Tenacity Pants - two words you've probably never seen together before, but in case your imagination is struggling, we're just talking trousers. And pretty good ones. Aimed at walking and backpacking, but versatile enough for climbing and mountaineering too, Montane's Tenacity range has an option for every season.

The range includes three models at different weight/thickness. All are men's only:

Tenacity Lite Pants (320g size M) - lightweight, stretchy, close-fitting legwear ideal for warmer spring and summer conditions.

Tenacity Pants (425g size M) - midweight all-rounders with a stretchy and durable feel, a good 2-3 season option.

Tenacity XT Pants (530g size M) - heavier, thicker and warmer, with a more relaxed fit, and aimed more at winter walking and mountaineering.

Tenacity Lite Pants - £100

As the lightest and thinnest of the range, Tenacity Lite Pants are well suited to warmer weather. These close-fitting trousers are great if you prefer a streamlined, active cut. While their official remit is walking, for which they're spot on, I've also used them for a couple of mountain multi-pitch climbing days, and really rate them for sunny rock climbing. In sort, they're great all-rounders.

Fit

While the others in the range come in three leg lengths, the Tenacity Lite is offered in only two, Regular and Long. This is still one more option than you'll get with many outdoor trousers, which may be welcome if you don't always fit the 'standard'. At 183cm tall I find Regular spot on, and think you'd need to be quite tall or long-legged to need Long.

Watch the fitting. Montane currently seem to err on the generous side when it comes to waist sizes, and on me my standard 34 inch waist was a bit of a balloon; downsizing to a nominal 32 is a pretty much a perfect fit at the waist. Try them on if you can, but if you can't then it may pay to take a punt on going a size down from your usual.

In other respects these are very close-fitting trousers, and given my chunky-ish legs they're basically skin-tight on the calves. The leg tapers quite steeply to the ankle, which is great for scrambling, running or climbing, when you want a clear view of your feet and minimal excess fabric to snag or flap in the wind. While I'm not convinced by the sartorial elegance of this look, I have found myself increasingly a fan of its practicality.

They're cut for movement, and combined with the stretchy fabric this means high steps and wide bridging moves are unrestricted - one reason I really rate these trousers for climbing and scrambling.

Fabric

The lightweight nylon/elastane Granite Stretch fabric used here is thin and airy for warm weather comfort, but does still offer a little wind resistance, something I've appreciated when halfway up a route when the sun went in and the breeze picked up. The fabric's stretch is great. It's not going to take the abuse that the heavier models in the series should, but despite its lightness does still have enough durability for rock climbing and scrambling. After a couple of hillwalking trips and two climbing days on rough Torridonian sandstone I've so far only got some very light furring on the knees.

With a PFC-free DWR the Tenacity Lite trousers are good for a light shower, and dry quickly.

Features

You get a zipped fly, and a webbing belt with a low profile metal hook. There are two zipped hand pockets and one at the rear, which seems plenty for light summery legwear.

Tenacity Pants - £120

As the midweight of the trio these are probably the most versatile, thin enough for summer use but offering notably more warmth and protection than the Tenacity Lite, giving them more of a three-season remit. Worn over baselayer leggings I've found them good for cold, windy spring hill days.

Fit

Unusually for outdoor trousers, Tenacity Pants come in three leg lengths, short, regular and long. Again the waist sizing is generous, and my 34 inch waist translates to a Montane 32. On me the Tenacity's 32 waist is relaxed enough to be comfy, while in the leg the 'athletic' fit is pretty close, particularly towards the lower leg where the cut tapers. There's not much excess fabric to flap about, and it's great to have a trim fit at the ankle for a clear view of your feet. Leg movement is completely unrestricted. I find there's slightly more room in the crotch, where it's cut a bit too low and not as fitted as the rest.

While they are officially intended for walking and backpacking, the articulated knees, diamond crotch, trim ankle and stretchy fabric make the Tenacity Pants ideal for climbing, with a low-profile waistline that sits neatly and comfortably under a harness. Versatility is the name of the game.

Fabric

Being both stretchy and pretty tough for its thinness the nylon/elastane Granite Stretch fabric does what it says on the tin. With a slightly heavier fabric than the Lite version, Tenacity Pants are durable enough to take plenty of abuse when scrambling or climbing. The fabric has a good level of wind resistance for breezy mountain tops, and having been caught out by a downpour and soaked right through more than once I can vouch that it dries very fast indeed. It's cool and breathable in warmer weather, and the PFC-free DWR keeps at least a bit of light moisture at bay. Overall build quality is good, and I'd expect them to last well.  

Features

With zipped hand pockets, one rear zipped pocket, and a fourth on your thigh, Tenacity Pants are well set for carrying bits and bobs. The only one I've used is the thigh pocket, which is good for a phone or a cereal bar.

You get a zipped fly, and a nice low-profile webbing belt. Montane have also added a zipped gusset to the lower leg, and while this is unnecessary if you're wearing trail shoes it does allow you to fit the ankle over bulkier mountain boots.

Tenacity XT Pants - £150

A renamed and updated version of Montane's Terra Mission Pants, these are the heaviest of the three, and definitely the ones with maximum durability and lower temperatures in mind. Perhaps that's not ideal for a warm summer's day, but for a frosty hike along a ridge, or full winter conditions out on the mountains, these are going to be the pick of the bunch.

Fit

Whilst the Tenacity XTs come in three leg lengths, at 6′4″, the regular was plenty long enough for me, and I certainly wouldn't want them to be longer. As Dan found with the other trousers in this trio, the sizing is noticeably on the generous side, and were I to buy a second pair of these trousers I'd probably downsize by two inches so I could depend slightly less on the webbing belt - which is removable for those who find the perfect fit!

Unlike the other two trousers in this group, you don't get much of a taper with the Tenacity XTs. When hiking or scrambling, this is fine, as they'll still fit relatively snugly over a pair of boots, if you were to wear these for a cold day, however if you're rock climbing you might find yourself wishing that they fit a little more snugly towards the ankle, to allow for a better view of your feet.

Movement, however, is completely unrestricted, impressively so for a pair of trousers that feels so durable and thick. Despite the thick and abrasion-resistant fabric, the trousers feel soft and comfortable when in use, and the cut fits me well. As noted below, this really is a pair of trousers that feels at home in pretty much any environment - as long as it's not too warm.

Fabric

The first thing you're likely to notice about the Tenacity XTs is their durability. From the moment you put them on, from the thickness and weight of the material, to the reinforced insteps, you get a real sense that these trousers have been built with durability in mind.

Fortunately, that durability doesn't come at the expense of mobility, and the Tenacity XTs offer a good amount of stretch. There's easily enough stretch for the most demanding of scrambling positions, and whilst these trousers aren't officially intended to be used climbing, the 4-way stretch fabric has enough give for high feet and wide positions, and doesn't inhibit your movement.

The double-weave fabric offers excellent wind resistance and insulation, and they'll also shed off snow or light rain thanks to a PFC-free DWR coating. Build quality is good, and I haven't noticed any issues or flaws with the fabric throughout several months using them. This is a pair of trousers that you can put on, and forget about - whatever you've got planned, they'll be fine.

Features

With two zipped hand pockets, one rear zipped pocket, and a fourth zipped pocket on the thigh, you certainly won't find yourself wanting for pockets. The YKK zips feel durable and secure, you can rest easy that your phone won't be slipping out of your pocket whilst out and about.

On top of that you get a zipped fly, a webbing belt (which cinches securely), thigh vents (which have both top and bottom zips, for some reason), a reinforced instep, and a lower leg zip to expand for boots. Whilst I have never found cause to use the ankle zip whilst wearing the trousers, if you were wearing these for winter climbing or hillwalking it would certainly be a useful feature to fit over bulky boots.