The L.L. Bean Northport Pants feel like yoga pants but wear like hiking pants, blending comfort with style and function.
Designed with a relaxed fit and made from a quick-dry blend of stretchy polyester and spandex, these pants can easily work for anything from a morning on the trails to an afternoon lounging around the house, and even a night out on the town.
My first impression of these pants was that, while they’re very comfortable, they felt flimsy and fragile, as if the material wasn’t rugged enough to really withstand outdoor activities. And while I didn’t slide down any granite boulders on my backside while wearing these pants, I did put them through over 50 miles of hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. So far they’ve proven themselves durable.
Pros:
- The fabric is stretchy and moves with you making the pants extremely comfortable both on and off the trails. The fabric also does a good job of repelling water and dries very quickly. Because of this, I think they’ll be a great backpacking pant next summer.
- At 5’8, I’m not an extremely tall woman, but I am tall enough that most hiking pants I try are too short. These pants are the perfect length.
- These pants are really lightweight. They are chilly to wear cross-country skiing or snowshoeing without a base layer, but on days when it’s not too cold outside, they’re just right.
These pants are easy to wash and look great right out of the dryer making them a good choice for a pant that you can wear pretty much anywhere.
Cons:
- The color. These pants are only offered in black and a light gray stone color. While this is great for wearing around town, when I’m on the trails, I like my pants to be the color of dirt, especially if I’m going to be slogging along muddy trails. I’d love more color options, like tan, dark brown or maybe even olive.
- On me, these pants have a high waist and the waistband is somewhat bulky and cumbersome, especially if you’re layering underneath it.
- These pants have plenty of zippered pockets. There is one zippered pocket on the thigh of the right leg. I’d prefer a pant with pockets on both thighs and a zipper that goes horizontally across the pocket rather than vertically so that you can reach down into the pocket rather than attack the contents of your pocket from the side.
Bottom Line:
Overall, these are a good pant, and I’m planning to purchase another pair, but only if they come out in a color besides black or stone.
Tech Specs:
Comfortable and easy to move in.
Resilient fabric resists wind, water and abrasion – with four-way stretch for maximum mobility.
Designed with stylish seaming, flattering back yoke and contoured waistband.
Sit lower on waist; slightly fitted through hips and thighs; straight legs.
MSRP: $69.99
Available now
Available Colors: Classic Black & Flint
L.L. Bean Northport Pants
$69.99
Pros
- Fabric is durable and comfortable
- Fits well especially for longer legs
- Lightweight
Cons
- Only available in two colors
- High waist can be uncomfortable
- Pocket placement is not ideal
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