Dawn Patrol Approach Pant

The Dawn Patrol Approach Pants (DPAP); This is what I would call a heavy weight pant made for winter conditions. The shell is of a beef material and I compare them to the Arcteryx Gamma MX. Lightly insulated so they can very easily become my primary shell for three seasons of the year.

Once again it should be known for the sake of full disclosure I do get a pro deal on this garment and BD equipment in general. I don’t feel that this effects my critiquing their equipment but perhaps it does without my knowing it so take what I say with a grain of salt.

This shell/pant is my primary layer for for waterfall ice climbing here in the Canadian Rockies. Some might think that you need to have 100% waterproof shell but I haven’t really felt the need for 3 layer Gore-Tex on my lower body for pretty much two decades now. Previously I used to use the mammut version almost all year. Note that they are quite a bit lighter material and not near as weather proof. I will quite often carry a super ultra-light Gore-tex shell at the bottom of my pack in case of a high wind situation like riding a chairlift in the alpine but to be honest I bet I haven’t used it more then 5 times in 15 years. This is just setting you up for how I use this weight of layer. I of course have not had the DPAP’s for more then 3 months. I have made a point however of taking them out over my other shells trying to come to some conclusion on their performance. So here we go.

As far as looks go they look fine. Don’t make my ass look bigger then it is because it does that all on it’s own. I should state that I am 5’101/2 175lbs. and normally order a medium pant. The Arcteryx medium fit is perfect for me and these pants seem to have almost the exact same cut and fit. I noticed that early in the season (September) I was wearing less upper body layers and tucking no more then one light or medium polypro layer into pants. They seemed to get pushed down by the heavy pack waistbelt. When I got to the stage of looking like one of those new age gangsta’s with their back pocket somewhere down mid thigh I would have to stop and pull them up. The pants come with a narrow waste belt which doesn’t work that well meaning that it slips. The easy fix for this is to adjust the size and tie a knot behind buckle. To be fair all the other pants of this type that I own have this same problem. Adding a pair of suspenders may be a option. However that system never worked well for me as I had to take off to many layers everytime I went to dump a ACMG course examiner on the ground. I notice now that I have two or three layers on and tucked into my Patrol pants the slippage is less of a problem. My just be my build that is causing this issue. Although I consider myself pretty average build wise. Not fat, not skinny but just right.

The cuffs on the bottom of the pant work really well. For ice climbing they easily slip overly mountain boots. There is a internal drawstring that can tighten the internal material around the boot. It doesn't exactly cinch the internal cuff but no pair of pants that I have ever used does. There is a side zipper that when open easily allows the boot to slip over a ski touring boot even when the boot is open for touring mode. This is a real bonus for me. On the inside of the leg cuff is a crampon/ski protection patch. It is made of ballistic material and is wide enough and high enough to actually do some good.

Articulation with the leg seems fine. I don’t notice and real movement restrictions. They are about the same as the Gamma MX I would say. I took these on a lenghty ski tour a couple days ago and found them to be as good as anything else I have ever worn.

Pockets? Well there are no back pockets which is fine we want to keep that part of the body looking sleek anyhow. Two front pockets which seem high though not outrageous by any means. Fairly deep with good easy to manage zippers on both. The patch pockets is where I think they really screwed up and is a deal breaker for me. They are way, way to far forward approaching the front centre of the thigh. Anything I put in them I can feel with every step! I mean anything! From a stick of gum to a map. I am the type of guy that uses these pockets a lot and by doing so I avoid the Swiss Army harness. I really like to have my iPhone in it’s bombproof case in my right patch pocket about mid thigh with a Velcro cuff so I can get at it constantly for photos, GPS, video, texting you name it. Anything in those pockets bugs the shit out of me. The other thing as if it could be worse is that the right pocket closes with a zipper on the anterior side with down toward the boot being the default open. It also takes two hand to mess with the thing. WTF! The left pocket is also to far forward but at least has has a top loading pocket with a Velcro sealing flap. Like I say this is a deal breaker for me and I won’t be getting another pair till they put them back on the sides where they belong.

Overall a great shell just has that one little problem. Maybe the problem is me and most people don’t or won’t notice the difference. However at $350 a pair there are a few products just as good without that slight irritation. I would have expected better fro Black Diamonds RD team. Guy's/Gal's don’t try and reinvent the wheel just because you think you should or just to be different.
PS: if it seems I am comparing a lot of clothing to Arcteryx it is not because I am promoting their product over another. I consider them to be the standard by which things are measured. BD is the new kid on the block and in time my become what all others are compared to.

Ok I wore these pants most of the winter ice climbing and skiing. While the pocket location still bothers me. I also can't stand the side zipper on the right hand side. Even though i haven't lost anything out of the pocket I am pretty aware of the fact it is a side zipper so I seldom put anything in there of any importance.
That was the bad stuff on the up side I have really grown to love these pants for cold uncomfortable locations. The material is heavy enough that I don't want or need a wind shell over them. The material is ultra durable. They really have become my "go to" garment for serious conditions. They also performed very well for ski hill skiing (didn't do enough touring this year to give a honest assessment on that activity).
I give these a 4.5. They lose half a point for the dumb pocket location and the flimsy belt that holds them up. Serious climbing these are a great choice that will last you quite awhile.

Mike Barter

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the review! I'm currently in the market, deciding whether to replace my 5 year old gamma mx pant (which is now fancily branded swiss cheese) with a new one of the same make, or save a few $ and try out the dawn patrols. 95% of the time, I'm going to be climbing vertical ice with them. Slightly concerned about the pocket thing, as I've grown used to throwing a headlamp or an ultralight shell in my side pocket.

More importantly though, what about the difference in materials? Warmth, stretchiness, wind proofness? Arc'Teryx seems to have changed from schoeller to fortius (which I know nothing about). Any insights here?