Okay, here’s a pair of pants from a company I’ve never heard of – Rail Riders. A look at railriders.com will tell you that the company was started 19 years ago (!), by one John d’Arbeloff, who was in a 24-hour yacht race off Martha’s Vineyard, got soaking wet in 6-foot seas, and started wondering why he had to wear uncomfortable clothes that wouldn’t dry. Some sketches, designs, and plans ensued, and before he knew it he had a company that was making technical wilderness clothing that adventurers the world over wanted.

I’m not a climber or trekker, I like to hunt and fish, and I have to tell you that the Extreme Adventure Pant that I tried was comfortable, had all the pockets I needed, and dried quickly when I got caught in a sudden Catskill Mountain rainstorm.  A friend wore a pair striper fishing two weeks ago, off Cape Cod, and raved about them as well.  Check them out on railriders.com – there’s a ton of cool-looking, functional clothing, at decent prices ($95 for the Adventure Pants). I also got a pair of Winter Weatherpants, for $84, and I’m taking those with me when I go duck hunting in Manitoba next month. I’ll give you a report. – Jay Cassell