Hardshell pants
Product 2019
Woman, Man
We tested the Saber AR pants at the same time as the jacket with the same name. These are a high-end product for freerando, freeriding and skiing in a broader sense.
Let’s clear up a few points and remarks about these very well-designed pants. Of course, it depends on your morphology and how you use the product, but we would’ve liked the waist to be slightly tighter. This is even more important when you wear the Arc’Teryx Saber AR pants over technical underwear. The powerful and practical belt adjustment is not under scrutiny, it is more about the rather slippery fabric. The belt is very thin and so you don’t feel it under another belt that you can slide in the belt loops provided. You could also wear suspenders (not supplied). The other remark concerns the very wide bottoms and very long legs (they can get stuck in the back of the bindings or drag on the ground …).
The rest reveals the usual undisputable quality of Arc’Teryx manufacturing. The result is impeccable. You can search long and hard for any defects, an ill-fitting seam, a thread sticking out, an approximate assembly: this simply does not exist with the Vancouver brand.
Once on, the Arc’Teryx Saber AR pants provide that undeniable feeling of protection. The thick but flexible fabric protects against the wind but above all ensures significant waterproofness: sitting on wet snow on the chairlift, in the rain, etc. This however does not prevent you feeling the cold when the outer layer is in contact with water. But humidity does not get through. Please note, these pants provide low thermal insulation and it is essential to wear a warm technical undergarment. In case it’s really cold you should opt for a thick warm underlayer.
The Arc’Teryx Saber AR are very slightly stretchy so you don’t notice them in the action. They have pre-shaped knees and large side pockets on the thighs and any possible contents doesn’t interfere when bending. These are now a trademark, the very waterproof zips slide well and above all don’t come open on their own. You can grab them easily with gloves on thanks to the thin straps.
The side vents, which are not fitted with netting, do not take in too much air going downhill.
Breathability is always difficult to judge. Let’s say that when you adjust the side openings you are rarely overheated.
The pants are designed to be attached to the Arc’Teryx Saber AR jacket using a sliding button system (Slide’n Loc ™).
We liked their resistance to abrasion. They feel tough and durable. The inside of the pants has a protective layer against any cuts from ski edges. Only the area at the heel, as mentioned above, is exposed to wear and tear if you don’t have long legs. You can always fold the fabric up a little.
The Arc’Teryx Saber AR pants make up the complete set along with the jacket with the same name. This top-of-the-range product is technical, but above all, manufactured with the utmost care. Waterproof and resistant, it can cope with the harshest weather conditions.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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