The North Face M Summit L5 LT FUTURELIGHT™ Pant

I am born and raised in Colorado, so naturally I barely know what Goretex is, and don't understand the functionality of waterproof winter backcountry apparel. But this past season with the advent of Futurelight I pulled the trigger on a pair of these supple L5 LT pants after multiple minutes of caressing the fabric between my fat fingers. It's so soft. But I appreciate the pants simplicity: there's one pocket with an internal teather loop and beacon holster for an avalanche beacon, an elastic waist with button/zipper closure, and buttoned and reinforced cuffs. That's it. I'm a huge fan of less-is-more. I don't want to think about if my pockets are zipped open, which pocket has that Snickers™ bar (which is probably melted already), or why my legs are clammy. So I can then free up that mental space to think more about where is the best snow and how can I stay safe in avalanche terrain. These pants proved to be remarkable for that. Slip them on, stuff the beacon is the hip pocket, and forget about them. Aerobic uphills and frigid summit ridges are all the same. The Futurelight fabric regulates moisture and heat like some form of darkarts HVAC wizardry. They are so soft and light that I wear them with compression shorts underneath and nothing else (unless the temps are forecasted to average below 10°F or I know I won't be moving at a consistent rate through the day of touring). They even work great ice climbing, having an articulate and precise fit. Thanks TNF for the best winter pant I have ever owned. I guess I'm a hardshell guy now (at least hardshell pants). The downside of these pants is that they are expensive and not as durable as other bulkier equivalents. *sigh*