Highly wicking and lightly insulated, the Switch Pants help regulate body temperature when working hard in cold mountain conditions. Offering windproof protection and good breathability, they can be worn alone for long approaches, trips between lower camps, or demanding pitches before becoming the perfect insulating layer under hard or soft shell trousers in more severe conditions. Packable, lightweight and quick drying, these insulated pants are essential everywhere, from the howling depths of Scottish winter to the most commanding Alpine North Faces or remote Himalayan expeditions.

Innovative Active Insulation

At the centre of the Switch Pant’s active insulation lies the unique Octayarn Warp-knit lining: a modern, lightweight and highly wicking alternative to traditional polyester fleece fabrics.

Under the microscope, Octayarn is made from hollow, multidentate fibres, with each individual fibre having eight protruding cog-like ‘teeth’. This complex 3D structure increases surface area and traps warm air, improving warmth and moisture-wicking capability while reducing overall weight. Octayarn offers the thickness of an 80-denier fibre but for half the weight and considerably less bulk.

The soft Octayarn is woven in a highly breathable warp-knit and used without an inner face fabric. This offers unparalleled moisture transfer, wicking moisture away from the skin to keep you comfortable when working hard and drying fast after strenuous ascents.

A lightweight, stretch-woven outer offers wind resistance and water repellency, protecting you from light rain, spin drift and cold winds. The mechanical stretch and gusseted crotch design allow complete freedom of movement, even through the most strenuous high steps, yet the fit is trim for active layering. There’s a simple elasticated waistband with drawcord adjustment for a seamless fit and a zippered fly. Zipped hand pockets and a thigh pocket provide useful storage for essentials on the move.

A Cold-Weather Essential

Switch products represent our very best active insulation, and the Switch Pants are ideal for those working hard in cold conditions. Many will be pulled on in the predawn cold and worn all day, whether racing to summits or forging lone tracks across remote basins. Packing small but offering exceptional warmth and comfort, they are essential for fast and light missions or multi-day objectives in cold or severe conditions.