REASONS TO BUY
Great breathability
Stretchy fabric
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Snug fit
Not warm or weather resistant
Patagonia Upstride Pants Review
Average softshell pants for ski touring
Credit: Patagonia
RELATED: Best Ski Pants of 2024
Our Verdict
The Patagonia Upstride is a ventilated and relatively comfortable softshell pant that doesn't stand out from the pack. The shell fabric is on the thicker side for a softshell, which adds some warmth and weather protection, but we prefer lighter softshells for touring in good weather. These pants fit a little tight through the crotch and thigh but have plenty of room in the legs, making for an awkward fit. Their features and style aren't anything to write home about. Overall, these are average softshell pants that perform pretty well, but we weren't wowed by them.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Patagonia Upstride Pants | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Backcountry |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best Bargain for Bibs | ||
| Price | $329 List Check Price at Backcountry | $249.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $109.73 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $149.97 at Evo Compare at 5 sellers | $149 List $43.83 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | These softshells are decent, but there are better options out there | Comfortable, flexible pants for ski touring and sunny days at the resort | Plenty of performance for a low price | Decent ski bibs for an excellent price | These pants are warm and moderately weather resistant, but not very stylish |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia Upstride... | Outdoor Research Tr... | Helly Hansen Legend... | The North Face Free... | REI Co-op Powderbou... |
| Weather Resistance (25%) | |||||
| Fit and Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Ventilation (20%) | |||||
| Warmth (10%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Patagonia Upstride... | Outdoor Research Tr... | Helly Hansen Legend... | The North Face Free... | REI Co-op Powderbou... |
| Main fabric | 100% recycled polyester stretch-knit | Nylon/Polyester/Spandex | Polyester | Recycled Nylon | Nylon |
| Insulation | None | None | Polyester | Recycled polyester | Recycled polyester |
| Waterproofing | DWR | Ventia 3L Lower Legs | Helly Tech | DryVent 2L | 2-layer waterproof breathable laminate |
| Waistline construction | Snap/zipper fly with adjustable tabs | Snap/zipper fly with adjustable tabs | Snap/zipper fly with adjustable tabs | Bibs | Button zip fly with hook/loop adjustment |
| Weight (in pounds) | .98 lbs | 1.64 lbs | 1.30 lbs | 1.52 lbs | 1.64 lbs |
| Weight (in grams) | 445 g | 744 g | 590 g | 689 g | 744 g |
| # of Pockets | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Vents | Outer thigh zips | Outer thigh zips | Inner thigh zips | Inner thigh zips | Interior thigh zips |
| Ski-specific features | Scuff guards, gaiters, 3-setting snap adjustment and zipper at bottom cuffs | Elastic cuffs, scuff guard, transceiver pocket, gussetted ankle zipper | Elastic Cuffs, Scuff Guards | Elastic cuffs, scuff guards | Scuff guards, elastic powder cuffs, elastic waist |
| Recco | Yes | No | No | No | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
The Upstride Pants topping out on a cold and windy peak in the backcountry.
Credit: Ben Markhart
Weather Resistance
The Patagonia Upstride is a softshell pant, meaning the shell fabric isn't waterproof. It does repel liquid water, thanks to a DWR coating, which we found to be effective for a while — but these pants won't keep you dry in rain or heavy, wet snow. Their fabric is a bit thicker than other softshells on the market, which also provides some extra wind protection.
The Upstride is made from a softshell fabric that isn't waterproof or windproof, though it repels these elements well enough.
Credit: Jackie Kearney
Fit and Comfort
The Upstride is a generally comfortable pant, and the fabric feels nice against the skin. Our testers didn't experience any chafing or rubbing during the test period, even on long skin ascents. The fabric also stretches, making long lunges on the skin track more comfortable. However, we found the fit of these pants to be a bit off. They are tighter in the crotch and thighs than other pants in the same size, but offer plenty of length in the legs. The slim waistline has a higher rise, which affects the fit for anyone who doesn't have a completely flat belly. Other pants have a more universal fit, and these won't work for everyone.
The Upstride is stretchy and allows a large range of motion.
Credit: Ben Markhart
Ventilation
The Upstride's softshell fabric is relatively breathable compared to most other ski pants, but compared to other softshells, these pants don't breathe as well. The fabric is on the thicker side compared to similar pants, and the transfer of air doesn't happen as easily. This has some upsides, including increased wind resistance and more suitability for use on days with bad weather. Each outer thigh features an 11-inch vent, but the vents are located low on each thigh, starting at the knee, which means they are more susceptible to powder falling into the legs when the vents are open on warmer days after big storms.
The Upstride has long vents and breathable fabric, allowing plenty of ventilation.
Credit: Ben Markhart
Warmth
These pants don't provide much warmth. The softshell fabric offers little protection against cold surfaces like chairlift seats, and there is no insulation inside the pants. The softshell fabric doesn't breathe as well as others on the market, which means that air warmed by the body has a harder time escaping, which adds some heat capabilities compared to other softshells. Still, if you are looking for a warm pant, look elsewhere. All warmth will have to come from base layers worn underneath, and if there is a breeze or heavy precipitation, these pants won't shield you from the cold.
The inner liner of the Upstride doesn't do much in terms of heat insulation.
Credit: Ben Markhart
Features
These pants have three pockets — two hip pockets and a thigh pocket. The legs have a thin and minimalist powder cuff, and the shell cuff has a zippered flap that zips closed to tighten the pants around the ski boot, and unzips to keep the cuff loose around the boot during uphill motion when buckles are left open and more mobility is required. The pants have a Recco reflector near the cuff, and belt loops. The thigh pockets don't have a loop for clipping a transceiver leash, which is a major oversight.
Style
These pants look alright, but we don't love their style. They have slim and form-fitting cut, which reminds us of past eras when tight ski pants were cool. Now, a looser, “freeride” fit is in style, and these pants seem out of place with the most recent trends. That said, style is subjective, and if you like the look of these pants, we could see why.
The Upstride Pants have a neutral look, with a slim fit that isn't the most modern.
Credit: Ben Markhart
Should You Buy the Patagonia Upstride?
These pants cost roughly the same as other top-performing softshells on the market, so we recommend checking those out in addition to the Upstride. If you have a burning loyalty to the Patagonia brand, these are a good overall softshell pant that will suit you well on the skin track. However, we think there are better options out there at a similar price point.
The Patagonia Upstride pants, during on-slope testing in Colorado.
Credit: Jackie Kearney
What Other Ski Pants Should You Consider?
If you're looking for ski pants for backcountry skiing, the Norrona Lyngen Flex1 is our favorite softshell model. If you need a little more weather protection for ski touring, we love the hardshell Patagonia Stormstride pants. The Mammut Haldigrat HS is the best option for a more protective hardshell that offers great ventilation and comfort.
—Jeff Dobronyi
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