Review: Norrona Men's Lofoten GORE-TEX Pants
Published on 07/19/2023 · 3 min readCurated Ski Expert Luke Hinz shares his experience with using the Norrona Men's Lofoten GORE-TEX Pants. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Ski Expert
Luke Hinz
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The Curated Take
3.5/5
The Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX pants are ideal for skiers braving harsh weather, providing robust waterproofing and breathability due to their 3-Layer GORE-TEX material. Despite compromised movement and comfort due to its rigidity, the baggier fit aids mobility. They lack insulation but efficiently trap body heat, which is ideal for active pursuits. Notable for their durability, they've had issues with zipper durability. With a high price tag, they offer value by delivering high-performance protection in challenging environments. While suited for backcountry touring, their lack of insulation could be a drawback in colder, stationary situations.
Ideal for
- Burly 3-Layer GORE-TEX pant wards off even the wettest weather
- Being simply a shell, is a great option for a backcountry/touring pant
- Articulated knees and a baggier fit make for a very comfy and roomy feel, allowing lots of movement
Not ideal for
- Zero insulation, so does not provide a lot of warmth
- Zippers on the front leg can break with repeated use
- Being a full GORE-TEX pant, can capture a fair amount of moisture inside
Ease of Movement
There is always a compromise when working with waterproof material such as GORE-TEX; the more weather the material keeps out, the more inflexible the material seemingly is, and that's evident...Read more
Breathability
GORE-TEX is a pretty incredible material, and it goes a long way toward keeping me dry in wet environments, which has probably saved my life more times than I am...Read more
Comfort
The Lofoten pant is designed first and foremost to keep the elements out, so I have found that it suffers a bit on comfort. With it being a technical hard...Read more
Warmth
For being a technical hard shell, the Lofoten pant has zero insulation for warmth, and that's ideal for me when I'm walking up a mountain for hours on end. The...Read more
Durability
I tend to abuse my gear, so it's very important to me to have gear that can withstand constant use and exposure to the worst weather. I've used the Lofoten...Read more
Waterproofing
I bought the Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX pants first and foremost for their waterproofing. I spend most of my time hiking uphill for hours on skis, and when I want to...Read more
Expert Reviews of the Norrona Men's Lofoten GORE-TEX Pants
Luke Hinz The Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX pant is designed for skiers who get out on the skintrack no matter what the weather forecast may say. I wear my Lofoten pant for both backcountry touring and resort skiing, and they protected me from moisture during what came to be the snowiest winter on record in Utah. The 3-Layer GORE-TEX is ample defense on even the snowiest days; even in dense snow, the water beads onto the fabric and simply rolls off as if it was never there. The Lofoten is best suited for touring, though, as its lack of insulation is ideal for when the legs get toasty, and large vents on the back of the legs allow for ample airflow on spring days. And I love the Lofoten's more baggy fit, which is much more comfortable for earning turns. My major complaint with the Lofoten is the front leg pockets, where I broke one of the zippers halfway through the season. It's not a necessary component for the pant to operate, but it was a bit annoying. Also, I wear the Lofoten for inbound skiing, and the lack of insulation is noticeable on very cold days. But overall, the Lofoten is a great option as a touring pant for skiers earning their turns right when snow falls!
Review Ratings
Ease of Movement
3/5
Luke Hinz gave 3 of 5 stars. There is always a compromise when working with waterproof material such as GORE-TEX; the more weather the material keeps out, the more inflexible the material seemingly is, and that's evident in the Lofoten. The material is very rigid and has no stretch or give apparent in a soft shell pant. Again, this is part and parcel to having a pant that keeps me dry out in the elements, but on hot, sunny days with no precipitation in sight, I sometimes wish I had another pair of pants as an option.
Breathability
3/5
Luke Hinz gave 3 of 5 stars. GORE-TEX is a pretty incredible material, and it goes a long way toward keeping me dry in wet environments, which has probably saved my life more times than I am aware of. But such a rigid material as GORE-TEX decreases the breathability of the pants, no matter what GORE-TEX may claim. Waterproofing layers have come a long way, and they do let out more moisture than they did decades ago, but still, there is a compromise, as always. The Lofoten pants are adequate for passing out my sweat vapor, but they will never rival my soft shell pants, allowing direct airflow both in and out. So, in short, the Lofoten offers decent breathability for a 3-Layer GORE-TEX pant. Still, there are much better options for full breathability.
Comfort
4/5
Luke Hinz gave 4 of 5 stars. The Lofoten pant is designed first and foremost to keep the elements out, so I have found that it suffers a bit on comfort. With it being a technical hard shell, it will never have the comfort of a soft shell. Still, the Lofoten has a much baggier style of fit, which gives me much more range of motion while walking uphill and makes the pant more comfortable overall. But many people don't actually prefer a baggier fit, and it does make the pants a bit heavier, so it's something to keep in mind.
Warmth
2/5
Luke Hinz gave 2 of 5 stars. For being a technical hard shell, the Lofoten pant has zero insulation for warmth, and that's ideal for me when I'm walking up a mountain for hours on end. The pants trap the heat generated by my own movements well enough and keep me warm-ish. But I also use these same pants for resort skiing because I refuse to pay for another pair of insulated ski pants, and they definitely lack in the warmth department when sitting on a chairlift. I often overly layer my legs to stay warm for resort skiing in the Lofoten pant.
Durability
4/5
Luke Hinz gave 4 of 5 stars. I tend to abuse my gear, so it's very important to me to have gear that can withstand constant use and exposure to the worst weather. I've used the Lofoten pants in some hardy conditions now, including lots of touring, plus three weeks of winter camping above the Arctic Circle, where I used them every day for skiing. Though they are only a shell, the Lofoten pant has proven to be quite durable. The waterproofing layer worked for most of the winter. Still, I needed to reapply a DWR coating near the end of winter, but that is typical for me. I use my gear much more than the average skier. My only real issue was with a front zipper, which broke halfway through the winter.
Waterproofing
5/5
Luke Hinz gave 5 of 5 stars. I bought the Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX pants first and foremost for their waterproofing. I spend most of my time hiking uphill for hours on skis, and when I want to ski powder, that often involves walking in the snow. I am often exposed to the elements for hours at a time, so I wanted a pant that would keep me dry, no matter what. The Lofoten sports one of the more robust waterproof layers from GORE-TEX, and I am thrilled with how they performed right out of the gate. No matter the type of snow—cold and fluffy, warm and wet—it simply beads on the surface of my pants and then rolls off. If these pants could keep me dry while winter camping on Baffin Island, they can keep me dry anywhere.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Luke Hinz I've had some ridiculously good times in this pant (does that sound weird?), but one of the most memorable moments was booting up a striking couloir on Baffin Island. Huge walls loomed 2,000 feet high over our heads on either side, and the snow clinging to the walls was now sloughing off, filling in the couloir we were walking up. The snow quickly went from boot top deep, knee deep, waist deep, and even chest deep in spots. We were laughing maniacally at the amount of snow we were trudging through but even more in awe of the idea that once we topped out, we would be skiing this very same snow. Despite being buried in snow, the Lofoten pants stayed dry through it all, keeping me warm and focused solely on the incredible powder skiing that soon followed.
Why did you choose this product?
Luke Hinz I chose the Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX pants because I needed clothing that would keep me dry and warm during the absolute worst weather days. I spend the majority of my skiing hiking uphill for turns or summiting distant mountains, so I need to be ready if the weather turns in an instant. I also went with the Lofoten because I also really liked the baggier look of the pant, as opposed to the more slim fit of something like the Arc'teryx Sabre pant.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Luke Hinz I won't mince words: The Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX pants are not cheap. But in this case, I got what I paid for, no doubt. The Lofoten is one of the most expensive shell pants on the market, but that's because it boasts some of the highest waterproof capabilities and wind protection out there. The Lofoten is comparably priced in line with The North Face Futurelight pant or the Arc'teryx Sabre and offers the same amount of protection. One more affordable option is the FlyLow Chemical pant, which also offers fairly high waterproofing value. Still, it is a very baggy fit and has a denser, heavier material for the pant. In short, my Lofoten pants come with a high price tag, but they always perform when I need them to do so.
What do you love about this product?
Luke Hinz There are two things I actually love about the Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX pant. 1) These pants have kept me dry in some of the most inhospitable environments in the world, including skiing from the summit of the Grand Teton, winter camping deep in the Alaska Range, and three weeks above the Arctic Circle while skiing on Baffin Island. The Lofoten's stand up to some nasty weather and keep my lower body dry and happy when the weather turns. 2) They have looked good the whole time they have done all of the above. Some people say aesthetics don't matter, but I disagree. When I'm skiing, I also want to look good (there, I said it). The Lofoten pant not only keeps me dry, but it makes me look good, too.
4.98
Luke Hinz
Ski Expert310 Reviews
6481 Customers helped
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