Women’s outdoor gear has continually improved over the past few decades. Merrit Geary, the founder of Alpen Outdoors, is hopeful her brand can continue that momentum for women in the field.
Today, the brand released its flagship product, the Ridge Pant ($149).
“I’m really proud of the Ridge Pant. We diligently took everything into consideration to create a quality fit without a compromise on appearance or performance. The Ridge Pant runs true to size, and were built entirely by a women-led team. When people feel good, they perform well, and I want women to feel confident and empowered in our products. Whatever the pursuit may be, I know Alpen will help women get there, from mountain tops to rivers and everything in between.”
— Merrit Geary
Let’s take a look at the new Ridge Pant and also the brand responsible.
The Ridge Pant
Specs
- 4-way stretch fit
- Reinforced knees & seat
- Quick-dry & water wicking
- Deep, functional pockets
- Interior drawcord for custom fit
The Ridge Pant promises to give women both style and performance. The pant incorporates recycled yarns along with a proprietary blend of stretch fabric, ensuring not only a sustainable choice but also unmatched comfort.
The Ridge Pant’s wicking finish is designed to rapidly evaporate moisture. The soft shell fabric’s water-resistant finish is perfect for early-morning hikes and withstanding a bit of light rain.
The knees and seat boast a reinforced double-layer fabric, delivering added protection against wear and tear. You can customize your waist fit with the interior drawcord, giving you optimal comfort and security. The bottom leg opening also has a drawcord, giving you a secure fit over boots if needed.
The Ridge Pant has some serious storage. Deep front pockets, side leg pockets, and back pockets provide actual storage solutions in a women’s pant. We’re finally getting real pockets.
Alpen Outdoors
The Mission
“Alpen is on a mission to get women outdoors and in the right gear. They are committed to creating experience apparel for women, built to last and designed to endure adventures. Women shouldn’t have to compromise when male counterparts don’t have to. Alpen set out to design a product that is not only sustainably sourced but built to perform. Obsessed with fit and quality, Alpen’s experience apparel is built with women in mind.”
Alpen Outdoors’ Founder: Merrit Geary
We asked Merrit what the inspiration was behind starting Alpen Outdoors.
“I was exhausted by the lack of options available for women and when I spoke of my frustration I was not alone. It’s not too much to ask for products that fit our bodies and I was over settling. We’ve been the second thought to so many brands for decades, I desperately wanted to break that mold and create products women felt really good in. No frilly design, no over the top patterns but products that work with us and not against. We’re out there right next to the men or with a pile of our girlfriends. It’s time a brand matched our innate grittiness.”
When discussing goals for her new brand, she said,
“To not only build Alpen up but also our community. Building and designing products that make women feel their best for all seasons. There is so much more to come from us and I am really so excited.”
Those are all feelings echoed by the women here at GearJunkie. We are excited about a new women’s brand that isn’t cutting corners and is making reliable outdoor apparel for women.
Initial Thoughts
A few of our testers have these pants in hand, myself included, and we are looking forward to getting them out into some real-world testing scenarios. I opened my pair last night, and they fit like a glove, have a crazy comfortable feel, plenty of stretch, and so many pockets. The look is cool, and they do feel rugged without being constricting.
Though we haven’t had the opportunity to get them through some serious testing yet, I have high hopes for this brand and its flagship product.
Stay tuned for upcoming in-depth reviews of the Ridge Pant.
