Mont Xen LT Softshell Pants – Reviewed & Tested

Jon put the Mont Xen LT Softshell pants through the wringer on a challenging three day hike and snowshoe up Mt Bimberi. He’s been solidly convinced that Mont’s still got it, and has created an epic pair of pants for shoulder season adventures.

We Are Explorers: Jon, we’ve got a new product for you to review – a pair of Mont Xen LT Softshell pants. Have you got any winter adventures coming up to test them out on?

Me: (quietly frothing with excitement) Sounds fun! I’ve got a winter hiking route I’ve had my eye on for a while…

Jon had been itching to take on the Bimberi Wilderness in winter

If you’ve been around the traps for long enough in this adventure game, then you’ll be familiar with the legendary reputation of the Canberra-based brand, Mont. As an ex-Canberra boy who loved exploring the outdoors in my youth, Mont was practically a household name for me growing up.

So I’ve got high froth levels but also high expectations of these softshell pants, and I’m keen to give them a proper workout.

Why am I the right person to do this review?

In a past life I was an engineer, so in general I’m passionate about exceptionally-designed and functional items.

Jon’s hiking set up is only getting more dialled in

More recently, I’ve been levelling up my hiking game with the goal of hiking the entire South Island of New Zealand this year. As a result, I’ve spent more time than I’m willing to admit researching, analysing, and testing gear to build a properly solid thru-hiking kit.

Read more: What I Learned Hiking the Length of NZ Along The Te Araroa Trail

Quick Specifications

Weight: 405g (Men’s medium size); 355g (women’s size 8)
Waterproof: Not fully, but does have a PFAS-free finish to repel light rain and snow
Breathable: You bet!
Colour: Black
RRP: $219.95

Buy Now Men’s

Buy Now Women’s

Performance

Mont created the Xen LT Softshell pants to provide a garment for technical pursuits in the shoulder season. Think hiking, climbing, and general adventuring through rugged terrain where unrestricted movement, durability, and breathability are highly coveted attributes.

That’s what it says on the tin, anyway, and I reckon Mont has absolutely nailed it.

Fun fact: The Xen LT also has a bigger brother/sister (the Xen), which is aimed at more hardcore winter adventures. I feel like the Xen could have been more suited to my snowshoeing adventure based on the specs provided, so I’m even more impressed with how well the Xen LT performed on this adventure.

The Xen LT is designed for conditions like this, while the Xen is built for deep winter and terrible conditions

Durability

To put these pants to the test, I spent three days in the Bimberi Wilderness, hiking and snowshoeing up to the summit (this route is also a small section of the Australian Alps Walking Track thru-hike). For those of you who know the route up Mt Bimberi, the lower half of the final ascent involves several kilometres of scrub-bashing through thick regrowth, over and under fallen trees, and scrambling over granite boulders.

I lost count of how many times my legs scraped past branches and rocks, yet I could hang these pants back up in the showroom and no one would be the wiser. The 210gsm 4-way stretch nylon held up admirably to the brutal conditions of the trail.

Weather Resistance

I didn’t encounter any rain on this trip, the most precipitation these pants received was when I had a minor Nalgene malfunction and spilt water on myself. But the PFAS-free DWR finish did the job – the water droplets beaded up and flowed off nicely. I’m confident these pants would withstand light rain/sleet/snow showers without needing to break out the waterproof layer.

A PFAS-free DWR sheds water, but it’ll be good to test this further

The Xen LT pants also sport fantastic wind resistance. After snowshoeing for a couple of hours on the mountain with a bitter alpine wind blowing and a temperature well and truly in the single digits, my lower half was quite toasty despite having no base layer under the pants!

Comfort

Pulling up at the trailhead, my car thermometer read 9ºC, ‘Perfect for a winter hike’, I thought. As I got moving though, the clear Canberra day held more heat than I expected. I run pretty hot, so I was worried I’d start to sweat up a storm in these weather-resistant pants. But to my delight, the breathable fabric regulated my temperature admirably.

Starting out, even 9ºC felt warm, and Jon was ready to test how adaptable the Xen LT pants could be

The only time I felt mildly clammy on the legs was up a super pinchy climb, in full sun, with no breeze. And to be fair, I was absolutely sweating bullets all over, so no wonder my legs were also a little slick.

In contrast, when the temperature plummeted on the summit, the Xen LTs felt snug and warm without the bulkiness that makes me feel like I’m on the ski slopes. I comfortably added a base layer underneath once I got back to camp to stay extra warm.

Pair with thermal leggings for frosty nights

In terms of fit, I’m pretty much a middle-of-the-road medium in everything I wear. The waist of these medium pants required a bit of cinching in, but it’s not a bad thing to have a bit of space for base layers when the mercury drops. The Xen LT also give just the right amount of roominess around the legs to breathe and allow for plenty of unrestricted movement without feeling overly baggy – the articulated knees help here too.

I was also pleased to discover that the zippered fly was a decent length! For the lads, I can testify that having a suitable zipper length makes it that much easier to have a bush wee!

Design

I’ve already raved enough about the fabric choice – weather resistance, breathability, flexibility, and durability (and probably some more abilities I’ve forgotten) are all beyond expectation.

If you tend towards loud colours, you’ll be disappointed, as your choice is black or black. I’m personally fine with this (lack of) choice. While my inner photographer loves a bright colour to pop against the landscape (or increase visibility in an emergency scenario), I’ve got plenty of other vibrantly coloured kit in my gear cupboard.

They’re pretty subtle in photos!

But if fashion is a key criteria in choosing a pair of shoulder-season hiking pants, then you’ll be pleased to know that the Mont Xen LT pants are stylish enough to slide into your favourite bakery or brewery post-adventure, without drawing undue attention.

Integrated belt

I mentioned earlier that I needed to cinch in the waist a little – this was made easy with the integrated webbing belt. Even better is that despite this integrated belt, the pants still have traditional belt loops – a detail I love – as I typically wear a belt on adventures (a habit firmly cemented in place from when I once used my belt to fix a broken tent pole and keep my tent up for the rest of the night).

You can fine-tune a fit, or leave the separate belt behind!

The other benefit to the belt loops is that you can hook on the optional Mont 4-point adjustable braces for extra support on spicier adventures.

Pockets

It’s not until you’ve experienced good design that you realise just how bad something as seemingly simple as a pocket can actually be. These ones just work.

Almost horizontal pockets with zips minimise the risk of dropping anything

The two zippered thigh pockets contain plenty of room to fit a large phone, snacks, or whatever else you want to keep handy. I personally love that the YKK zippers are more horizontal than vertically oriented, allowing you to just drop an item in and trust that it won’t fall out if you forget to zip up.

Ankle Cuff Closures

I really like the pull cord to close up each ankle. Being an active, cold-weather pant, it’s great to be able to tighten up the cuffs to help keep out wind, snow, and dust. Or when things warm up, open those babies up for more ventilation.

Adjustments in all the right places

Sustainability

The Xen LT Softshell pants attain their weather resistance by using a PFAS-free DWR (durable water repellent) treatment, which keeps forever chemicals out of the environment. What I’d love to see is if the nylon fabric, which makes up 89% of these pants, could be sourced from recycled stock. Maybe future iterations of the Xen LT will move to recycled fabric without sacrificing performance.

Sustainability should be a core focus for any outdoor brand

It’s great to know that Mont as a company is serious about sustainability. One of the first things that pops into my head when Mont is mentioned is just how damn durable its products are. I’ve seen evidence of people with Mont sleeping bags, packs, and jackets that are 30+ years old and still going strong. Product durability at this level far outweighs many other sustainability initiatives in my opinion.

Having said that, a glance through Mont’s sustainability page shows the many ways Mont provides quality, ethically-made products while caring for the environment. Planting over 180,000 trees to offset carbon emissions, sourcing responsible down, recycled and bluesign® materials where possible, and using Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) factories show the team’s commitment.

Backing their gear with an outstanding five-year warranty, Mont will also facilitate repairs as required to keep your gear in service for as long as possible, a big benefit of buying local.

Price

At $220, these hiking pants aren’t the cheapest, but they’re certainly not the most expensive, either. If you’re planning to head outdoors, perhaps into remote and rugged areas on a multi-day adventure, do you want cheap? I’d prefer to choose clothing that I trust to perform and provide comfort. I want to be able to dust them off, rinse and repeat for years to come.

If you’re hitting the outdoors regularly, it pays to invest in gear that lasts

With all this in mind, I’d happily pay the asking price for the Mont Xen LT Softshell pants, and consider it money well spent. I understand not everyone is able to drop this amount of coin on a pair of pants, but if you’re able to stretch and ‘buy it once, buy it right’ then I don’t reckon you’ll regret it.

Final Thoughts

I’m pleased to say that Mont’s legendary status lives on, and the Xen LT Softshell pants are a perfect example. If you’re looking for a pair of bombproof pants for active winter-adjacent pursuits such as hiking, snowshoeing, or climbing, then look no further.

Bye, gonna hike now

Disclaimer: Since writing this review, Mont has come on as a supporter of Jon’s adventures, including his plan to thru-hike across New Zealand’s South Island.

FAQs Mont Xen LT Softshell Pants

Are the Mont Xen LT Softshell pants waterproof?

The Mont Xen LT Softshell pants aren’t fully waterproof, but they feature a PFAS-free durable water repellent (DWR) finish that effectively sheds light rain, sleet, and snow. They also provide excellent wind resistance, keeping you warm in alpine conditions.

How durable are the Mont Xen LT Softshell pants?

Built from 210gsm 4-way stretch nylon, the Xen LT Softshell pants are designed for rugged adventures. They stood up to scrub-bashing, granite scrambling, and snowshoeing on Mt Bimberi without visible wear, proving their toughness for multi-day hikes and challenging terrain.

Are the Mont Xen LT Softshell pants comfortable for hiking?

Yes, the Mont Xen LT Softshell pants balance breathability, warmth, and unrestricted movement. They regulate temperature well in varying conditions, offer room for layering, and include features like articulated knees, an integrated belt, and adjustable ankle cuffs for comfort on the trail.

Are the Mont Xen LT Softshell Pants worth the price?

At $219.95, the Xen LT Softshell pants sit in the mid to high range for technical hiking gear. Considering their durability, performance, and Mont’s five-year warranty and repair service, they represent excellent long-term value for hikers, climbers, and adventurers seeking reliable gear.