I pretty much stopped wearing jeans about 15 years ago. I still have one pair in the closet and wear it maybe once a year but the proliferation of more comfortable fabrics combined with much lighter weight is what made me abandon denim. :-)

I have seen it done. But most long underwear would not be very warm when worn in a windy campsite without some form of wind block. If you had rain pants along, there is your wind block.

I pretty much quit wearing jeans too, once I started touring. The biggest reason is chafing, they just rub ya the wrong way, after enough miles. Plus like you said, they're heavy, and they also take forever to dry, if you get rained on good. 🙄
Which sounds kinda weird, when we were programmed to love our blue jeans, growing up. 😉 But even so, I still love that old ZZ Top song. "If I ever get back my old blue jeans, Lord how happy could one man be?". 😁😎😁

Around home, I am usually wearing jeans except in summer I often wear shorts instead. It is just camping or traveling when I forgo the jeans.

You may also consider a silk liner for your sleeping bag. They pack very small, and add a good deal of warmth to your bag.

Anyone know about the Arc'teryx Atom LT pants?

https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/atom-lt-pant

How packable are they?

I'm trying to remember if I saw a pair on the clearance rack at my local REI store. I think there was - the zippered leg was quite memorable but I didn't look closely at them. I have a 20% off coupon too.


-Tim-

Your 20% off is for a full price item.

https://www.smartwool.com/shop/mens-...w0np605#hero=0

Under 8 0unces, not too expensive, these should not disappoint under almost any conditions. And they last a long time. I've been very happy with Smartwool garments. And they don't stink like polyester often does, and they hold up through many washings.

looking again at the photos of the model wearing them, they look a bit bulky and loose.

The Sporthill xc pants that both Doug and I have used for ages fit much more like a tight, and the stretchyness aspect of the fabric means that for riding, they are actually very comfortable, and I have ridden in mine for probably thousands of hours, and they have never bothered me for bunching up or whatever, and the slim lower leg part is a plus for cycling with keeping out of chains chainrings etc.
I guess because I commute so much and hope to keep cycling in my activities for a long time, to me its important to have something that I can bike in at cooler temps, with the bonus of using it for other outdoor activities.
The slim fit however is clearly a plus for cycling.

Big fan of Prana pants. Brion, Zion and a few others that they make. Some stretch, light weight and dries fast.

For sleeping or cold weather riding, I'm a fan of the wool baselayer. For a cold weather start/finish to the day, I often take my Kuhl Convertible pants. https://www.rei.com/product/111534/k...ble-pants-mens

I probably wouldn't sleep in them, or at least I wouldn't count on a big insulation boost from them, but as a windbreak and a slightly less casual clothing option, I like them. And it's nice to be able to go from pants to shorts when the day warm up without having to find somewhere discrete to change.

For those conditions for sleeping, running shorts with a 4" inseam are all I wear. As it gets colder I might add tights (yeah I know you said no tights).
Around camp I have used a variety of things on different trips. If it isn't too cool I use the running shorts, but as it gets cooler I add something longer. Sometimes wind pants. Sometimes some real lightweight cheap nylon zipoffs that have a cotton like feel. Mine are worldwide sportsman, but I have not seen the exact model in years.

When going real light I have foregone the zipoffs and only taken the wind pants. They are 4 ounces and double as rain pants (I treated them with spray on DWR. If I expect a lot or really rainy conditions I might take real coated nylon rain pants (I have some pretty lightweight ones).

I supplement any of those choices with tights if it is going to be cold. I take different tights depending on how cold I expect it to be. None of my tights have a pad they all slip over riding shorts or lend themselves well to wear with non riding clothes.

I have an older version similar to these: https://www.montbell.us/products/dis...01216&gen_cd=1

They make freezing mornings around camp much more enjoyable. They pack down to about the size of a can of coke.

I'd look at nylon or nylon like baggy pants. I'm guessing a military surplus or outdoor surplus store might have them. They should pack very small. Then wear under them heavy thermal underwear. I have 30 year old.expedition weight thermals form Patagonia. I often sleep in them with the next day's shorts, etc, under (and use a lighter sleeping bag to compensate). In the morning, pull those pants on. Then it is a quick shed and I'm ready to ride and I haven't exposed my bare legs to cold

My theory of good bike packing - at the coldest point of your trip you should be wearing everything except dirty inner layers and be warm enough.

Ben

FYI...

SportHill XC Pants Mens - $104.93
https://www.rei.com/product/130268/s...-xc-pants-mens