MACPAC TREKKAS
James Ainslie tries on some serious
fly fishing pants.

Macpac is a globally recognised brand with a reputation for quality and innovation in outdoor wear. I’ve been wearing a pair of their Trekkas pants for nearly three years (not constantly, of course) and they have weathered those thousand days far better than I.

Macpac trumpets the pants’ excellence in “both urban and Amazon jungles” and I would have to agree. They’ve stood up to highland fishing, alpine trekking and, importantly, university student laundering practices (wash, tumble-dry, throw on floor, repeat).

Constructed from Macpac’s fully synthetic Cross Terrain™ fabric, Trekkas seem particularly suitable for fishing in all conditions. They prove incredibly light and comfortable to wear and make minimal noise when you move. They dry in minutes and shed all their creases in a similar timeframe (for the lodge afterwards). They also provide plenty of sun protection (45+ UPF) and are dense enough to eliminate a fair amount of wind-chill. They even come in khaki!

Worn fishing or not, Trekkas offer plenty of features to keep you out of trouble. The belt, for example, is fully integrated into the structure of the pants so you can’t leave it behind. Speaking of leaving things behind, the sewn-in key clip is likewise reassuring. There are also toggles on the legs so you can seal the pants around your foot—useful in cold weather and for ex-cluding creepy-crawlies, or for anyone who hates their trousers rolling up their legs when they slip into waders.

There is much to be said for pants that look good, work well, and last forever. If only their contents proved half as reliable!

RRP around $129.
More information: www.macpac.co.nz or 03 6431 6500.