What are the Aktse Insulated Pants?
As you may have already guessed, the Aktse Insulated Pants are insulated, waterproof trousers designed for wintry mountain adventures, whether hiking, trekking, camping (in the snow? are you ok?) or skiing. They're made with updated, more eco-friendly materials, also making them a more conscious choice without compromise.
What are they made of?
Main fabric: These trousers are made with a lightweight two-layer Gore-Tex® material. This updated Gore® material uses an ePE membrane, a key milestone in the leading brand's responsible performance journey. If you were wondering, ePE stands for expanded polyethylene, which is light, thin yet durable, and PFC-free. If you're familiar with Trekitt descriptions, you may have seen that 'PFC-free' phrase floating around before. PFCs are per or poly-fluorinated chemicals, aka 'forever chemicals' that stay permanently in the environment and cause lasting damage to our ecosystems. Many companies are working towards a completely PFC-free future, so this is quite a breakthrough for the Gore-Tex® brand! In addition, this membrane has a reduced carbon footprint, as it uses laminates with a lower-mass membrane and select textiles, making it an ideal choice for more environmentally conscious adventurers.
The material itself provides complete waterproof and windproof protection, with ample breathability to prevent sweat and condensation from building up inside, helping regulate body temperature. Overall, it has been rigorously tested to ensure a long-lasting product life, which adds to those eco-friendly credentials, as you won't need to buy a new replacement for a long time, saving energy, resources and waste.
The face fabric is treated with a PFCec-free DWR (durable water repellent) to enhance weather protection without causing detrimental harm to the environment by avoiding using per-fluorinated chemicals.
Insulation: The Aktse Pants are padded with Thermore® Ecodown insulation, a PETA-approved Vegan insulation made with 100% recycled PET bottles. Being a synthetic insulation, it performs well when damp (unlike down), so even in rain or snow, these trousers will still keep you warm! This insulation also has a high warmth-to-weight ratio which is fantastic for multi-day trips and cold mountain missions.
Reinforcements: Reinforced panels are made with Duratec, which comprises 100% polyester with a polyurethane coating that enhances tear and abrasion resistance and overall longevity.
Materials are also bluesign® approved, meaning it's manufactured in a way that is safe for the environment, workers and consumers. bluesign® certifications ensure that the materials used avoid harmful substances, use reduced air and water emissions, increase resource productivity, and the production line is more transparent and trustworthy.
What are the features?
Articulated knees provide more room for joints when stretching out or stepping high.
A raised back gives you more coverage when bending or crouching, helping to stop the cold draft from heading down your goolies!
The hanger loop at the rear also makes it easy to dry these trousers out, whether at home, in the camper van or a tent.
Suspender loops allow you to attach suspenders if preferred, and the front is fastened with a classic press-button and zip-fly combination.
For storage, a pocket on the right leg includes an internal mesh pocket for your mobile phone, which is handy to ensure it doesn't slip out and get lost in the white stuff.
Duratec reinforcements on the inside legs increase durability and help prevent the trousers from snagging on crampons or jagged rocks.
The hem at the bottom is also reinforced and comes with velcro adjusters that allow you to adapt the fit around chunky footwear, sealing the weather out completely.
Features:
- Articulated knees
- Raised at back
- Hanger loop at back
- Suspender loops
- Press button at front
- Zip fly
- Pocket at right leg, including internal mesh phone pocket
- Reinforcements at inside leg
- Velcro adjusters at bottom hem
- Reinforced leg hem