Berghaus Paclite Gore-Tex Pant Review

Overview

The Berghaus Paclite Gore-Tex Pant is a back-up rain trouser: thin, stuffable and built to live at the bottom of a pack until the sky turns. Three-quarter side zips let walkers pull them on without removing boots, and the Gore-Tex Paclite shell keeps water out reliably. The trade-off is the usual one for this class of fabric. It saves weight and bulk, and gives up abrasion resistance and some breathability.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	237.5 g (measured, UK L)
Fabric	Gore-Tex Paclite shell, 100% polyamide
Construction	2-layer per Berghaus (Gore-Tex’s own workbook classes Paclite as 2.5-layer)
Hydrostatic head	Min. 28,000 mm
Seams	Micro-taped
Closures	3/4-length two-way side zips with storm flap, water-resistant zips, poppers at knee and ankle
Waist	Elasticated
Packing	Mesh stuff sack
Fabric certification	bluesign approved

Performance

Weather protection. The numbers are strong for a trouser at this weight. A minimum hydrostatic head of 28,000 mm, taped seams and water-resistant zips under a storm flap add up to a shell that handles sustained rain. Reviewers who sprayed the trousers with a hosepipe watched the water bead and run off, and one tester at Wired for Adventure took a pair under a waterfall. Owners report the same in ordinary weather: a Spanish buyer logged an hour and a half of rain with nothing getting through. Live for the Outdoors scored protection at 4.0 out of 5 in its test, the lowest of its category scores, which reflects the thin face fabric rather than any leak.

Weight and packability. The measured 237.5 g in a UK large runs a little above the roughly 228 g that retailers list for the men’s pant, which is within normal size-to-size spread. Paclite fabric skips the loose inner netting used in some 2-layer garments, so the trousers compress hard. Testers at Camping Secrets describe them squashing to about the size of a clenched fist and call them half the weight of a conventional 2-layer trouser. For a hiker counting grams, that is the case for buying them. For a thru-hiker already carrying a rain skirt or wind pants, 237.5 g is a real consideration, but the zips earn some of it back.

Ventilation and on/off. The long two-way zips are the best feature. They run from ankle to thigh, so the trousers go on over boots and trail runners without a struggle, and they open from the top to dump heat on climbs. Poppers at the knee and ankle stop the legs flapping when closed. Walkhighlands’ reviewer rated breathability as very good, helped by those zips, and Camping Secrets’ testers reported no internal moisture over many hill walks. Paclite is not the most breathable laminate Gore-Tex makes, and walkers who keep the legs sealed through a hard effort will feel it. Open the zips and the problem mostly goes away. Owners note the zips can occasionally snag, which is worth watching in a hurry.

Durability. This is the weak point, and it is consistent across a decade of owner reports. Live for the Outdoors flagged long-term durability as questionable, and a Walkhighlands tester put a rip in a pair by sliding down rough Skye gabbro on the seat; the tear was fixed with Tenacious Tape. Hillwalkers on forums describe them as not especially hard-wearing but well suited to something that spends most of its life stowed. One European buyer warned that the seat is vulnerable to saddle friction on a bike. Treat them as an emergency layer, not trousers to sit on rocks in.

Fit and comfort. The cut is close through the leg, according to one Berghaus customer who liked that they were not baggy. Other owners find them slightly roomy, and petite buyers report a good fit. Berghaus also sells short, regular and long leg lengths, which helps avoid fabric pooling over boots. The fabric has slight stretch and makes less rustle than stiffer shells. The elasticated waist keeps things simple and fast over hiking trousers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Light and compact at 237.5 g, packing to roughly fist size in its mesh sack
• Long two-way zips allow on and off over boots and doubles as venting
• 28,000 mm hydrostatic head with taped seams; owners report dry legs in sustained rain
• Storm flap, ankle and knee poppers, and a comfortable stretchy, quiet fabric
• Several leg lengths, including short

Cons

• Thin fabric tears on rough rock and wears on saddles
• Paclite breathes less well than heavier-duty three-layer shells with the zips closed
• Zips can snag
• Fit reports are mixed, from trim to slightly roomy

Who Should Buy This

Hillwalkers, backpackers and thru-hikers who want a dependable second line of defence against rain and cold wind, and who will carry it far more often than they wear it. It suits anyone who values being able to pull trousers on over boots in a squall. It is the wrong choice for people who need daily-wear rain pants, scramblers, mountain bikers, or anyone who sits on abrasive ground all day. Those users should look at a heavier, tougher three-layer shell, such as Berghaus’s own Deluge range.

Verdict

The Paclite Pant does the job its weight class promises: it keeps rain out, vanishes in a pack, and goes on over boots in seconds. Careful users will get years of service out of a pair, while rough-and-tumble users will find the seat and knees wear first. A solid 7.5 for the lightweight hiker who wants it for emergencies.