Montane Terra XT Pants Review 2023

The burly, tough brother of the super popular Montane Terra Pants is an ideal addition to your winter kit. Built for durability in hostile mountain conditions.

PROS

• Very tough and durable
• Plenty of useful features
• A good upgrade if you like the Terra pants

CONS

• Heavy
• Expensive

You can go to the top of any mountain in the UK and you would be sure to find someone wearing a pair of Montane’s Terra Pants. They are practical, well-fitting and designed for long days out on the hill in all weather. The new Montane Terra XT pants are an updated and improved version of the best-selling Super Terra pants and are built for rugged wear in hostile environments. 

I would place the  Terra XT pants in the same sort of category of tough mountain pants I have used before: the Haglofs Rugged II Mountain Pants and the Fjallraven Vidda Pro pants which I have owned and used for years in a whole variety of mountain environments. The Terra XT would hold its own with both of those, being easily as rugged and with many of the features of those pants at a similar price point. The advantage of the Montane pants in the current climate is that delivery will be quicker as they are UK based with UK stock and you get more sizing options as there are three leg lengths to choose from (although tbf the Vidda Pro do come in a short and long size).

The Terra XT Pants come in a wide variety of sizes so you should be able to find a good fit for you.

In terms of features the Terra XT pants do not disappoint, 5 zipped pockets, two-way zipped thigh vents, an included belt with aluminium hook buckle, hem adjustment pop studs and a boot lace hook as well as an elasticated waistband for tucking a midlayer in on those very cold days. On top of all that you get reinforced knees, seat and crampon patches so you get a lot for your money. 

The main fabric in Montane’s tried and tested Granite, which is a tightly woven mix of nylon and 3% elastane to offer some stretch for when the terrain becomes a little more technical. The reinforced knees, seat and crampon patches are Granite Hydro which offers more protection from water ingress when kneeling and sitting on wet ground or snow. So if you use them for more general outdoor activities such as wildlife photography and campsite chores then you will appreciate the durability and reinforcements. On the whole, the Granite fabric is tough and durable and will last well. I found the pants needed a couple of washes to soften them up for hiking in but they have worn in very well. The fabric is breathable and has a PFC-free DWR which can shed off the odd snow shower or light rain.

Enjoying cold, dry hiking conditions in The Lake District, the tight weave of the Terra XT pants block wind chill effectively.

There are five, zipped pockets on the Terra XT pants which is two more than your standard Terra pants. The extra two are two thigh pockets that are zipped and have a storm flap which is kept in place by a press stud. They are plenty big enough for stuffing all sorts of smaller items you might want easy access to such as a phone, GPS, gloves, printed map and compass – you easily fit all of these into the two pockets. They are bellowed and in line with the thigh vents. The two hand warmer pockets are mesh lined so they can help with venting and zip securely. The back pocket is big enough to hold a wallet if required. As I said the thigh pockets are in line with two extensive thigh vents, these are mesh-lined and have a two-way zip – I needed these as I quickly became hot in the pants when ascending steep ground. All zips have glove friendly, lightweight zip tags and pocket edges bar tacked. They also have articulated knees so that those high steps on steep snowy terrain or scrambles can be done in comfort.

The articulated knees mean that technical ground can be covered in comfort.

I’ve recently been using them on a couple of very cold days in the recent cold snap when hiking in The Lake District and didn’t feel the need for long johns even when the breeze picked up and the wind chill kicked in. One feature I did find useful (I also found them useful with the Haglofs Rugged Pants) is the lace hooks at the front of the pants. The cuffs are satisfyingly reinforced with an extra reinforcing patch where the lace hook is riveted. This is useful if you are planning to wear gaiters with the pants as it stops the legs from rising. The cuffs also have press stud adjusters so you can get a good fit around the angle of your boot.

Finishing touches include an elasticated waistband, which is useful for those who are in between sizes. I tested a size 34” waist and I think I could have sized down with the elasticated waistband. There is an included belt which has an aluminium hook buckle and the belt loops are bar-tacked for ruggedness. There is an embroidered Montane logo to finish off what is a very nice looking pant. The downside of all these features is the weight – the pants weigh in at a mighty 610g but to be honest, in winter I don’t notice that much. I would much rather have the extra durability and feel I am dressed for the worst than have some pants half the weight.

For those of you looking to upgrade your standard Terra Pants to something more rugged and suitable for winter adventures then the Montane Terra XT pants are definitely for you.

The Montane Terra XT pants come in sizes UK 28-40” and three leg lengths: short, regular and long; there are three colour options. 

There is a female-specific version of the Terra Stretch XT Pants. They come in sizes UK 6-16 and two leg lengths: short and regular.

The SRP is £175 for men’s and £150 for women’s. They can be bought directly from Monatne UK and specialist retailers.

Disclaimer – CGR reviewers and writers are never paid to provide a review and the website does not take advertising or link to affiliate sales. We are a bunch of keen climbers and travellers who accept sample products and offer an honest and independent review of the item.