the fabric stretching when you lift your legs, it can be quite irritating. It's a pain to squat down, and it's a pain to open your legs. Just thinking about pants that make you feel that way makes you feel uncomfortable. That's why we gave the fabric stretch and used a three-dimensional cut that allows you to sit with your knees slightly bent. The gentle taper towards the feet creates a streamlined silhouette, while a drawcord at the hem prevents bulk.

RIDGE PANT: Evolving through discarding

Alpine plants such as the 'Meaka-momo' (Citrus nigra) grow in colonies even on the hiking trails, so you have to walk along the stones that are placed along the trail. Even in such situations, the tapered Ridge Pants make it easy to move around. The drawcord at the hem prevents small pebbles from getting inside your shoes.

On top of that, to satisfy the outdoor usability that was set aside, the fabric is made of durable Cordura nylon that can withstand climbing, and the slight water-repellent properties added to it speak to the lineage of these pants.

Unlike the Crag, the Ridge is not designed for bad weather. Rather, it is designed for bright, sunny summer days. Like the climbing surf shorts, it is a product for extremely good weather, suitable for the ocean, mountains, rivers, and other fields that expand in all directions.

What's more, the design is low-profile and simple. It pairs well with sandals or low-top sneakers, making it a natural choice for everyday wear, while also exuding a touch of chic elegance. With such refreshing versatility, it's perfect for trekking in hot weather. The lightweight fabric and the cut that doesn't restrict movement all evoke the cool ocean breeze on a summer evening.

RIDGE PANT: Evolving through discarding

Lifting my thighs, bending my knees, and walking were all stress-free. I left my smartphone in my pocket, but it didn't bother me at all. At the end of the day, I found the security of the Crag Pants was good, but the lightness and freedom of the Ridge Pants were hard to give up. In other words, you should choose your gear according to your activity pattern.

The stress-free comfort of not having to worry about getting wet makes them a great choice for the mountains, rivers, and everyday life. In the end, I've settled on using them in conjunction with crag pants depending on the activity, probability of precipitation, altitude, and terrain of my destination.

While I enjoyed these options, I found myself wishing I had a long trail hoodie made from the fabric of the Ridge Pants.

(Writer: Takuro Hayashi / Photo: PECO)

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