Waterproofing
The Explorair Tech pant is a technical Gore-Tex Pro Shell, so, not surprisingly, its waterproof capabilities have been outstanding.
The majority of my time spent wearing the Explorair Tech was in the moisture-rich west coast of British Columbia. Although it is not always an enjoyable experience skiing in the rain, it is far more miserable when your clothes soak through. On many tours in the backcountry around Squamish, there would be the usual morning rain in the parking lot, which would turn to snow a mile or so up the trail. Between the frequent rain and heavy, wet snow while skiing in the backcountry and at Whistler, I was extremely pleased no moisture managed to find its way through the Explorair Tech pant.
The high-quality durable water repellent (DWR) also played a part here, working well in heavy rain and wet snow. Water constantly beaded up and rolled off the pant rather than soaking through. Even when I would sit down in the snow for more than ten minutes, no moisture made its way through. Although 22 days is not a large amount of time to test the durability of the DWR, I feel confident that pant will maintain its high waterproofing capabilities, and I will update if need be.
Additionally, the Explorair Tech is built with reinforced seams and waterproof zippers, and I have never noticed any leaking.
Warmth
Because the Explorair Tech pant is non-insulated technical shell, it does less in the way of keeping you warm than other pants. Not surprising.
But I underestimated this on my first day inbounds, and opted to wear a lighter layer underneath my Smartwool Midweight bottoms. I tend to run cold (you might not), and at 20 degrees with a light wind, I was shivering each lift ride up. Wearing a shell while touring and generating heat allows the piece to function across a wider range of temperatures; skiing the resort, where there is ample time to cool down on lift rides, requires more accurate layering (perhaps especially for me) in order to retain heat.
After my first, freezing day, I adjusted to wearing two heavier pairs of long underwear and was much more comfortable skiing inbounds. I have even tried the pant on with three pairs of long underwear, and with plenty of room in the waist, it easily accommodated the extra bulk. Of course, on colder days (below 15 degrees), I would grab my insulated pants. But with the right layering, the Explorair Tech still works well to cut the wind and maintain some heat across a wide range of temperatures, from 15 to 50 degrees.
Breathability / Vents
The majority of times I toured in the Explorair Tech in the Pacific Northwest, the temperatures were warm (mid 20s-30s F), and every stride I was thanking the gods above that I was not wearing my insulated pants. I always wore a thin wool layer underneath the Explorair Tech, which was sufficient down to 20 degrees and prevented me from sweating when it was above 40.
I have found the fabric to be extremely breathable, but wish the vents offered a little more airflow. There is one 10-inch vent on the outside of each leg and no inner leg vents. When I am touring with a single, light baselayer, the vents move enough air through that I don’t overheat. Inbounds, however, as I said above, I generally need to wear two heavier pairs of long underwear to compensate for the lack of insulation. But after some fast laps in the trees or through moguls when things really start to heat up, I would have appreciated longer vents on the outside and / or additional ones on the inside.
Durability
With all of my previous snow pants, I was constantly plagued by torn cuffs. And since I planned to spend more time in the backcountry and eventually dive into mountaineering, I knew I needed a burlier pant that could stand some abuse over time.
SCOTT claims the Explorair Tech’s cuff is “abrasion-resistant” and made of Superfabric. Upon first inspection, the entire pant seemed sturdy and solid. I have grazed multiple trees and ski edges and am happy to report all of the seams are intact and there are no tears in the pant, just a few dirt stains. And luckily, since I tend to spill frequently, the Explorair Tech has worked well to repel all hot beverages.
After only ten days, however, the reinforced cuff, the one spot I had the most confidence in, has suffered an inch-long tear. The rip is slowly continuing to tear apart and has actually gone completely through the two inner layers.
As I noted, I’ve torn pretty much all the cuffs of my other other pants, too, so take this for what it’s worth. And if you haven’t had problems with cuff guards in the past, I highly doubt you’ll have issues with these. But I am a bit concerned about the durability of the cuffs over time, especially if I introduce crampons, ice axes, or other pointy objects into the mix.
Bottom Line
I see the the Explorair Tech working best for those who spend more time skinning or climbing than riding lifts. You’re getting Gore-Tex Pro Shell, so these breathe exceptionally well and offer plenty of water and wind protection in alpine terrain.