Insulated pants
Product 2019
Man
We tested these pants as well as the Columbia Wild Card Jacket.
We found the same comfort even if it these aren’t lined with down insulation. The fabric is soft, stretchy with an ample cut. They are instantly comfortable..
The second striking thing is their warmth, despite how thin they seem. Columbia has been developing Omni-Heat ™ technology for several years, which uses a reflective layer on the inside of the pants to return and conserve body heat. You undeniably gain in heat but with a lack of breathability. We did nevertheless enjoy this Columbia Wild Card in action and whilst standing still in the cold.
The belt is quite well-designed with Velcro® strips on each side for adjustment: the Velcro® stays put in all movements. We did prefer to add a belt. The back is comfy thanks to a cozy material. This area could though go up slightly higher.
The Columbia Wild Card’s major weak point is their lack of reinforcements inside, around the ankles, a zone traditionally exposed to the knocks. It is rather surprising that the Columbia designers didn’t equip the Wild Card with protection. The brand’s website indicates the presence of a guard edge: is it alluding to the pants liner braid ?
The zip on the right thigh is the only waterproof one. The pocket is large enough to accommodate a classic format Smartphone.
We appreciated the strong and durable belt snaps and those at the bottom of the pants. The inner gaiter has very effective elastic that holds on tight to the boot.
The bonus: the preformed knees and this whole area is very comfortable. The ventilation between the thighs are protected by netting. The non-waterproof zip slides well.
They are waterproof and the seams hold fast in wet conditions.
The Columbia Wild Card are affordable, warm, soft and comfortable ski pants. They only lack reinforcements against the knocks from sharp ski edges to be 100% recommendable.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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