Durability
I was disappointed to see that after only four days, the Legendary pants got a 1” hole on the reinforced cuff, which eventually worked its way through all three layers. Although I’m not always easy on my outerwear (especially while navigating the rope tows of the club fields) and I often tear the cuffs of pants, I would have liked to see the Legendary hold up a bit longer.
The Legendary pants also got dirty pretty quickly. Yes, light blue pants will show more stains than dark ones, but the fabric did not deflect dirt or other messy materials well, further evidence of a bad DWR. Where I could easily wipe away liquids or mud on other pants without leaving any trace, the Legendary would absorb the mess. After just a few days, the pants had numerous and obvious stains.
Bottom Line
The Legendary is a simple pair of insulated pants that are relatively inexpensive and work well for a broad range of temperatures. They’re also extremely comfortable and plenty warm with the right combination of layers, and while they’re too hot for bootpacking on warm spring days (not surprising), they are a bit cooler than other similar pants I’ve used.
That said, I found some major issues with the pants’ durability, fabric, and DWR. While less expensive than some of Helly Hansen’s other products, keep these points in mind if you’re looking to purchase these pants.