REVIEW: Sleeka Salopettes Reversible Snugpak® Trousers - Full Leg Zip

Sleeka Reversible Salopettes – Full Leg Zip by the well-known British manufacturer Snugpak are designed for winter conditions, where temperatures hover around zero. Thanks to the outer material Paratex Light with ripstop treatment, they have high mechanical resistance, while the hollow fibers Softie Premier ensure ample thermal insulation. You can also find many practical features on them. How did they fare during intensive use in freezing weather? Read our review!

Introduction

You must have experienced it before. You liked a product and started thinking whether to buy it or not. You thought you'd think it over, read a review on the internet or watch a promo video. You weighed the pros and cons and the next day at the latest you ordered it or bought it at the store. But after a few days of use, doubts began to appear. You don't like the color combination, the clothes are too hot or too cold, this part is short, this material won't last... Then you have doubts about whether it was a good purchase and whether it could be returned somehow. Alternatively, you can display the goods at the bazaar and perhaps get rid of them at a lower price.

I myself have experienced this situation many times and I will definitely experience it again. Especially when it comes to military clothing and material. When I sold my last not-so-good purchase like this on the army market, it occurred to me that people must make a lot of similar purchases and subsequent sales. 

Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak trousers – Full Leg Zip are designed for winter conditions when temperatures are around zero.

On the Internet, we can find dozens of promo videos and reviews for all kinds of goods, but in most cases this information is only marketing - we find out, what the product looks like, what material it is made of, etc.

However, there are not so many reviews that describe the product to us after a longer period of use. That's why I decided then that I could pass on some of my experiences to you after a few years of use. During my 10 years of service with reconnaissance units, a really large amount of military equipment (tactical equipment, backpacks, clothing, knives, etc.) passed through my hands. I had the opportunity to try most of such products both in training areas and in foreign operations. And this testing cost me tens of thousands of crowns. Therefore, I will be very happy if my information will be useful to you and help you choose other products.

In this review, I would like to give you some knowledge about insulated pants from the British manufacturer Snugpak - Sleeka Reversible Salopettes - Full Leg Zip. 

The video where the Sleeka pants are presented can be found on the Rigad YouTube channel. That's why I won't go back to the basics and jump right into what the pants can do and how they still perform after more than five years.

Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Pants Snugpak^® – Full Leg Zip

Thermal comfort

The manufacturer-specified thermal comfort is -5 °C. Since everyone has a different threshold for feeling cold, these numbers cannot be applied universally. However, for me personally, they fit. I tested the pants at the lowest temperature of -15 °C, and the insulation properties were no longer sufficient even though I had other layers of clothing underneath. At temperatures below -5 °C, make sure to wear some quality thermal underwear under the pants, and if you have to spend the night outside in such low temperatures, wrap yourself in a sleeping bag. Even at -15 °C, an ordinary summer sleeping bag issued by the army was sufficient for me.

Properties of Materials and Their Durability

As the outer layer, the material Paratex Light with ripstop treatment is used. Just like in the Sleeka or Sasquatch jackets from the same manufacturer. The fabric feels soft to the touch and raises the question of whether it will last. Yes, it will last. The durability of the material surprised me quite a bit. I have repeatedly brushed against hawthorn bushes in these pants, which thoroughly tested the material, and the pants remained intact. However, I would not recommend trying to cross barbed wire in them. The outer material resists wind excellently, which should be an absolute basic requirement for clothing designed for cold conditions.

The outer material Paratex Light with ripstop adjustment ensures the mechanical durability of the Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip pants.

The insulation material is Softie Premier. Hollow fibers that perfectly insulate and keep warm, even when wet. This material dries quickly and wicks moisture from the layers beneath it. If you put on the pants over wet camouflage, they will dry in a short time. It is the same effect as with a sleeping bag. However, it is important to completely unzip and thoroughly dry the pants afterward. This prolongs their lifespan and insulating properties.

With a great amount of insulation, the manufacturer really didn't hold back here. After all, the pants are designed for temperatures around freezing, which has its pros and cons. The benefit is high thermal comfort, which you will immediately notice as soon as you put the pants on. On the other hand, this comfort is compensated by greater bulkiness and thus worse packability.

Full Leg Zip

The biggest benefit of this model is the side zippers running along the outer sides of both pant legs, which is why these pants bear this designation. Full Leg means that you can completely unzip the pants from the waist to the ankles. The manufacturer also offers another model with a side zipper that only runs from the ankles to the knees. Thanks to this Full Leg zipper construction, the pants are very easy to put on. You don't need to hold anything, there's no risk of the pant legs rolling up, and you don't even need to take off your shoes. It is truly a brilliant solution.

Full Leg Zip means that the Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak pants can be fully unzipped from the waist to the ankles.

When dressing, I recommend partially unzipping both sides at the waist area (for easier entry into the pants) and also unzipping the zippers at the ankles (ideally up to the second slider you unzipped at the waist). This way, you avoid getting the inside dirty when you have shoes on and eliminate the risk of tearing the pants in a hurry by stepping through. It happened to me.

Another advantage of two-way zippers is the possibility of unzipping in situations where you need to move more in the pants. Thanks to the suspenders, the pants do not have a tendency to slide down, giving you confidence that they won't fall during walking or running. Ventilation works great this way.

Side zip trousers Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip provides good ventilation.

Zippers are protected by a covering flap, which is not insulated but definitely windproof. What I would not recommend is completely unzipping (as shown in the promo video) when you are operating outside. It is then difficult to put the pants back together, especially if you are in a hurry. Complete unzipping makes sense when you return and need to dry or air them out. I recommend doing this every time you return from the forest. 

Side zips of Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip trousers are protected by a cover flap that is not insulated but windproof.

Suspenders

Another characteristic feature of these trousers is the adjustable braces. The manufacturer really thought about it and moved the category of insulated trousers to a higher level. In combination with a high waist, you are guaranteed that your lower back will not be exposed, especially when bending over, kneeling, and sitting. However, the high waist is not insulated compared to the rest of the trousers.

Suspenders of the Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip are adjustable and can be regulated as needed when changing positions.

Suspenders recommend adjusting with every change in position. While walking, it's better to have them tightened more, and for other positions, definitely loosen them so they don't restrict your range of motion. It's a good idea to think about fastening fastex buckles when packing your pants. This way, you'll be sure you won't lose them in a hurry or at night, and when you take the pants out of your backpack, you won't step on them.

Thanks to the suspenders on the Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip, the pants do not slide down during movement.

The only thing that bothers me about suspenders is their twisting in the buckle. Unfortunately, it can't be eliminated, and sometimes it's a problem to adjust the length when the material gets stuck in the buckle loop. It can also be a bit annoying that you'll have to unbutton and take off your jacket every time you dress because of the suspenders. This bothers me, especially at lower temperatures, because I lose most of the heat from the upper half of my body this way.

The only disadvantage of the suspenders on the Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip pants is the twisting of the strap in the buckle.

Reinforced places

The pants also feature padding on the knees and rear. The material used is sufficiently durable, ensuring that the padding won't wear out (especially on the knees). The padding on the rear makes sense when you sit on a fallen tree trunk, a stump, or even directly on the ground when it's dry.

Inner part of Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip. When putting on pants while wearing boots, be careful not to step on them in a hurry.

When sitting down, I would definitely put something under myself, especially in winter or damp conditions. The reinforcements can withstand a lot, but they are not waterproof. If you sit on a wet surface, you additionally reduce the insulation loft with your weight, and the moisture then begins to transfer quite quickly into other layers of clothing. And a wet backside is not pleasant.

Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip pants have side pockets and are reinforced at exposed areas.

Pockets

The thigh pockets are wide enough (you can put your hand in them even with thicker gloves) and have a zipper. Thanks to the zippers, you are sure that nothing will fall out. I want to point out one thing - even though the zippers are YKK quality, they often bite into the inner material of the pockets. Therefore, be careful when unzipping.

The side pockets of the Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip trousers are wide enough even for thicker gloves and have a zipper.

Be careful with the fire!

With these pants on, do your best to avoid any contact with fire. It may seem amusing to some, but I have already seen a few snugpaks destroyed by flames. You know how it goes – during a break, you just light your cigarette, brush against clothing, and the disaster strikes. The same applies to sitting by the campfire or playing with a firestarter. So keep that in mind.

Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak pants – Full Leg Zip have pockets fitted with quality YKK zippers, but they often get caught on the inner material of the pockets.

Basic maintenance

• I recommend storing trousers in the same way as a sleeping bag, i.e. outside the compression package.

• After each stay outside, unzip them completely and let them air out for a few hours.

• Wet wipes are enough to clean dirt and wash the pants here and there.

• Personally, I wash them in my hands, but I think that the washing machine will not harm them. However, just take a look at the label to see what the manufacturer says about washing.

Detail YKK zip of the trousers Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip.

Price

This model is more expensive compared to others. The pants are currently around 4,000 CZK (check the offer on Rigad.cz, they are occasionally on sale). Of course, it also depends on the color. You will pay extra for multicam compared to monochromatic variants. In my case, the camouflage is justified.

For about four thousand crowns, you get a very high-quality piece of clothing that, if you take care of it, will last you a lifetime. It may not be a stylish piece for the city, but in the category of military insulated pants, in my opinion, they have no competition. I had the opportunity to test British military pants Softie (often used in the Czech Army) or even a more expensive piece from Carinthia – and Snugpak definitely leads in all aspects for me.

Whom would I recommend them to

First and foremost, they will be represented by people serving in the army who know they will have to operate outdoors in any weather. They will also find their place outside the defense sector. They will certainly be used by hunters on watch, bushcraft enthusiasts, and people who enjoy spending time in the mountains.

You can simply use them anywhere where you expect cold and minimal movement because they are intended more for static activity. They are also an interesting solution for hammock campers. I sleep in a hammock several times a year myself, and they are a great alternative to a sleeping bag. Anyone who has slept in a hammock knows what a struggle it is to get into a sleeping bag properly.

Sleeka Reversible Salopettes Snugpak – Full Leg Zip pants are used by army personnel, but also by bushcraft and outdoor enthusiasts or hunters on the lookout.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I want to say that these pants, together with the Sasquatch jacket, have become an integral part of my gear for staying overnight outside and that I carry in my grab bag. I know that some people will argue that such clothing has no place there, but from experience, when I didn't have access to a large backpack for several days and the snugpak set was the only thing I had to get through the winter, I'll just keep it there. Moreover, some units have their specifics on what, where, and why to wear. In the vast majority, snugpak is the only solution for warm clothing and a means for staying overnight outside. They only carry sleeping bags when the temperatures approach zero.

Thank you for reading and I hope the review helps you.