Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Tour Review

Softshell pants don't perform as well as most other options when it comes to warmth or weather resistance, but they make up for it with comfort and ventilation.

Performance Comparison

Weather Resistance

The Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Tour uses a 90-denier weave to produce a thick and protective softshell fabric over the upper legs. This fabric isn't waterproof, but it is thick enough to cut through the wind and withstand most dry snowfall. These pants are weather-resistant enough for trudging through deep snow and withstanding cold, windy chairlift rides, but when the precipitation really starts coming down, they won't protect you like a hard hardshell will.

Of note, the lower legs are protected with a three-layer hardshell fabric, which repels all snow and water. This is a nice touch since other softshells suffer when the snow gets deep. In the Trailbreaker, we never worry about deep snow, but if heavy precipitation is expected, we'll reach for a different pant. None of the zippers are waterproof. The main fabric is treated with a moderately durable DWR finish to help repel liquid water, which works for a week or two of heavy use.

Fit and Comfort

These pants have a great fit. The stretchy softshell material is comfortable against the skin, and doesn't restrict motion on the uptrack. The fit is great for our tall, lean testers, but there are some reports of the fit being a bit baggy for shorter users. The pants have a 32-inch inseam and are medium-sized, which is about average across the market.

We know a pair of pants fits well when we can't feel them during our testing. With the Trailbreaker Tour, we often forgot we were wearing pants, which is a good thing. They are unrestrictive in every way and yet don't have much extra material. We loved previous versions of this pant, and the most recent iteration builds off the success of the past.

Ventilation

The Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Tour uses a soft, stretchy softshell material that is very breathable. It is thicker than other softshells on the market, but we found that it breathes just as well as any other softshell, which is to say quite a bit. It is marginally less breathable than the thinnest softshells, but the long outer thigh vents disptach any excess water vapor with ease.

The long thigh vents are perfectly placed for ease of use, and their two-way zippers allow customization of where exactly you want the vent hole to be. We find that snow often gets into the side vents on steep, side-hilling, switchbacking skin tracks, so we like to vent with a small hole as high on the hip as possible when we need a little air.

Warmth

Without a technical membrane or any insulation, the Trailbreaker Tour pants are not warm on their own. Compared to other, thinner softshells, these pants are a bit warmer, thanks to their moderately thick softshell fabric, but these pants won't keep you warm if you stand around in low temperatures with nothing underneath. If you wear these to the ski resort, you'll want to layer underneath to keep your legs warm. However, they are the perfect warmth on their own for most days in the backcountry.

Generally, backcountry skiers and riders don't use insulated pants because skinning uphill generates a lot of heat. Depending on the user, some will wear only these pants during average winter temperatures, while others will prefer a light layer of long underwear, but on the coldest days, nearly everyone will want to wear long underwear in these pants, even while skinning. For resort days, we pretty much always layer warm long underwear beneath these softshells. They aren't warm on their own.

Features

These pants have an excellent set of features. There are two waist pockets for holding small items, and they are placed in a way that doesn't interfere with the hip flexors when skinning. The right waist pocket has a sleeve and clip for an avalanche transceiver. The two thigh pockets are also placed wisely, with diagonal zippers that are easy to access from above. There's even a rear pocket on the right buttock, but we don't use this pocket often.

The cuffs feature strong, durable elastic powder sleeves that fit easily over a ski boot. The insides of the ankles are protected with a durable scuff guard that protects against tears and snags from crampons or ski edges. The cuff itself has an adjustable width, thanks to a zipper that can cinch down the cuff tightly against a mountaineering boot and some ski boots, but otherwise, it can be opened to allow for an easy fit over a ski boot in walk mode.

Style

Softshell pants are usually more stylish than their hardshell relatives because they have a more ergonomic and articulated fit, thanks to their stretchy material. These pants look great, aren't too baggy, and have a well-tailored appearance that exudes refinement.

From the ski slopes to the après bar and from the local skin track to the far summits of the world, these pants look good in any context. They are even suitable for the occasional indoor restaurant dinner if touring from town to town without a change of clothing. We like the look of the Trailbreaker Tour a lot.

Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Trailbreaker Tour?

We think this is the best pant on the market for everyday ski touring, so if you are looking for a reliable daily driver for the backcountry, look no further. It comes at a great price and is durable. Plus, the Outdoor Research warranty has proven to be one of the best on the market, which helps safeguard your investment. These pants have decent versatility for resort skiing and even snowy mountaineering and ice climbing, so they could be an even better value if you use them for another sport as well. However, if you are looking for a daily driver for the ski resort, we'd recommend something a little more protective.

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