Guide to buying shell trousers

Whether you're skiing, hiking or climbing, keep this in mind when buying new shell pants.

There are many different types of trousers, which look different and are made of different materials. When you use shell trousers depends on your activity, but they all provide weather protection against rain, wind and snow. So what are shell trousers? Well, as the name suggests, they are trousers that act as a shell, i.e. protect against wind and water. Shell trousers are usually unlined and constructed with two or three layers, together with a waterproof membrane, often Gore-Tex.

If you buy a high quality shell trouser and take good care of it, you should be able to wear it for many, many years, even a lifetime, but accidents can happen. A steel edge or a pair of crampons can ruin even the best trousers if you're unlucky - and then it's time to buy a new pair.

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What should I consider when buying shell trousers?

- It's best to choose pants that are suitable for a variety of activities, such as skiing and hiking. Otherwise, you need to think beforehand, so you know what your needs are. Then you can easily choose a pant that suits your needs. Think about whether you want space underneath for a warming layer, or whether it is more important that it is flexible so that you can wear a climbing harness on the outside," says Mia Grankvist at Houdini.

What are the different types of shell pants?

- If you are going skiing or climbing, it is good to have durable reinforcements in the leg ends. In some cases, it is smart to have shell trousers that go up a bit on the back and have braces, in other cases you want a waist model. Check if the pockets fit well and are big enough for what you need. Houdini pants are made of recycled and recyclable polyester and the membrane that makes it waterproof is also made of polyester, making all our shells fully recyclable.

What does "three-layer pants" mean?

- Three-layer means that the trousers are made of an outer fabric, an inner fabric and a membrane, all these three layers are put together so they are perceived as one material, hence the term three-layer. A two-layer shell is just the outer fabric and the membrane attached together and the inner fabric 'hanging loose'.

Difference between shell and softshell

Why can a pair of shell pants cost several thousand dollars?

- There is a big difference between different shell pants. When it comes to Houdini's pants, we choose materials based on many different aspects. It should be materials that are functional for what the garments will be used for, shell pants, for example, should be durable. It should also be flexible when you use the garment, so the trousers must be slightly stretchy.ras We also want our fabrics and clothes to be produced with both high technical precision and in a responsible way, both in terms of the conditions of the workers and the environment. These parameters mean that the range of materials available to choose from and the factories we can work with is greatly reduced. All of this means that our garments will cost, but they have to. If you break down what you pay into the number of times and years you can use the garments, it's not that expensive.

What is the difference between softshell and shell?

- Generally speaking, softshells are garments that are made from slightly softer materials than traditional shell garments. Nowadays, these two types of garments have moved closer together and in some cases there are hybrids where parts of the garment are made of softshell without a membrane and other parts are made of three-layer material. Today, there are also many softshells that have membranes. There is no exact categorization of one and the other, the important thing is to think about what your needs are, does the garment have to be completely waterproof, or is it more important that the garment lets excess heat through well? There are no miracle materials, you will have to live with compromises in some cases.

What should I do if my trousers break?

- Depending on what happened, you should try to repair them. Sometimes you can fix it yourself, or you can take them to a repair service. In our case, you can contact us or one of our stores and we can help.

How do I wash my shell clothes?

- Always follow the washing instructions on the garment. Usually you should wash the garments at 40 degrees. After washing, it is good to iron the garment on low heat, or hang it in a drying cabinet, in this way it can regain some of the water-repellent ability of the outer fabric. Remember not to wash unnecessarily, as this is hard on clothes, impregnation and the environment. At the same time, it is important to wash shell garments if they are dirty or sweaty, as the function of the garments will otherwise deteriorate.

Don't forget to match your shell trousers with a practical shell jacket. We have good shell jackets for men, women and children.

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