Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Review

These pants perform excellently in nearly every category we score, except for warmth. They are expensive, but not more than other top-notch pants.

Performance Comparison

Weather Resistance

The Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex is built with a thick and protective three-layer shell that includes the namesake waterproof and breathable membrane. Many products that use other membranes are just as waterproof, but when Gore-Tex is used, we are confident that it will repel water in the worst conditions. All seams are taped, and all zippers are waterproof. This shell also is thick enough to effectively block cold wind gusts. An aftermarket zip-on bib is available, as well as a zip-on powder skirt that zips into Norrona's Lofoten shell jackets, creating an impenetrable full-body shell system. The only downside is that the DWR finish wears off relatively quickly, meaning the pants will wet out after a few weeks of heavy use. This isn't a big deal, since you can add more DWR in the washing machine later.

Fit and Comfort

While other pants also have excellent weather resistance, the Lofoten stands out for its excellent fit and comfortable range of motion. Some pants offer a heavily tailored fit that hugs the body's contours but doesn't leave excess material for lunging and reaching with the legs. And since Gore-Tex pants are rarely stretchy, there needs to be excess material somewhere in order for users to make acrobatic moves while skiing hard or climbing mountains in the backcountry. These pants strike the perfect balance between a loose, comfortable range of motion, and a tailored, athletic fit. There are also hook-and-loop flaps on the outer waist belt to help adjust the waist fit, but the pants don't feel loose even if the user has tightened these flaps all the way.

Ventilation

These pants have some good ventilation features, but they aren't the best. The shell fabric breathes about as well as any Gore-Tex fabric, but not as well as some other pants that use highly breathable proprietary membranes. Gore-Tex can't be topped for weather resistance, but it isn't the most breathable membrane out there. There are two 12-inch zippered vents, one on each outer thigh. The vents have a very thin mesh fabric covering the opening, but the mesh is thin and doesn't impede air movement too much.

Warmth

These pants aren't the warmest on the market, but they aren't too bad for a shell-only pant. The Lofoten's shell material is thick, which traps some warm air, and the fit allows plenty of room for air pockets. Otherwise, these pants don't provide any insulation on their own, and all warmth must come from layering underneath.

Features

The Lofoten pant doesn't have the most pockets or flashy bells and whistles, but their features are extremely well-designed and useful. There are two large zippered thigh pockets that are roomy enough to swallow plenty of gear without impeding the user's range of motion when packed full. The right side thigh pocket has an internal sleeve for a smartphone or avalanche transceiver. There is one zippered waist pocket on the left side that is perfect for a couple of credit cards, car keys, or lip balm. At the leg cuff, there are burly kick patches that protect the pant from rips and tears. There are elastic powder cuffs that stretch enough to easily slide over boot buckles, and the shell cuffs can seal tighter over the boots with snap buttons to keep snow out during backcountry bootpacks or while wearing crampons. The pants also come with belt loops and adjustable waist flaps, making sizing easy. And finally, there is a zipper around the entire waist circumference, which allows the user to employ modular (but not included) features like a bib with overalls, a vest, or a powder skirt that also zips into certain Norrona jackets. These features allow the Lofoten Gore-Tex to be used in many different ways.

Style

We like the look of these pants. The fit is perfect, with a loose, freeride style that doesn't look too baggy or slouchy. The zippers, pockets, and features all blend in with class and don't make a statement, letting the cut of the pants do all of the talking. A good fit goes a long way towards attractive style, and subdued yet useful features complete the understated yet dialed look of these excellent pants. You won't turn heads because of these pants alone, yet you will look refined and classy.

Should You Buy the Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex?

These pants are downright expensive, and we only recommend them to those who ski most days of the ski season, in any weather. For those kinds of hardcore users, these pants are worth the investment. For everyone else, especially users on a budget, you can find great performance in pants that cost a lot less. Simply put, these are some of the best resort-specific shell pants on the market. They also perform well for average tours in the backcountry, and they'll last a long time.

What Other Ski Pants Should You Consider?

These pants are among the best hardshells, and are also some of the most expensive, but if you are looking for the crème de la crème, the Arc'teryx Sabre Pant is even better (and more expensive). If you want similar top-notch performance at a slightly lower price, the Mammut Haldigrat HS Bib is very similar, but it has a low-profile bib, and doesn't use Gore-Tex, which saves you a few bucks. If you spend most of your time in the backcountry, the Haldigrat or the lightweight yet protective Patagonia Stormstride will suit you well.