When it comes to walking trousers, Montane has been one of the big players for many years. At one stage, Montane’s range of legwear was more extensive than almost any other outdoor brand.
But it had become so bloated as to be a bit bewildering. It didn’t help that pretty much everything was named after their original (and much-loved) Terra trousers.
This meant there was the Terra Lite, Terra Pack, Terra Stretch, Terra Edge, Terra Mission, Super Terras… the list went on and on, and unless you had a very detailed knowledge of the range, it wasn’t clear what the differences were.
Fortunately, the product lines have now been rationalised. The classic Terra pants are still around and in addition you can pick from the lightweight Terra Lite (makes sense so far) or the heavier, winter-ready Terra XT (extra tough, extra technical).
There’s also the newer Tenacity range, which basically offers a stretchier softshell alternative to the Terra line. And just like the Terra range, there’s the Tenacity Lite, the standard Tenacity and the Tenacity XT. Nice and simple.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Versatile
- Quick drying
- Plenty of stretch
Cons
- Mesh pocket linings snag easily
- Generous sizing
| RRP | £120 / $150 |
| Weight | 425g |
| Materials | Granite Stretch softshell (88% Nylon, 12% Elastane) |
| No. of pockets | 4 |
| Men’s sizes | 28–40” waist |
| Women’s sizes | UK 8-18 (Terra Stretch) |
| Leg lengths | Short, Reg and Long leg |
As the middleweights of the respective trios, the standard Terra and Tenacity trousers are probably the most versatile options. The Terras are a fair bit lighter than the Tenacity pants, but I find the latter far more comfortable thanks to the use of the excellent Granite Stretch softshell fabric.
They’re pretty much the ideal weight too – just about thin enough for summer use but offering notably more warmth and protection than either the Terra Lite, standard Terra or the Tenacity Lite. This extends their use all the way through from spring to autumn.
And if you combine them with baselayer leggings, they also work well for colder weather, apart from maybe full-on winter conditions when you might want the warmer and tougher XT.
Fit
The Tenacity Pants come in a wide range of sizes for men, from a 28 to 40” waist and three leg lengths: short, regular and long. The sizing is a little on the generous side, and if you’re between sizes, I’d recommend sizing down.
I tested my usual 34” long, which had ample room in the seat and thigh. There’s lots of room at the crotch too – personally, I find the rise is a little too high. The cut tapers neatly at the lower leg though, so you don’t feel like you’re wearing bell bottoms or flares. This also ensures a clear view of your feet on more technical ground.
While there’s perhaps a little room for improvement when it comes to tailoring, they are still very comfortable. In addition, articulated knees and a diamond crotch offer unrestricted movement, whether you’re striding uphill or hopping from rock to rock. This makes the Tenacity pants a versatile pick for hiking, hillwalking, scrambling and even climbing.
It’s worth noting that there’s no direct women’s version of the Tenacity – the closest model currently available is the Terra Stretch. None of our female gear testers have had the chance to try them to date, but they’re the same price and use a similar stretch softshell fabric, albeit with different features and construction. They come in UK sizes 8 to 18 and also have multiple leg lengths.
Fabrics
Montane doesn’t give a fabric weight for its Granite Stretch material, but it’s a similar midweight softshell that feels similar to those used in rivals like the Mountain Equipment Ibex and Berghaus Trail Explorer.
It’s perhaps marginally lighter, but this ensures it stays cool and breathable in milder weather, whilst still doing the job on blustery summits and chilly spring or autumn days. Like most technical trousers, they’re treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish, which is PFC-free.
This means the trousers are water-resistant but not waterproof. You’ll still be reaching for the overtrousers in anything more than light drizzle. However, if they do get wet, these trousers dry impressively quickly.
The fabric contains 88% nylon and 12% elastane. That’s a higher proportion of elastane than most rivals, with the exception of the Rab Torque pants, which in turn means these trousers are seriously stretchy.
This normally means reduced durability in terms of abrasion resistance, but actually the Tenacity Pants held up very well on test, showing less wear and tear than other models from Berghaus and Rab.
Features and construction
Overall build quality is good, though these trousers lack the reinforcement of burlier rivals. The critical crotch seam is double stitched though, which is good to see. When it comes to features, you get four pockets in total, all of which are fitted with zips and lined with mesh.
There are two hand pockets, a horizontal thigh pocket and a rear hip pocket. The mesh means they can be opened to aid ventilation, but on the flipside, it means it’s easy to snag the pockets on keys or indeed any object with sharp corners.
In addition, you get a zipped fly with an unusual sliding metal stud closure at the waist. There’s also a low-profile integrated webbing belt. It’s ‘buried’ in the waistband, but unlike most other trousers, it has a good quality hook buckle made from anodised aluminium rather than the usual cheap plastic.
Finally, a zipped ankle gusset is fitted at the lower leg, which allows you to fit the hems over chunkier mountain boots or gaiters.
Sustainability
These trousers incorporate no recycled material but do have a DWR treatment that is free from fluorocarbons, the harmful ‘forever chemicals’ that have been shown to bio-accumulate in the environment, and which the outdoor industry is now almost completely phasing out.
As a brand, Montane has also been a member of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) since 2019. It’s currently classed as ‘good’ by that organisation under the criteria of their annual Brand Performance Check, but only scores 46/100 overall.
Price and competition
The Montane Tenacity Pants are versatile and comfortable all-rounders for three-season use. That puts them up against some stiff competition though, most of which are a bit cheaper.
With a UK RRP of £120, these are more expensive than equivalent rivals like the Mountain Equipment Ibex (£90), Rab Torque (£110) and Berghaus Trail Explorer (£95). There’s not much to pick between any of these, though the ME and Berghaus are slightly more protective, but also a bit heavier.
In classic Montane style, the Tenacity manage to do much the same job at a lower overall weight. For some, that might be worth paying the extra cost. If so, shop around. Montane is widely distributed amongst outdoor retailers, so it’s worth hunting around for a good deal.
We found this season’s Tenacity Pants available online for as low as £71 (admittedly in limited sizes and colours). A good target price is around £95.
Verdict
The Montane Tenacity Pants are comfortable, versatile trousers built from a stretchy yet durable softshell fabric. As a midweight option for three-season use these are great – but they’re more a bit expensive than some rivals.
About the author
Matt Jones conducted the testing and wrote the review of the Inov8 Roclite GTX. Matt is one of our most experienced gear testers and also writes for our magazine, Trail.
Matt is based in Snowdonia and is able to give the copious amount of outdoor gear he tests a proper mountain workout in a range of very demanding conditions. Matt is also a former magazine editor and one of the UK's most recognisable outdoor writers.