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As of Spring 2019, The North Face Discontinued the Paramount 3.0 Hiking Pants
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Lightweight
Stylish
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Fabric not as soft as some
Few storage pockets
The North Face Paramount 3.0 pants are an updated version of the popular Paramount Peak 2.0 pants that we have previously worn, reviewed, and loved. They are a bit thinner, lighter, and have a sleeker fit than the older version, updates that we think lead to a better overall hiking pant, and which make them an excellent choice for all climates, something that doesn't hold for their very warm predecessor. Though we chose to review the standard model, these pants also come in a convertible version for those who like the added versatility.
With only a single zippered side pocket, they do not have the enormous carrying capacity that comes with dual cargo pockets, but in exchange, they are more comfortable for walking long distances and look nicer for wearing around town. These pants are solid in nearly every way, and they ended up as the fourth highest overall scorer in our review, with above-average scores for every metric that we assessed.
Our Analysis and Test Results
In many ways, the Paramount 3.0 pant is very similar to the Patagonia Quandary. They are both very affordable and have a sleek, straight-leg fit. They each have only one extra pocket, an angled zippered pocket, located on the upper side of the right leg, that is perfect for a phone or a couple of trail snacks. They both employ a small percentage of stretchy fibers to increase functional mobility, and they both look nice enough for use around town as well as on the trail. If there is any difference between the two, it would be the fact that the fabric used in the Quandary pant feels slightly smoother and softer against the skin, and the DWR coating is sturdier. Otherwise, these pants are remarkably similar and are two of our favorites for day hikes.
Performance Comparison
The Paramount 3.0 were one of the higher scorers in our review, a comfortable and simple hiking pant. Here we are exploring some Anasazi Cliff Ruins in the Bears Ears National Monument.
Comfort and Mobility
We loved the fit of the thin, but not too thin, Paramount 3.0 pants, which aren't nearly as baggy or cumbersome as the older version that we tested previously. They fit our head tester almost perfectly but were ever so slightly tight at the tops of the thighs where they joined with the hip flexors. This issue was easily offset by the 4% elastane blended into the nylon which gave it the perfect amount of stretch. On the other hand, the nylon fabric wasn't as soft and smooth as the similarly synthetic Prana Stretch Zion.
The stretchy fabric on these pants was comfortable and quite mobile, although at times felt a bit rough, a common complaint with all synthetic pants.
Venting and Breathability
The thin, light, stretchy fabric found on this pant did an adequate job of keeping us cool during hikes in the desert of Utah as well as during our comparative breathability and venting testing. It also has fully mesh lined hand warmer and rear pockets. The single zippered side pocket also has a mesh liner that aids with ventilation. Finally, a soft, wicking fiber lines the waist and is designed to absorb moisture from sweat, helping it evaporate faster. Despite having relatively few ventilation features, we thought the Paramount 3.0 was an excellent choice for wearing in hotter weather, and rated it the same as the KUHL Renegade Cargo Convertible, which had far more venting zippers, and the Patagonia Quandary.
You can see a shiny film applied to the inside of the fabric of the Paramount 3.0, which may have affected their breathability a bit. Overall these pants were about average, with a few mesh lined pockets for ventilation.
Versatility
The Paramount 3.0 is one of the more versatile pants in this review. While we chose to test the standard version of these pants, there is a convertible option available for those who love that added versatility. We think these pants are optimal for cooler weather but also function reasonably well in the heat. They are decent in light rain, but we would opt for the Arc'teryx Perimeter Pant if we knew that we were likely to encounter a lot of wet weather.
These pants are ideal for day hikes and camping, as well as traveling and wearing around town. They weren't our first choice for climbing, and they seem a little light for intensive outdoor work. While we wouldn't wear them quite as often as the Prana Stretch Zion, they are more versatile than most.
These were a relatively versatile pant, which we tested by camping in the cold before the warm sun arrived. We thought they were pretty good for both warm and cold conditions, and plenty durable for camping or climbing as well as hiking.
Water Resistance
Once again, the Paramount 3.0 was one of the more effective hiking pants in terms of water resistance. Of course, none of the pants we tested is a perfect substitute for a dedicated rain shell hiking pant, but in this case, it handled a light misting and gentle rain quite well. In our shower test, the DWR coating eventually caved after a prolonged dousing, when water began to run down the inside of our legs. This situation happened with most of the pants we tested, however, and we think that only the Arc'teryx Perimeter and Patagonia Quandary have more effective DWR coatings. As long as you aren't going to get soaked, we think these pants handle the rain pretty well.
After an initial light mist spraying, you can see that these pants had a reasonably effective DWR coating. With a much steadier dowsing, the water soaked completely through.
Features
Much like the feature set found on the Patagonia Quandary, the best way to describe the features found on the Paramount 3.0 is "simple and effective." Our favorite feature is the included waist belt, comprised of a band of thin nylon webbing and a low-profile plastic buckle that wraps around the waist in a sleeve. Though there are also regular belt loops sewn in place, we like this feature because it allows us to carry a pack without needing a belt, a far comfier setup.
This recessed zippered pocket on the upper right thigh is only pocket found on these pants besides the standard hand and rear pockets. It was plenty big enough for a smart phone or trail snacks.
It also has the standard dual front hand warmer pockets as well as double rear pockets, as well as the single side zip pocket like the one found on the Arc'teryx Perimeter. This simple pocket setup doesn't have as much space as models with cargo pockets, but we like its sleek design and think it looks better. We always had plenty of space for what we needed at hand while out on day hikes.
The Paramount 3.0 was one of two pants in our review that came with a webbing belt in place, fastened with a plastic buckle. We like this feature because it is very low profile, and is more comfortable worn under a pack than a normal belt.
Best Applications
The North Face Paramount 3.0 is an ideal pant for day hikes in both cool and warm conditions. If we were looking for a pant for long backpacking trips, we would probably choose the versatility of the convertible option instead. We think these pants are nice enough for wearing around town, but they wouldn't be our first choice for working or climbing.
Value
The Paramount 3.0 pants retail for $80. Without any major deficiencies in performance, we think this model presents excellent value, and we would be happy to own these pants at this price.
Hiking along an exposed ledge on the way to some cliff ruins in the Bears Ears National Monument, we happy to have a thin, lightweight pair of hiking pants.
Conclusion
The North Face Paramount 3.0 is a simple hiking pant that scores well compared to other models in this review. They are affordable, comfortable, and do a reasonably good job at protecting the wearer from precipitation. While their nylon fabric wasn't quite as comfortable against the skin as our top scorers, this was rarely something we noticed during a hike, and these are a pair of hiking pants we would happily recommend to just about anyone.
Taking a minute to contemplate what life must have been like living in a tiny stone shelter on the side of a cliff face, while wearing the Paramount 3.0 hiking pants.
