The Lowdown
I appreciate the fact that the Olivers Apparel Passage Pant looks like a regular pair of pants. They are refined enough to wear to the office but are casual enough to be dressed down when Raina and I go out to grab a quick bite. Most of all, I appreciate the fact that they are so damn comfortable!
Overall
Pros
- Light
- Comfortable
- Just enough 4-way stretch
- Available in a wide range of colors
Cons
- Pricey
- Just like your favorite pair of jeans, the fifth pocket is largely unusable
- No zippered pocket to protect you from pickpockets when traveling
While working from home last year, I found a new appreciation for clothing that is also both comfortable and durable. Now, as I prepare to return to the office, I’m building a smaller wardrobe filled with exactly that. I’m focused on comfort and durability; the Olivers Apparel Passage Pant is part of that new “uniform.”
The ideal pair of travel pants are comfortable, durable, and can be worn in various settings. While the Olivers Apparel Passage Pant is an excellent pair of travel pants, they don’t LOOK like travel pants. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you would think they are just a regular pair of pants. And that’s the point. After working from home for the last year and a half, that is exactly what I want in every pair of pants. Fortunately, the Passage Pant delivers.
The Olivers Apparel Passage Pant is pricey. At $148, there are no two ways around that. But for the price, you get a pair of pants that look great, feel great, and can go from the office to hiking and then to dinner. That’s all thanks to the special fabric used in the construction of the Passage Pant and the design.
Made from Olivers’ unique CORDURA fabric, the company suggests you think of these as “your favorite jeans, updated for everyday performance.” I don’t see it this way. After wearing the Passage Pant for review for a few days, I went back to a pair of my well-worn jeans that had long been my “goto” casual pants, and I no longer found them to be comfortable. Yes, the Olivers Apparel Passage Pants have spoiled me.
The Olivers Apparel Passage Pant comes in various colors, including Black, Dark Navy, Cinder, Dark Oliver, Military Olive, Carbon, Navy, Moss, Brass, Saddle Brown, Blue Steel, Dark Indigo, Olive, Khaki, Ash Grey, and Desert. In other words, there is something for everyone and every occasion. I received a review sample in Carbon. I love the color and look forward to wearing them to the office. And plan to pick up a pair in black.
Olivers CORDURA fabric is a combination of 91% Nylon and 9% Spandex. The material is light, durable, soft, and offers just enough 4-way stretch. I’m not sure they have enough stretch for something like rock climbing, but they do an excellent job of moving with you. The Italian hardware looks nice and will, I suspect, help with the durability of the pants over time. The self-locking YKK zipper is nice… and helps avoid potential embarrassment. 🙂
I’ve been wearing a lot of clothing made from merino wool and will be doing some reviews in the coming weeks. I love the anti-microbial property of merino wool. It allows you to wear a garment multiple times before needing to throw it in the laundry. The Passage Pant doesn’t have the same anti-odor prowess of merino wool, but the material is thin and light enough to be washed and dried at the end of the day when necessary and still be ready the next morning.
Like merino wool, you can throw them in the washing machine on cold and lay them out flat to dry. When you are on the road, a quick hand wash in the sink is more than enough.
The Olivers Apparel Passage Pant is designed with five pockets. Reminiscent of my (formally) favorite jeans, there are two deep front pockets, two functional back pockets, and the standard utility pocket that was initially intended for a pocket watch we see on most jeans.
This latter pocket is small, so it is best used to hold some change or a few bills. My iPhone 12 Pro barely fits in and sticks out the top, though, so you won’t want to carry your phone there. I wish one of the pockets had a zipper for added security the way some of the other pants I’ll be reviewing do.
More durable than denim and as comfortable as your favorite sweatpants, the Olivers Apparel Passage Pant is a performance pant that you can wear on a bike ride into the boardroom.
I’m 6’1” and weigh about 187. I was sent a sample in my normal size 34 waist. The tapered legs are perfect, although the seat and crotch are a bit on the loose side. Unfortunately, I suspect a 33 would be too tight, so I did something a bit risky.
Olivers recommends washing the pants in cold water and then lay them flat to air dry. I washed the review sample and then put them in a warm drier for twenty minutes. That process caused them to shrink just enough. Now they look, and feel, excellent.
It worked out fine, but I don’t recommend taking that risk with such an expensive pair of pants. Thankfully, Olivers offers a 30-day return policy so you can pick up a pair with zero risks.
I appreciate the fact that the Olivers Apparel Passage Pant looks like a regular pair of pants. They are refined enough to wear to the office but are casual enough to be dressed down when Raina and I go out to grab a quick bite. Most of all, I appreciate the fact that they are so damn comfortable!
I’ll be headed to LA for a day and a half to officiate a funeral next month. I’ll be wearing the Passage Pants on the way there… and on the way back. But while the Passage Pants are ideal for travel, they look good enough for daily wear. And, most of the time, that’s exactly how I will be wearing them.
The Olivers Apparel Passage Pant retails for $148; it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Light; Comfortable; Just enough 4-way stretch; Available in a wide range of colors
What Needs Improvement: Pricey; Just like your favorite pair of jeans, the fifth pocket is largely unusable; No zippered pocket to protect you from pickpockets when traveling
would be useful