I have been searching for a ski pant for touring and summer skiing that is like the comfortable, breathable and flexible, the ski equivalent of the tights that I run in. I am a petite woman (5’3”) so I also needed my pants to have a gender specific fit and be shorter. (Nordic ski pants just won’t work with my AT gear and wearing a pack...) My husband raves about his Crazy Idea pants and jacket- to the point that on hut trips and after ski tours he literally won’t take off /change out of them! so I bought the women’s version of his outfit. OMG game changer! I am never going back! Now I’m a believer and I am proselytizing for Crazy Idea. No joke- I could do yoga or gymnastics in these pants, or go for a run. So stretchy, light and breathable, I can move and I am not overheating. Buh-bye wearing heavy stiff pants, soft shells that never breathe enough or hard shells unzipped! Been awesome for skiing in spring and summer here in the Pacific Northwest where we end up hiking to the snow to ski.
Caveats: 1) Not very weatherproof- now I just need to get some rain pants to throw over them in case it rains. 2) the cuffs are reinforced with slightly heavier fabric but it isn’t tough so be careful. I sliced the left cuff in one spot with a ski edge just during a tour and then this past weekend my boot crampons easily tore a large hole in the reinforced cuff. I am planning on wearing gaiters or getting more fabric sewn on to the cuffs to mitigate this issue.
3) it’s been hard to find a scenario where the matching jacket is worthwhile because it’s not exactly the same fabric. It’s a somewhat heavier fleecier soft shell fabric. When the weather permits me to wear my crazy idea pants then I’m skiing in a light base layer shirt and carrying a hard shell jacket and an insulating layer which is generally warmer than this jacket. I could wear the jacket alone but for spring and summer here that would be waaay to warm. I think perhaps for inter mountain West skiing in colder drier temps the jacket would make more sense. Based on my years of Colorado skiing I think that soft shells just make more sense there than in the Pacific Northwest.
Photo is me skiing in early April 2021 at Mount Hood, Oregon. Temps in the 30s-40s during the day, below freezing overnight.
The Cervino pants have a sleek feel on the outside and has a soft fleece lining within. One of the most comfortable ski pants around, the Cervino is optimized for speed. The Vuelta knit is stretchy and nearly friction-free. The cuffs are zippered to get around your boots, and have cutout zones for popular two-buckle boots. This means no messing with your cuffs during transitions, just flip you buckles and go. The elastic waist has a drawstring so you can dial in the fit. Two pockets flank the pant with handy storage. Your love affair with Crazy Idea begins with the Cervino pants.
- Athletic fit flows around your legs as you move.
- Cuffs have cutouts for Dynafit, Alien, and Syborg boots.
- Two side pockets are secured with invisible zips.
- Thin fleece lining adds some warmth vs race pants.
- Matching jacket available.
Update 2022/23: The Cervino pant has been renamed Oxygen.
| Specifications | |
|
Weight |
332g [M] |
| Ventilation | N/A |
| Pockets | 2 hip |
| Waist | Elastic with drawstring |
| Cuffs | Elastic with zips & buckle cutouts |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
| Fit | Active |
|
|
Vuelta, Magic Silver Protection |
| Insulation | Light Fleece |
| Seams | Flat |
| Lining | Light fleece |
| Coating | DWR |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Ski mountaineering, other mountain sports |
| Notes | Reinforced knees, cuffs, reflective logo |
| Bottom Line | Sleek and efficient touring pant |
| Compare to other Women's Speed Pants | |
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Questions & Reviews
6/2/2021
Oh and in this photo I am wearing the matching jacket with the pants. I had a short-sleeved tech tee on underneath and it was just barely cold enough for this to work plus it was super sunny, no chance of precipitation.
6/2/2021
Rips in my pants’ cuffs as mentioned in my review.
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