Hello. I am Daichi Terui, a mountain guide.
This time I want to write about a pair of trousers I have relied on for years: the ARC’TERYX Alpha SV Bib Pants.
DaichiThese are the trousers I wear in the winter mountains
A GORE-TEX Pro bib built for severe alpine conditions, and the most durable piece Arc’teryx makes.
A bib keeps the waistband clear of your harness when you are ice climbing, so there is none of that tight feeling around the waist, and it also stops powder finding its way down your back on a backcountry ski day.
There are removable pads at the knees, which makes a real difference when you are belaying on your knees on a winter climb.
The three-dimensional cut is excellent as well. What stands out is the way the inside of the knee is tapered.
It means you can see your feet clearly as you climb, and that feeds straight into safety.
The 100-denier nylon face fabric also stands up well to scrapes from ski edges and crampons.
Zips run up the outside of the calf, so they go over ski boots.
Trousers have a harder job than a jacket. They have to be tough and easy to move in at the same time, and those two demands pull against each other.
This is a product that answers both, and answers them well.
