About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the pants, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2022.

My take

The FW Manifest 3L Pants are great for anyone looking for a long-term, waterproof, high-quality pair of comfy pants that stretch well and can be worn in all conditions. I’ve worn these pants all season and plan to keep them going. These pants have held up great through all the tough park riding, heavy snow days, and cruiser days.

About the pants:

• Brand: FW (Forward)
• Model: Manifest 3L pants
• Size fit: True to size

About me:

• Height: 5’8”
• Weight: 150lbs
• Pant size: Large (I like mine bigger for a more baggy fit; I normally wear a men’s size small)
• Experience: 10+ years of riding

Test conditions:

• When I bought these: October 2022
• Days used: 85+
• Where I’ve used them: Colorado, Utah, California, and Austria
• Weather conditions used in: Sunny days, overcast days, power days, very cold days

How they perform

What I was looking for

I was looking for a stylish pair of waterproof shell pants with lots of stretch and mobility for riding in the park.

Why I chose this gear

I chose the FW Manifest pants because I wanted to try out a smaller brand focusing more on quality than quantity. They had a stylish look that I hadn't seen in most brands. I had previously worn the Burton AK Cyclic pants, which are very similar in quality, but I was ready for a new style.

What I love about them

• Fit: The pants fit true to size with a baggier look.
• Comfort: These pants are very comfortable. The stretch material makes it easy to move around in them. They have been comfy in all conditions, whether it's a hot spring day, a very cold winter day, or just an average feel-good temperature.
• Waterproofing: The waterproofing is great. The pants have FW’s Toray Dermizax EV technology, similar to GORE-TEX, making them waterproof (20,000mm) and breathable (16,000g).
• Breathability: The vents between the legs let airflow in easily on warmer days.
• Durability: These pants should last a very long time. I wore them over 85 days last season and have no signs of major wear and tear. The fully taped seams play a huge part in keeping them durable.
• Weight: The pants feel extremely light, which is great for ease of movement.
• Ease of movement: Very easy to move, super stretchy pants. I noticed in the park, it is a lot easier to do grabs on my board. The stretchiness aids in full movement within my legs.
• Quality: The waterproofing quality is great, and the pants feel and look very sleek. The two large pockets on the front of the pants have foldable magnetic flaps and zipper side entrances to them, something I haven't seen on snow pants before.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Warmth: The pants are a shell, so there is no insulation for warmth. One has to layer properly underneath.
• Special features: There are a few special features. There’s a decent amount of pockets and two normal leg vents, but that's it. I do wish the pants had more pockets in the front.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with these pants had to be when I was riding at North Star in California. I was there for a competition weekend. On the second day of training, it started dumping snow, so much to the point I couldn't even see the slopestyle course anymore from the top of the starting point. We checked the weather, and the resort was projected to get over three feet of snow within the next 24 hours. Our competition training was quickly canceled, and we could ride anywhere else on the mountain. My teammates and I quickly got on the next chair to go to the top of the mountain. One foot of snow had already accumulated up there and was still coming down. We rode for another two hours in the deepest powder I’ve ever been in. These pants kept me completely dry the entire time, and zero snow got into them. They kept me pretty warm, too, as it was a cold day with constant snow.

Value for the money vs. other options

These pants are some of the most durable pants I’ve ever worn. They are well worth the pretty penny, coming in at a retail price of around $450. I would compare these pants to Arc’teryx, Helly Hansen, and the Burton AK line. The FW pants are more worth it based on price, and still less than most of the Arc’teryx pants like their Sabre Pant that retails at approximately $600.

Final verdict

Overall, these high-quality pants are ideal if someone wants to up their style, feel like they have more movement, and still feel comfortable on the mountain.