This year we had a fantastic time paddling and exploring in British Columbia. I enjoyed all of my excellent paddling gear, but the one piece that stood out the most and for which I was most envied was my Immersion Research Zephyr Paddling Pants. This is my 3rd year in B.C., and each year I have come back with multiple cuts, scrapes, and Devil's Club thorn holes on my legs and a pair of torn up polypro bottoms. So this year, I ordered a pair of the Zephyr Pants, a 3 season paddling pant, before I went, and I was very impressed.

No BC trip is complete without portaging and epic hikes into and out of creeks. At the same time the air temp is 80-100 F and the water is fresh snow and glacial melt. I have always been hot on the hike in, cold on the water, and bleeding on the portaging or hike out until this year. These pants have a mesh liner, so there is no plastic-y nylon against the skin and they can be worn over polypro bottoms if there is a chill in the air. Hiking in I was a little warmer than my mates who were wearing shorts, but I could thrash my way to the river through anything. Once on the water, even without polypro bottoms, I found myself warmer than other years (also because of my long sleeve Comp Jacket, I imagine) and portaging was as worry free as portaging can get. On our one epic hike out through B.C. hellf*#!k, I was most impressed. We hiked straight up a wet slippery mossy gulley lined with thorns and sharp sticks, then hiked for miles through thickets of Devil's Club and berries(yelling "Hey Bear" of course!), and to our delight, we even got to slush through some black, thick, smelly bogs. These pants kept my legs and ankles blood free and sparkly clean through it all. All the other folks were battered, bleeding, and envying me. The pants held up great - there are no tears - I cannot believe it!!!!! However, they are incredibly dirty and filled with grass stains (should I wash them or memorialize the event?) We had our own little vacation to hell and IR pulled me through! So, if you are looking for some 3 season creeking/exploring pants, don't even hesitate to buy these - they are a definite must-have addition to your 3-season boating wear!

Andria