Review: Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants

It is always hard to find the pair of hiking pants that are right for you. Do you need them for warmth, protection? Or maybe flexibility and stretch to add in some scrambling and climbing? There are a lot of options out there and I had the chance to test out the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants. Here are my thoughts on the versatile hiking pants.

As a disclaimer I would like to mention that I was given the Outdoor Research Ferossi Pants so that I could write this review. All opinions on this page are our own and based on our own experiences with this product. I am not compensated for the opinions on this review. Your experience with the product may be different. This site uses affiliate marketing links. If you click a button or link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

From Outdoor Research

Before I get into my review, I wanted to let you know what Outdoor Research is saying about their Ferrosi Pants. Direct from the website they say, “The Ferrosi Pants are built with our legendary lightweight, breathable, durable Ferrosi materials and are the ideal pant for travel, trail, classroom, or office.”

Here is a bit more on the specs before the review.

Specs

Price*

$99.00

Sizes*

Waist: 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42

Length 30, 32, 34, 36

Colors*

Morel, Manzanita, Dark Navy, Pro Khaki, Verde, Black, Pewter (shown), Coyote

Features*

• Fabric Performance:

• Water Resistant
• Wind Resistant
• Breathable
• Lightweight
• Quick-Drying
• Movement-Mirroring Stretch
• Abrasion-Resistant
• UPF 50+

• Design Features:

• Harness-Compatible Waist
• Metal Shank Button Closure
• Brushed Tricot-Lined Waistband
• Internal Drawcord Waist
• Bonded belt loops
• Drop-In Hand Pockets
• Right Hip Security Zip Mesh Pocket
• Back Right Zip Pocket
• Back Left Drop-In Pocket
• Articulated Knees
• Drawcord Cuff Adjustments

Specs*

Fabric: bluesign® approved 46% Recycled Nylon, 40% Nylon, 14% Spandex

Weight: 13.1 oz/ 371 g

Origin: Bangladesh

All information from OutdoorResearch.com and subject to change. Check the website for full details and options.

What I liked about the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants

I had never tried any of the pants from Outdoor Research so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with the Ferrosi. I found them to be comfortable and enjoyable to hike in and was really impressed with there stretch and flexibility. There was a lot to like about the pants, so here are a few more details about what I enjoyed.

Flexibility

I have tried on a lot of different hiking pants and I can say that I have tried a pair of pants that had so much stretch and flexibility to them as the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants. The pants move in every direction with my legs. From deep knee squats to stepping up on big rocks, the pants can stretch to pretty much any position. Well, at least they are more flexible than I am!

The Ferrosi are a nylon and spandex blend with a fairly high 14% spandex providing a lot of that stretch. Honestly these pants feel like that really comfortable pair of sweatpants that are so broken in that they almost melt to your legs. The only difference is they have that nylon exterior to protect from wind and rain. I couldn’t get over how much movement I had. While I don’t climb, I would imagine these would be great pants for climbing due to how much stretch they have. I took some big steps up onto a boulder and couldn’t believe the lack of resistance.

While a lot of pants will give you a 4 way stretch and can be pulled a few millimeters in your hands, these are like the old Stretch Armstrong dolls that you pull in any direction and then they will pull right back into shape. Ok, that might have been a bit of a stretch, but the amount of freedom I feel in these pants is no joke. I was extremely impressed.

Wind and Water Resistance

Another thing I liked about the Ferrosi Pants is the way they handle the weather. I did all of my testing in Colorado in the spring. Which meant a day in the 60’s, clear trails, but also a couple of late season snow storms and plenty of wind and mud. The first thing I noticed was how well the pants did against the wind. The winds were moderate speeds but were blowing that cold spring air and my legs were really well protected. As the snow melts I will try these pants out in the higher elevations when the wind really howls but I have full confidence in them based on the lower level testing I did.

I didn’t get caught in any rainstorms to test the water resistance in soaking conditions but I did test them in mud and some snowy trails. Again, I was really impressed with how the pants repelled the mud and slushy snow. Nothing soaked through to get my legs or socks wet. Again, this was spring where we didn’t get a ton of rain but the splash test was successfully passed based on the mud and slush flying up.

Hardware and Features

There are a couple of really thoughtful features on the Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants that I really liked as well. First, the back right pocket is zippered to allow for a bit more security. This is the pocket I usually keep my wallet in so it is nice to know I can zip that up and make sure it won’t fall out if the trail puts me in a weird position. There is also a zippered thigh pocket on the right side about mid thigh that is deep enough to fit a cell phone. Again, perfect for securing the valuable cargo. The left back pocket and front hip pockets are open to allow for easier access.

Down at the ankle hem, there is an adjustable drawcord so you can tighten any loose material. That isn’t totally unique but I really like that Outdoor Research keeps the drawcord mechanism sewn inside the pant leg. This is important for those of us who have caught either our pant leg or the excess drawcord in our spikes as we were hiking on an icy ledge! There is also a drawstring at the waistline to help those who need a bit of snugger fit at the waist. A little more about that below.

Finally, a little thing, but the button at the waist is metal and extends about the depth of a finger to make it easier to fasten the button. I like this better than a sewn on plastic button, especially if I am hiking in the cold and have gloves on and need to tuck in a shirt or answer nature’s call. It’s a lot easier to deal with this metal studded button than to fiddle with a flat plastic button.

Recycled Materials

When it comes to outdoor gear, it always is nice to see brands looking for ways to incorporate recycled materials into their products. Outdoor Research did just that with the Ferrosi pants. Each pair incorporates 46% bluesign® approved recycled Nylon.

I just always feel better knowing that a brand is making the effort to use recycled materials where they can and also using them in a way where they aren’t going to put the quality in jeopardy. Outdoor gear is used for protection and safety and can’t be compromised, so to see the level of research and effort to make a high quality product and using recycled materials is great.

What I didn’t Like

There is a lot to like about the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants but they will take my blogger card away if I don’t find something I didn’t like. For me it was the upper section being a little tight and the drawstrings.

While these pants are some of the most flexible and stretchy that I have hiked in, I thought that the main compartment, around my hips and waist, is cut a little tight. Instead of having a bigger u-shaped cut this is more of a v-cut that makes it a little bit tighter in the crotch. The flexibility of the pants helps to alleviate this and the pants stretch to move with each step so the pants still function well, just a little bit tighter than the pants I am used to.

The other thing is that there is a drawstring on the inside right behind the zipper and the button that I keep getting caught in the zipper when I am trying to zip up the pants. I haven’t actually used or tied the drawstring so it is probably my fault. I feel that the waist band is tight enough so I haven’t seen the need to use the ties which is why they get in my way.

So nothing too big but some things to keep in mind with these pants.

Video Review of the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants

Before my final thoughts here is a quick video review of the Outdoor Research Ferossi Pants. If you enjoy the review make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to be the first to see my new content.

Wrap Up of the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants

I was really impressed with the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants! First and foremost, the stretch! These might be the most flexible hiking pants that I have ever hiked in. It is just so easy to move around with pants that move with you. The wind and water resistance were also really impressive, especially against the spring winds. Overall, they are just really well made pants! Plus, I really loved that they added recycled materials.

I think these would be great pants for hiking in the spring and fall and in the mountains year round. They are breathable but I haven’t tested them in super hot weather. I also think the stretch would help with climbing and other activities where freedom of movement is important. They are also a pretty good deal for what you get for the price. I was really impressed.

More from the Fatman

For a list of other products that I have reviewed you can check my Product Review page here. If you have any products you would like me to review or any comments you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!