I believe American Flag shorts are appropriate for all occasions, but unfortunately my wife doesn’t agree with that assumption as much as I do.
Finding a good pair of pants for overland travel can be a pretty difficult proposition, and in my search for the perfect pair of pants I’ve tried everything including Carhartt’s, Triple Aught Design’s Super Cool Ultimate Extreme Tactical Amphibious Cargo Pants, and even no pants. Unfortunately I haven’t found the right pair yet, and it get’s cold not wearing pants.
I’d first learned about ExOfficio 5 years ago when I was looking for shirts with a high SPF rating for an upcoming deep sea fishing trip. Since then I’ve noticed that many travelers love ExOfficio clothing for their InsectShield/UV protection, and their underwear line has a cult like following. So when I saw they had come out with the No Borders Pant, I figured if I like their underwear so much, I might as well try their pants.
Photo’s Courtesy of ExOfficio
The No Borders Pant is designed for traveling anywhere from the Jungles of South America to the 5 mile drive down to your nearest Starbucks. It’s composed of a cotton and polyester blend, and comes in a natural/relaxed fit. It also features ExOfficio’s integrated Insect Shield technology which utilizes odorless permethrin to keep any and all insects at bay.
So how does it handle on the trail? I’ve been wearing them on every trip for the past 6 months and all I can say is I’ve been very satisfied. The pants are pretty lightweight when compared to others, but I also haven’t had any issues with rips, tears, or snags that are pretty common in the back country. They also have great stain resistance, and I’ve been able to easily wash out mud, oil, and grease from them without issue.
Now I’ll admit I was a little skeptical about the Insect Shield technology that is integrated into all of ExOfficio’s BugsAway clothing, but I can tell you it works. While surrounded by mosquito’s and flies on a trip to West Virginia, the pants did an excellent job of keeping the bugs away. I’ve also yet to have an issue with ticks while wearing these pants. One thing to consider is it will only protect what is covered, so if you’re not wearing a shirt with Insect Shield or have some DEET on exposed portions of your body, you’re going to still have a bad time.
Now I love pockets, but I don’t want to look like a tactical ninja. Back during my fraternity days, if you were a pledge that wore cargo shorts to the house, we immediately made you fill them with rocks and whatever else we could find (what’s the point of cargo pockets if you’re not carrying cargo bro?). Needless to say I’ve never worn cargo anything since. Yet the No Borders Pant still maintains utility without looking like a traditional cargo pant or screaming “rob me I’m a tourist.”
It features 2 rear pockets (one with a security zipper), 2 front pockets (again with a security zipper), and a gadget pocket, with a combined total of 6 pockets. Now one Con I will bring up about the pockets is the front ones are deep, and by deep I mean I can pack a whole roll of chopsticks in one without them popping out. Now these are great for security, but for a guy like me, it leaves my keys almost hitting my knees. I’m sure it’s not a problem for the taller guys, but when you have a 29″ inseam, buying pants is always a challenge.
That brings me to the next issue, the smallest waist size is 30″ and the relaxed fit is a little baggy on smaller guys. I’m a 28″ waist, but the 30″ works well enough for me with a belt, it seems ExOfficio pants run a little small in the waist so plan accordingly.
When it comes to permethrin, there are a few schools of thought. Some researchers are highly against it’s use due to the lack of research that has been done in regards to long term exposure on humans. Short term research show’s it’s not an issue, and the Army has recently integrated it into all of their combat uniforms. I’m not overly concerned as I expose myself to plenty of other things that will give me cancer, and as long as you don’t wear the stuff 24/7 you’ll probably be fine.
Something to be aware of is the InsectShield tech is only good for about 70 washes under ideal conditions, and high heat like your dryer will cause it to deteriorate faster. It won’t cause any problems with the garment, but it will no longer be “bug proof”. Finally a pro tip if you don’t want permethrin in your clothes, all you have to do is dry clean it once and it will remove all of it from the garment.
Overall I’ve been very happy with the No Borders Pant, it’s earned a permanent spot in my “adventure wardrobe” and I never leave for a trip without them in my gear bag.
Pros:
- Lightweight yet durable fabric that can handle the trail.
- Insect Shield technology
- Doesn’t look like your typical cargo/travel pants but has plenty of utility.
Cons:
- 30″ is the smallest waist size.
- Has permethrin and Insect Shield tech is only good for ~70 washes.
- Some pockets have awkward proportions.
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