****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I had trouble finding good sizing info on these before buying, so I thought I'd write this review to help. I'm 5'-11" & 235# with a large build, wear a men's 36/30 or 38/30 pant depending on the brand (sometimes a 32 inseam again depending on the brand). I ordered an XL-Short & they fit well while wearing jeans. Columbia's sizing guide has this info re waist size: S: 32, M: 34, L: 36, XL: 40, XXL: 44. So the waist fit as expected, just like a size 40 jean: keep in mind you'll likely be wearing jeans or thermals under these so you should probably order a size up. I ordered the short based on the multitude of reviews from Columbia's site for this item stating they run VERY LONG: they were correct: I was almost stepping on the pant with my heal in bare feet!These have velco to make the waist smaller if they're a little big. The crotch & pant legs are generously sized & I have thick big calves & upper legs. I'm surprised they run so long given that these are ski pants & when worn with ski boots the extra length is not necessary, & actually would get caught in the binding when stepping into the ski unless you pull up on the pant leg first. Unless you're 6'-8" I can't see anyone needing the long lengths (unless the inseam automatically shortens when the waist size, which I'm not sure of:couldn't find info on Columbia's site for that). These look to be good quality. Five stars reflects what you're getting for the price paid. I'll be trying these out skiing tomorrow & will update if performance is less then expected.These were well reviewed on outdoorgearlab.com, which is a fantastic site for gear reviews. They exhaustively review only quality products, no throw-away stuff. If you looking for quality gear without breaking the bank the least expensive items they review (often tagged with their blue best buy label) fit the bill. I've ordered ski gloves, ski socks, ski helmet balaclavas, & ski pants (all from amazon) based on their recommendation & have not been disappointed (no, I don't work for them).Oh & I paid full retail for this item, unlike a lot of the reviews that can't be trusted you see sorted on top of many amazon reviews these days......Happy skiing!-AaronUpdate 4-21-17: After two seasons of use & these pants are still like new & I love them. Very warm, windproof, waterproof, & fit over my oversized ski boots with ease. (These are my only snow pants, so I even use them while snowblowing or playing outside in the snow here in NH.) Elastic boot cuffs & waist, along with Velcro boot & waist straps make adjustments a breeze. Several nice pockets for storage. My only criticism (a minor one) is the crotch hangs very low which leads to the overly-long length issues mentioned above. But hey, at least you don't have to worry about the legs riding up (or backside exposure) when sitting on the lift or tucking downhill as a result! Still 5 stars & great bank-for-buck.
