ByMultiple Authors
Nov 20, 2024
Table of contents
The Legendary is Helly Hansen's budget pant that’s warm enough, waterproof enough, and stylish enough for most casual skiers. They’re also softer and more supple than most ski pants, but are not a super durable choice for heavy use.
The Legendary is Helly Hansen's budget pant that’s warm enough, waterproof enough, and stylish enough for most casual skiers. They’re also softer and more supple than most ski pants, but are not a super durable choice for heavy use.
Weather Protection
Warmth
Comfort
Breathability
Durability
Sustainability
Best for
Resort
Waterproofing
2-layer Helly Tech Performance
Insulation
60g synthetic
Fabric
Polyester
Pros
Cons
The name says it all: The Helly Hansen Legendary Pants are nothing short of iconic. These pants have been a best-selling model for years running, beloved for their reliable performance at a reasonable price point. With PrimaLoft insulation placed only at the rear and the knees, they offer enough warmth to cut the chill without added bulk, and the soft taffeta liner makes them extra cozy. In contrast to thicker and more rigid pants like the Patrol and the Powderbound, the Legendary’s two-way stretch shell feels noticeably thinner, more supple, and easy to wear—these are the kind of ski pants that transition to après with ease.
Feature-wise, the Legendary is fairly run-of-the-mill, albeit with a few surprises. Along with a snap at the waist, Helly Hansen added a nice grommet to keep the pants secure, and the hand pockets actually use coated zippers, which are rarely seen in the budget space. But the scuff guards are tiny, the inner thigh vents are short (7 in.) and lined with mesh, and Helly Hansen makes no effort to hide the bulky Velcro tabs at the waist. What’s more, there is no thigh pocket, which limits storage options.
We included the Legendary on our budget list because we think they’re some of the most comfortable pants out there, and their lightweight warmth is a nice balance between insulated and uninsulated designs. But these pants do fall far short of the competition in terms of weather protection and durability. Helly Tech Performance membrane is Helly Hansen’s cheapest waterproofing, and the thin shell fabric won’t hold up super well to the rigors of resort use. But if you get out in dry conditions and want a comfortable ski pant (and that trademark “HH” on your thigh and calf), they’re well worth considering. For more, read our review of the Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated.
A durable and stormworthy workhorse pant from a core ski-apparel brand. There aren't many uninsulated options in the budget ski pant space, so the Patrol stands out for penny pinchers who want a versatile pant they can wear every day of the season.
A durable and stormworthy workhorse pant from a core ski-apparel brand. There aren't many uninsulated options in the budget ski pant space, so the Patrol stands out for penny pinchers who want a versatile pant they can wear every day of the season.
Weather Protection
Warmth
Comfort
Breathability
Durability
Sustainability
Best for
Resort
Waterproofing
2-layer Patrol
Insulation
Uninsulated
If you want to save money without compromising on durability, check out the Flylow Patrol Pant. Built with thick, 250-denier polyester (as Flylow advertises, the same material many pants would use for a scuff guard), the Patrol is super tough and ready for day-in, day-out use. In fact, that’s why it’s named the Patrol—Flylow designed the pants as a daily driver for ski patrollers and other resort employees who put in a lot of time on the slopes.
The Patrol isn’t just durable, it’s quite waterproof too. These pants are fully seam taped—as opposed to a design like the REI Powderbound, which is just taped at the critical seams. And while the Patrol’s Intuitive membrane isn’t as reassuring as Gore-Tex, it gets the job done in most resort weather. We also like that the Patrol is uninsulated, which is a great option for high-energy skiers or for those who like the ability to customize their layers based on conditions. And to guard against chairlift chills, Flylow lined the seat with a nice patch of thin fleece.
Feature-wise, the Patrol pants definitely have a budget vibe. You get two hand pockets, a small thigh pocket (which fits our smartphone), a rear pocket, and short, 7-inch inner thigh vents (don’t believe the 10-in. measurement Flylow advertises). There are no water-tight zippers, which is not surprising for a pant of this price point, and the button-and-fly closure is nothing to write home about. But the standard velcro tabs at the waist help dial in the fit, and the cuffs feature powder gaiters and extra-durable scuff guards. All told, we think the REI Powderbound offers a more refined feature set, but the Patrol wins when it comes to waterproofing, durability, and versatility.
The Powderbound is your standard entry-level insulated ski pant. The fit isn’t super refined, the waterproofing will get overwhelmed in truly wet conditions, and the inner thigh vents are small, but for casual resort skiers they get the job done at a lower price point than most.
The Powderbound is your standard entry-level insulated ski pant. The fit isn’t super refined, the waterproofing will get overwhelmed in truly wet conditions, and the inner thigh vents are small, but for casual resort skiers they get the job done at a lower price point than most.
Weather Protection
Warmth
Comfort
Breathability
Durability
Sustainability
Best for
Resort
Waterproofing
2-layer Peak
Insulation
40g synthetic
Fabric
Nylon
Pros
Cons
REI’s brand-name products are a great one-stop shop for value, and the Powderbound Insulated are a case in point. In fact, we think these are the best budget ski pants on the market, with a great combination of price and performance and a really nice fit and finish compared to the budget competition.
The Powderbound pants feature 40-gram insulation, which is enough warmth for the majority of resort skiers. The taffeta liner is soft, comfortable, and feels particularly high-end compared to the hanging-mesh liners we’re used to seeing in most budget pants. And the Powderbound’s feature set is excellent for a pant of this price, including two snaps at the waist (most pants just use a single button), a fleece-lined waistband with hidden velcro adjustments, and 8-inch inner thigh vents (longer than those on the Flylow Patrol). The thigh pocket accommodates our smartphone with ease, but the vertical zipper is a bit of a pain to operate.
Another highlight of the Powderbound is its shell fabric—the recycled polyester feels much sleeker and more durable than the fabric used on the Helly Hansen Legendary or Columbia Bugaboo. In our experience, the Powderbound sheds moisture very well, but it’s worth noting that this pant is only critically seam taped, limiting its performance in wet conditions. For more, read our review of the REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated pant.
One of the most affordable pants on the market, the Bugaboo can save casual skiers some hard-earned cash. But the waterproofing is not reliable, the insulation is bulky, and the feature set is noticeably trimmed down. There are much better budget options.
One of the most affordable pants on the market, the Bugaboo can save casual skiers some hard-earned cash. But the waterproofing is not reliable, the insulation is bulky, and the feature set is noticeably trimmed down. There are much better budget options.
Weather Protection
Warmth
Comfort
Breathability
Durability
Sustainability
Best for
Resort
Waterproofing
2-layer Omni-Tech
Insulation
60g synthetic
Fabric
Nylon
Pros
Cons
The Columbia Bugaboo V Insulated is the most affordable ski pant to make our list, checking in at $120. It’s obviously in a different league than most of the alternatives (if the other budget pants here are little league, the Bugaboo is t-ball), with Michelin-Man vibes and not a lot to offer in terms of wet-weather protection. There are also no thigh vents, which combined with the thick, budget insulation, means you could easily overheat in mild conditions.
The Bugaboo doesn’t hide its other cost-saving tactics either: The reflective liner looks cheap and feels sticky, and the pants lack scuff guards and a thigh pocket (which we find very useful for storing a phone). And as we alluded to above, the shell fabric is flexible and soft and has a lot more texture than a sleek ski pant—in our testing it absorbed quite a bit more moisture compared to the other models. Lastly, Columbia does add a flare at the hem (you can snap it closed), which some will find helpful for accommodating bulky ski boots (the other pants on this list do not have this feature).
To be honest, we almost didn’t include the Bugaboo. Quite simply, we feel that it has nothing to offer over the Powderbound, except for the $39 savings. But if you’re trying to pinch pennies as much as possible, it’s a workable option that will keep you warm and mostly dry—just don’t push it in warm or wet weather. For more, read our in-depth Bugaboo V review.
None of the gear we recommend is perfect, and we don’t shy away from communicating its weaknesses. But when we make the choice to put an item on our list—whether it’s a backpacking tent, a down jacket, or a pair of ski pants—it means we think it has something special to offer, whether it’s performance, price, style, convenience, or a combination of all of the above.
Some items, however, simply don’t make the cut.
We tested The North Face’s Build Up Pants ($140): They looked like rain pants, felt like rain pants, and offered the performance of rain pants. The Build Up Pants don’t have vents or boot gaiters, and the pockets are so small they can barely fit our smartphone. If you’re looking for a pair of relaxed-fitting rain pants and don’t mind the added bulk and warmth of the mesh liner, they’ll get the job done. But for just $19 more, the REI Co-op Powderbound Pants are a much better pick for the slopes, and they’re a lot warmer, too.
We also tested The North Face Freedom Insulated pants, which come in a non-insulated version, too. To be clear, we actually like these pants: They’re built with a relatively durable 160- by 140-denier nylon, are fully seam sealed, and are accompanied by that TNF brand cachet that many skiers will love. But with a recent price bump to $220 (and $200 for the non-insulated version), they no longer make sense for our budget list, especially when you could pick up the more durable Flylow Patrol for a similar price, or the insulated REI Co-op Powderbound ($159) for significantly less. For a more details, see our Freedom Insulated Pant review.
To get a better understanding of the pants listed above, it can help to know the brands that make them. These companies all have their distinct personalities that fill specific niches in the budget space. Our breakdowns focus less on performance and more on the brand’s flavor and position, which we’ve found to be very helpful in deciding where to focus our attention.
We’ll start with Columbia, essentially the bottom level of the budget market (you can go even lower with Amazon knock-offs and Walmart specials, but we wouldn't recommend it). Columbia’s offerings aren’t terrible, but discerning shoppers will notice that they’re a slight step down from the alternatives—the reflective tin-foil-like liners and hanging mesh really betray their cheap construction. And while fit always takes a hit among budget apparel, Columbia’s apparel can be particularly frumpy. But the Portland, Oregon-based brand offers decent value and will save you a ton of money even compared to the other budget offerings on our list.
Onto REI, one of the most recognizable names in outdoor gear. If you’re new to outdoor activities or just like to save money, REI-branded gear is a perfect place to start: It’s fairly reliable (and backed with a great warranty), available in a ton of sizes (including plus sizes), and is decently inoffensive in terms of style. Compared to a brand like Columbia, REI’s apparel is more modern-looking, and recent offerings seem to be evolving in a more style-forward direction. Their construction is also a step-up and falls into a nice neutral space in the market—it’s not trying to be high-end, but it’s not the bargain basement, either.
It’s true that The North Face occupies a space at the tippy top of the market, with expedition-worthy gear worn by pro athletes like Alex Honnold, Emily Harrington, and Jimmy Chin. But don’t be fooled: Their primary market trends more towards college kids and aspiring ski bunnies. Regardless, the TNF logo still holds clout and offers a certain cool factor that you just don’t get with Columbia and REI. Their budget apparel isn’t shy about sacrificing performance for price, but we’ve found that one step up from their cheapest products (like the Freedom series) offers decently good value.
Helly Hansen is one of the most recognizable names in ski apparel and there’s a good chance the lifties at your local ski resort are wearing it, in addition to the patrollers, the ski instructors, and the corporate executives. You really can’t go wrong with this brand, especially if you don’t mind blending in with the crowd (although we do find the neon brims on their jackets slightly controversial). They don’t offer too many budget options, but we’ve found their Legendary pant to be a cut above the competition.
Now we’re getting into the fun stuff. Flylow knows how to make a great ski pant—it has offerings near the top-end of the market—and is one of the most stylish, forward-looking names in ski apparel. This is where to look if you care about looking like the cool kids. Despite being affordable, their budget gear still nails the trendy freeride vibes and looks premium, but without the accompanying price tag. If you’re a young (or young-ish) skier who wants to look hip while being gentle on your wallet, Flylow is a great place to land.
We think budget ski pants are a great choice for a lot of winter enthusiasts—resort skiing is not typically a high-output activity, so why overspend on your kit when you’ve already emptied your wallet on your lift ticket and lunch? Plus, if you ski just a few weeks out of the year and aim for good conditions, there’s very little compromise between price and quality. Here are the upsides to saving money on ski pants.
Most resort skiers ride the lift uphill and cruise the groomers down, which—sorry to break it to you—isn’t the most intense activity. As a result, a high-end breathable pant isn’t really necessary. This is the key factor that makes the budget category a viable option for resort skiing: Most 2-layer pants (which feature a hanging liner rather than a sleek laminated liner) will perform just fine and are generally much cheaper than 3-layer designs. What’s more, 2-layer pants are available in both insulated and non-insulated varieties, so you still get some level of choice around where to land on the warmth versus breathability spectrum. For more on this topic, read our article Ski Jacket Construction: 2-Layer vs. 3-Layer.
Weather protection is another important factor to consider This is where resort skiing can place high demands on a pair of ski pants: Riding a chairlift in a storm is a true test of a pant’s shell fabric, water-repellent finish, and waterproof membrane. The good news is that most skiing happens in below-freezing temperatures, so precip falls as snow and sheds quickly from a pant’s shell. If you do find yourself skiing in wet snow or rain and your pants start soaking through, you can always dry out in the lodge between laps. We think budget pants get the job done for most resort skiers in most conditions, but if you have a penchant for storm days or ski in a mild climate like the Pacific Northwest, there’s a chance you’ll want to opt for a higher-end design.
Finally, something we think a lot about in purchasing outdoor gear is how long it will last. In other words, how durable is the product? Fortunately, budget ski pants are actually quite durable by nature. Most use thick fabrics and burly components (in this way, some streamlined backcountry-specific ski pants are actually far less durable), along with beefy hanging liners that protect the waterproof membrane. Compared like-for-like with durable pants on the premium end of the spectrum, budget designs aren’t quite as well made (we’ll get into that below), but they’re nevertheless hard-wearing enough for those who only get out a few days a year.
In sum, for most recreational resort skiers, we think that budget pants are breathable enough, waterproof enough, and durable enough. With the right layers, they offer sufficient warmth and heck—some of them are pretty stylish, too. Lastly, we’ve got to hand it to manufacturers for taking the full spectrum of skiers into account, because most come in a wide range of sizes, including plus, short, and tall options for men and women.
That being said, we’d be remiss if we neglected to mention the downsides of budget offerings. Here are the sacrifices inherent in choosing a budget ski pant.
One of the first things to go with budget ski pants is a refined fit. You won’t find fancy patterning or time-consuming construction techniques here, so many budget pants up with strange fits that are baggy or tight in all the wrong places. Some might be fairly old-school in their shape (think “mom jeans” before mom jeans were cool again), while some might simply lack any shape at all. What’s more, insulated budget ski pants (like the REI Co-op Powderbound we reviewed) are bulkier than premium insulated designs due to the cheap insulation. But to play devil’s advocate, ski pants aren’t incredibly shapely to begin with and the current style favors a roomy fit, so for a lot of skiers, this isn’t a huge shortcoming.
Next up is weather protection. We alluded to weak waterproofing above—in wet conditions, budget ski pants’ cheap DWR finishes and membranes are likely to get overwhelmed. If you’re a bell-to-bell skier who scoffs at the idea of lodge time and seeks out storm days, we’d recommend opting for a higher-end ski pant. That said, you can always apply an aftermarket finish (like Nikwax’s TX.Direct Spray-On) to the fabric to boost its waterproofing, which is a great hack for those who want to stay in the budget category.
Most budget ski pants have really simple pocket layouts—generally, you get two hand pockets, and if you're lucky there’ll be a thigh pocket, too. We don’t find these hand pockets useful for much other than making you feel like your hips are larger than they really are; if you store your phone or an energy bar inside, it’ll jut into your leg when you’re sitting on the chairlift. Thigh pockets are preferable for storing large items, but these are small or non-existent on most budget pants.
The other big feature to go is functional thigh vents. It’s common to see thigh vents placed on the inside of the legs (on more premium pants they’re located on the outer thigh), which can inhibit airflow and cause rubbing between the legs. They’re also usually quite short—the Flylow Patrol’s vents are only 7 inches long, while some pants have thigh vents that are 15 or more inches. What’s more, waistband adjusters are usually on the outside (higher-end pants hide them inside) and their rudimentary design causes bunching. Finally, you rarely see zippers at the cuffs, which can mean that some budget pants might not fit over a bulky ski boot.
If you like to shop with sustainability in mind, the budget market is not ideal, since manufacturing practices that put the environment first aren’t the cheapest route. Recycled materials have started to make their way into budget ski pants (as seen in the Helly Hansen Legendary we reviewed), but things like PFC-free durable water-repellent finishes (which eliminate the use of harmful chemicals) and Fair Trade Certifications are tougher to find. But there is some good news: Trew Gear, Flylow, and Columbia offer dedicated repair programs, and REI Co-op and Trew have online marketplaces for used products.
It’s true that most budget ski pants are made with decently thick materials that can stave off a good amount of wear and tear, but long-lasting, durable construction is often a shortcoming due to companies trying to cut down on manufacturing costs. As a result, budget ski pants often wear down and look ragged faster, stain more easily, require more upkeep (read: reapplying waterproofing treatment), and in general have more issues with things like zippers and snaps failing and Velcro peeling off.
In terms of style, most budget ski pants lag behind the main pack—although brands like Flylow make a valiant effort to keep up. Still, even pants like the Patrol have a certain vibe that betrays their lower-quality build. It’s the unrefined fit, the clunky and basic finishes, the lack of attention to detail. But while we (who analyze outdoor gear for a living) might be able to tell that you’re wearing a budget pair of pants, we’re guessing no one else will. And if you run into us on the slopes, we’ll commend you for saving your money for après beers instead.
One way that companies save money on budget ski pants is by using thicker, heavier materials, which tend to hold up decently well against sustained use, sharp ski edges, and rusty metal chairlifts. Still, there are limits to their durability, and over time you’ll notice that materials are liable to tear, grow fuzzy, develop stains, and have small parts are more likely to break.
We’re suckers for durable products, particularly because durability equals sustainability—a pant you wear season after season is one less item in the landfill. Which is why, in our opinion, durability is the most significant shortcoming of the budget category. That said, if you’re a casual skier who only gets out a few times a year, it’s just not that big of an issue. Take care of your pants with regular washings and careful storage, reapply a DWR spray from time to time, and it should last you for many, many seasons to come.
We want to piggyback on our durability spiel with a final caveat. Yes, the pants listed here aren’t as well made as more premium pants, nor will they last as long (or look as good throughout their lifespan). Even so, they’re durable enough for occasional resort skiers. Nevertheless, we do have standards, which force us to draw a line somewhere.
As a result, you won’t find us recommending any off-brand products from retailers like Amazon, Mountain Warehouse, or Costco. We don’t support “disposable” or “one-time-use” gear in the outdoor industry (or any industry for that matter). Off-brand products use stupid-cheap materials and “waterproof” membranes that haven’t undergone thorough testing, and the companies that produce these products (which you’ve probably never heard of) have very little accountability, and it shows: Unlike the brands we feature, they don’t offer any sort of customer service guarantee (including both warranty and repairs), which is bad news for both you and the planet.
If you’re on a shoestring budget and shopping for ski pants, the items listed above are a great place to start. But they’re certainly not the only way to save. With a little savvy, you can save big on ski gear of all types, and even kit yourself out with a premium pair of pants that costs less than the budget offerings here. No joke. It’s a little late in the article to be telling you this, but you actually don’t have to settle for a budget pant. Here’s how.
Shopping in the off-season is the biggest and easiest way to save. Every spring, without fail, you can find ski pants, for a fraction of what they cost the previous fall. It’s very common to find 50%-off discounts, and sometimes even more. For example, a popular resort pant like the Patagonia Storm Shift (that would typically sell for $399) is on sale for $199 at the time of writing. If you shop the sale early (ski gear starts being discounted around mid-February), you’ll likely be able to find your size; as time passes, expect the inventory to dwindle.
Every March is a special time for members of REI Co-op. This is when your dividend arrives—10% back on all of your purchases from the previous year. It’s also when REI releases a one-time-use 20%-off coupon. We love to squirrel this coupon away and save it for the biggest outdoor gear purchase we’re planning to make—which could very well be a pair of ski pants. If the premium ski pants that you’ve been ogling aren’t one of the many to go on sale in the spring, this 20% discount (along with your dividend) can make a sizable dent in the cost. For more, read our article REI Co-op Membership: Is it Worth It?
One of the most exciting trends in the outdoor industry of late has been a newfound attention to used gear. Take Trew Gear, for instance. Through their “The Afterlife” program, you can trade in your gently used Trew apparel (it must still be fully functional) for a store credit. With this store credit, you can shop their regular-priced items, their outlet items, or their used marketplace. Inventory on The Afterlife isn’t great at the time of writing, but it admittedly takes time for these sorts of programs to generate interest (and stock); we figure the more attention we can give them, the faster they might grow.
And Trew Gear isn't the only one. REI Co-op has a fairly robust used gear section (called Re/Supply), and individual brands like Patagonia, The North Face, and Arc’teryx have dedicated marketplaces (nicknamed Worn Wear, Renewed, and ReGear, respectively). Evo’s used gear section is slowly taking off as well. The good news with all of these avenues is that the products are vetted and up to the company’s standard for resale. You can also shop peer-to-peer for used gear with platforms like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, or try your hand on eBay, Poshmark, or Mercari.
The ski pants featured in this article are designed for the resort, but what about backcountry skiers on a budget? This category is a bit trickier: Whether it’s sustained exposure to the elements or high-output skinning, the demands of backcountry skiing require a higher quality pant than what’s typically found in the budget category. What’s more, you’ll almost certainly want a 3-layer pant, which are by nature pricier than the 2-layer pants here. So what are the options?
Our strongest recommendation is to shop sales and used gear marketplaces (see our “Tips for Saving on Gear” section above). With patience, we can almost guarantee that you’ll be able to find a suitable 3-layer pant for around $250 or less. But if you want to buy new and in-season, there are a few particularly good budget-friendly options that we recommend, including the Outdoor Research Carbide Bib ($329) and Flylow Gear Chemical Pant ($365). It’s true that the weather protection of these pants is a notch below that of more premium pants—the off-brand waterproof membranes and thin or stretchy (respectively) shell fabrics don’t repel moisture as well as thicker, more rigid hardshell designs. But they’ll get the job done for those just dabbling in backcountry travel, and the good news is that they crossover well to resort use, too.
Our aim with our budget ski pant article was to keep things simple, focusing primarily on the strengths and shortcomings of this particular category. Hopefully, it’s given you a solid idea of whether or not a pair of budget ski pants is right for you, and if so, which one to choose. But you might find yourself wanting to know more, whether it’s about the difference between 2- and 3-layer construction, what ski pant features to look for, how to get the proper fit, or what the higher-end options are, then check out our article on the Best Ski Pants.
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