686 Smarty Original Cargo Pant 2013 Review by The Good Ride

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The 686 Smarty Original Cargo Pant is what makes 686 686.  They are one of the only companies out there that have a whole line of system pants that can give you an integrated system without having to shop.  You pay more for the liner but some will really enjoy it on the hill or just around the house after.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  No one is perfect and we do make money from the “Where To Buy” links below, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

Size Tried: Medium
James’ Specs:
Height: 5’10”,
Weight: 195 lbs,
Waist 33”
Hips 42”
Inseam 30”
Upper Thigh 24.5”
Middle Thigh 22”
Calves 17”
Turn On’s: Size M pants that fit well around my thighs, Riding with Friends, Open Roads, new gear and especially my wife.
Turn Off’s: M Pants that I can’t get up over my thighs, traffic, and people who can’t park inside the lines.

Fit: This also comes in short, normal and longer lengths.  There are also numerous colors so it will fit a wide variety of tastes. I wore the Normal and it worked great for me.

Construction: 686 does a good job with construction for this price range and their pants I’ve owned lasted a long time.

Insulation/Warmth: The integrated system makes for a very versatile pant for all kinds of weather.  With the thick liner in you are ready for very cold days and for me I could never come across a day cold enough to justify wearing it.  I tried it here and there on cold days in the Sierras but I run warm and found myself doing a car change after a few runs. On normal to warm days it feels just like any old pant with a liner.

Waterproofing: We have found that 686’s waterproof rating is more like a 10k instead of 15k but it’s about what you pay for other pants in the price range.

Breathability: Breathability is nothing special but without the thick liner in it breathes well.

Overall: This is a good solution for those that ride 10-20 days a year and like a little extra insulation on the colder days.