A Mid-Season Dream for the Budget-Conscious Hunter: BlackOvis Terrace Pants Review

With the many options out there, having a subpar hunting pant these days is simply not an issue. From the high-tech materials and fits to the advanced technology, the days of dealing with $30 pants from Wally World are days of the past. All of that said, high-end hunting clothing is … well, high-end. And that comes at a cost.

The BlackOvis Terrace Pants ($120) are a mid-season solution for the budget-conscious hunter. Without sacrificing performance, fit, or comfort, the Terrace Pants offer a seriously capable bottom layer without being too terribly painful on the wallet.

In short: Hunters looking to save a buck without sacrificing quality need to look at the BlackOvis Terrace pants. They are as quiet, comfortable, and durable as pants in far higher price ranges. Just be prepared to size up when you do.

BlackOvis Terrace Pant Review

Overview

BlackOvis is mostly known for being an online retailer of hunting gear galore from some of the top names in the industry. What seems to fly under the radar, though, is that it produces its own line of clothing for hunters. Everything from socks to puffy jackets can be found with the BlackOvis name on them. The Terrace pants are the newest addition to its pants lineup and a piece you shouldn’t ignore.

BlackOvis created the 1-pound, 4-ounce Terrace pants as a mid-season solution with versatility in mind. This is an athletic-fitting pant made with 94% polyester and 6% spandex. The outside of the Terrace pant has a rugged yet sleek feel.

On the inside of the pants, you’ll find a lightweight fleece that adds not only comfort but also warmth to the pants. As far as layout goes, BlackOvis has included two rear zippered pockets and two cargo pockets (one on each side), all with YKK zippers. Hunters have two options for colors: bristlecone and gunmetal. Sizes for the Terrace range from 30×31 up to 44×32.

Features

Heat Vents

One of my favorite features of these pants is the heat vents. This is a non-negotiable thing these days, in my opinion.

Having a way to dump heat makes a pant so much more versatile. Open them up for long hikes in the morning and close them down for when it’s time to sit and glass. Each leg on the Terrace has a 12″ heat vent with dual zippers for these exact purposes.

DWR Coating

To add to the versatility of the Terrace, BlackOvis has included a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment on the pant. This means when Ma Nature decides to shed some moisture, you won’t have to immediately seek cover or your rain gear.

Of course, a DWR treatment is no replacement for rain gear, but it will definitely slow your roll when you have to reach for it. It’s also a useful feature for hiking through dew in the morning.

Large Pockets With Quiet Snaps

Let me first start off by saying pockets make me angry. If pockets are too small, they fail to fit what you need, followed by making whatever is in your pocket dig into your leg while hiking. And some that have a dual pocket situation are just confusing and more cumbersome than useful.

With that said, the pockets on the Terrace do nothing of the sort. These are generously sized, easily accessible, and have quiet snaps on them. They are a win-win-win in my book.

My Experience

With most of my hunting taking place in the unique and diverse landscape of Arizona, pants need to be … well, diverse. Arizona is hot and rugged, and everything wants to poke and grab at your clothing. So, a pant needs to be both breathable and durable. That’s a hard balance to strike, but BlackOvis did a fine job with these mid-season pants.

First Impressions

Right out of the box, I could tell that the Terrace was going to be able to handle the heartless thorns of my home state. Along with feeling durable, they were also quiet, which is always a plus for pants. I can’t stand pants that have too much of a swish to them.

Another thing I appreciated about the Terrace was the set of heat vents on the sides of the pants. When hiking from spot to spot, these are so handy and really help regulate your body temperature and manage moisture on the inside of the pants.

Last but certainly not least, the pockets are great on the Terrace. They’re easily accessible and have a great size to them. Pants with pockets that are too small not only limit what one can put in the pockets but also make it uncomfortable when hiking. There’s nothing like a bulging pair of gloves or even your phone digging into your leg with each step. The Terrace excels here.

All in all, I spent most of the month of October wearing the Terrace while bear and deer hunting in Arizona. Temperatures ranged from the mid-80s down to the 30s. There was no shortage of long hikes and busting through brush. My merino wool top looks like a mouse got to it with all of the holes. My Terrace pants, on the other hand, survived with no holes at all.

And as far as the hikes go, the Terrace never gave me any discomfort. I helped a good friend pack out his first buck through some pretty thick country that threw us every which way from Sunday. The Terrace handled all of it in stride.

What’s Wrong?

There is one thing about the Terrace pants that was a little bit frustrating: the sizing. The Terrace runs small, so the first pair of pants I got actually didn’t fit that well. Once I sized up, all was good.

Since finding this out, BlackOvis has announced right on the product page that you need to size up and that the pants run small. This is something I feel is a real stand-up move. The brand is being totally transparent so you can have the best experience possible. Good on you, BlackOvis.

Final Thoughts

If there is one thing true about hunting pants, it’s that not all are created equal. The Terrace is a great reminder of that because they sit on the upper end of things. And they do it at a price point that won’t get you slapped by your significant other. It’s refreshing to see a company making quality hunting clothing that is within reach of more folks.

As far as a mid-season pair of hunting pants goes, you can’t go wrong with these. I’ll certainly be putting more miles on mine in the near future.