Knoble Standard Pant
Size Tested: Large
Blister’s Measured Weight (size L): ~ 680 grams
Materials: Polyester face fabric, Nylon backing fabric
- 21K Breathable
- 20K Waterproof
Features:
- Fully taped seams
- YKK waterproof zippers
- 9 inch inner thigh vents, 9.5 inch outer thigh vents
- Boot gaiters
- Button cuffs
Pockets:
- Two front zip hand pockets
- One back zip pocket
- Two velcro cargo pockets
MSRP: $240
Reviewer:
6’, 180 lbs
Days Tested: 10
Test Locations: Grand Targhee Resort, WY; Jackson Hole, WY
Intro
In my review of the Knoble Standard Jacket I gave a brief introduction to the company and their mission, and I found the quality and design of the Standard jacket to live up to the goals that Knoble lays out for themselves.
And while I was immediately impressed by the Standard Jacket, my initial thoughts after unboxing the Standard pants were mostly: “Big” and “Yellow.” But, two days in, I had stopped thinking about the while wearing them, which, as I’ll explain later, is one of the best things I can say about a ski pant.
Fit
As I wrote in my Standard Jacket review, Knoble doesn’t have a size chart on their site. They state: “We don’t do sizing charts because everyone prefers a bit different fit, but we do provide the length of the jackets and pants.”
Unfortunately I was unable to find the stated lengths of either their jackets or pants on the site, but at 6’ 180 lbs, I’m very consistently a size Large in ski outerwear, and so I went with a size Large in the Standard pants.
I quickly found that the Standard pants are cut very generously. My 32-inch waist is positively swimming in them, and these are the first ski pants I’ve worn in a couple of years that are long enough to touch the ground hanging from my 34-inch inseam while wearing ski boots.
To give a little bit of a reference, these fit similarly to the XL baggy-cut Holden pants, or some older XL Saga pants. So those with slimmer sensibilities should definitely size down.
Personally, I’ve been very happy with the fit of the Standard pants. Since I prefer to wear bibs for skinning, I’ve used the Standard for inbounds skiing where I prefer a bigger, baggier fit. With the waist cinched down with an Arcade belt, the Large Standard isn’t so huge as to be ridiculous, and they are roomy enough that I never felt restricted (and baggy enough that they hide most of my erratic knee motion while skiing).
Colorways
It’s worth noting that Knoble calls this color, “Sun Yellow.” I would probably call it, “Highlighter Yellow.” These things are bright. The color grew on me, and it’s especially striking on overcast storm days. But if you like keeping a lower profile, know that the Standard is also available in a more conservative grey, as well as teal and red.
Pockets and Vents
Pockets
The Standard has a total of five pockets, and I found that they were appropriately sized and laid out well. The two zippered thigh pockets are fleece-lined and more than big enough to fit a phone and wallet. The zippers are smooth and easy to pull, even when wearing gloves.
The cargo pockets close with two strips of velcro, and are wide but not too deep. I actually like this since it means that heavy objects in the bottom of the pocket have less room to swing around. (I usually stash an extra hat or gloves and ski straps in these pockets.)
The rear zip pocket is surprisingly spacious, and can easily fit a large wallet and phone.
Vents
The Standard has both inner and outer thigh vents. By my measurement, the outer vents are 9 inches long, and the inner ones are just a hair shorter. Both have a mesh lining that covers the vent when it’s open. If I was planning on touring extensively in these pants, I would probably cut the mesh out since it keeps the vents from opening as wide as possible and dumping as much heat as possible. However, for most applications (and for people that don’t run as hot as I do), these vents should be more than adequate.
When all four vents are open, they permit a nice cross draft, and the mesh does a good job of keeping snow out if you happen to crash with your vents open.
Cuffs
The Standard has a thicker reinforced material on the inside of the cuffs that extends around the bottom of the hem of the pants. I generally cut up the insides of my cuffs pretty badly with errant ski edges, but so far the Standard pants are showing no signs of distress.
The inner elastic boot gaiter is tight enough that it stays put (I’ve had trouble with other baggy pants that feature a gaiter that is too wide to seal around my ski boots). The inside of the elastic is rubberized, and so far, they’ve done a great job of keeping out snow, even when I was doing some knee-deep post holing.
Water Resistance
I’ve put the Standard pants through some wet storm days, both at Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole, and have had zero issues with them wetting out. Honestly, most of the time I’m wearing the Standard, I forget about them, and that’s exactly what I want from a pair of ski pants.
While the Standard does not license any membrane like Gore Pro or PolarTech NeoShell, (which probably contributes to the very reasonable $240 MSRP) I have not had any issues with them wetting out, and I would have no problem recommending them, even for someone that skis in a very wet area like the PNW.
Durability
The Standard pants don’t have the thinner interior liner fabric that I tore on the Standard jacket. So far, I’ve taken more than a few tumbles in them, as well as some ill-advised lines through tight trees, and the face fabric shows no signs of distress.
The bright yellow does get dirty easily, and encounters with rusty rails and sappy trees are definitely going to leave more visible stains than a more muted tone would display. But that’s to be expected, and a little bit of grime tones down the bright hue.
Bottom Line
If you prefer pants with a roomier cut, then the Knoble Standard is a reasonably priced option for inbounds skiing or touring. While there are lighter options that are more directly aimed at the backcountry market, the Standard’s vents and intelligent pocket layout make it a good choice for anyone looking for a do-it-all pair of pants.