The Arc'teryx Stingray Pant Review
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I have been a fan of this pant for years. Recently, my old pants, purchased at the Arc’teryx outlet in Vancouver needed replacing – after 10 years of heavy use. I was very impressed with their durability so decided to get another pair. These pants are very robust and perfect for backcountry skiing, which is what I mainly use them for.
Waterproof and Breathable
The Arcteryx Stingray pant is made from 3-layer Gore-Tex (N20p) with 3L low-loft soft shell construction for a soft feel. The fabric is soft to the touch and provides great weather protection.
Snow sports specific pant
These pants are made specifically for skiing or snowboarding. They have an athletic fit, where emphasis is placed on movement and eliminating bulk. They are a bit slimmer fit than relaxed fit, but have room for a base layer underneath.
You won’t want to wear these pants on their own. At the very least, on warmer days, use a thin pair of long johns. I typically layer my pants with soft shell pants underneath. If it is really cold, you can fit both long johns and soft shell pants or fleece pants underneath if you need. There is room for layering.
These pants are made slimmer than before – my old Stingray pants had more of a relaxed fit, these fit more true to size. They are very flattering when on due to their gusseted fit made for movement.
Arcteryx Nu Water Repellant Treatment
Arc’teryx has partnered with the company Revivex to develop the “Nu Water” Repellant Treatment, which is a spray on treatment that works to improve and restore the waterproofness of your garments. This spray works to restore the original DWR (Durable Water Resistant) treatment that comes on the Gore-Tex when new.
Technical Features
Made of GoreTex, these pants are waterproof and breathable. The soft shell finish on the fabric is nice to the touch.
The pant features an athletic cut including articulated knees and gusseted crotch. It also features thigh vents, built in boot gaiters, reinforced boot cuffs, multiple pockets with watertight zippers for snacks or gloves.
Instep Patches prevent cutting
“Keprotec” instep patches stand up against damage against ski boots and ski edges, and are very resistant to cuts, abrasion and wear. These patches extend the life of the pant significantly, since this is a very high use and high abrasion prone area. I’ve had ski pants without these patches and find this is the first part of the pant to show wear. Once you cut your Gore-Tex a few times it’s not a good thing and have to be fixed with patches, but without a thicker protective material they will just get cut again and again.
Boot cuffs keep snow out of your boots
The boot cuffs are different from the older pants as well. The old cuffs had velcro on the side and a clip on the end, these new ones only have an elasticized cuff that goes over your boot. This means that you can only pull it down over your boot, not fold it over top your boot – this may only be an issue if your boot is big and the elasticized cuff can’t fit over top of your boot. However, I don’t have this issue in either of my ski boots. Boot cuffs keep snow out of your ski boots in case you’re in deep snow.
There are hand pockets with watertight zippers, and the side vents also feature watertight zippers which keep snow and wind out when closed.
On the side leg, there is a hidden Recco reflector made specifically for snowsports. The Recco is a passive copper anode that can be used to locate you, and are typically a system used at ski hills for avalanche safety. Many ski hills are equipped with the Recco system. It is a passive avalanche safety system. Learn about Recco
Disadvantages
These pants come in a heavier version of GoreTex that is not as breathable, so they can get a bit hot. In addition, they don’t feature a full side zip, like the Beta AR, hence they don’t have as much ventilation. They are a bit heavier than other shell pants. The powder cuff also causes a bit more sweating in the boot.
Men’s and Women’s versions available
These pants come in both men’s and a women’s cuts in a variety of colours. I own them in black, but my previous Stingray were light beige. They also come in some very bright colours of blue and pink.
The Bottom Line
I love these pants and have been using them for years and years. The fabric and construction is extremely durable, and I especially love the instep patches. Most of my skiing is in very cold conditions and these pants are perfect for cold weather. The fit and cut is perfect for skiing.
How to take care of your pants
Gore-Tex garments require special care. In addition to washing regularly with constant use, these pants should be double rinsed and thrown in the dryer. To learn more how to take care and wash your GoreTex pieces, read our gore-tex care tutorial.
Where to Buy
These pants are sold many retailers including REI, Backcountry.com, Moosejaw, evo and more. To find the best price on the Arc’teryx Stingray pant, use our gear price checker.