The Alpinestars Andes V3 Drystar Pant is new for 2021 and is an upgrade from the V2 version. It remains an excellent choice for all types of riders for wet and/or cooler or even cold conditions. Armor is included for the knees and optionally available for the hips. Both men’s and women’s (Stella) sizes are available, so take the link below to choose hip armor or to view the other gender. Also check out the matching men’s or women’s Andes V3 jackets.
The Andes jacket and pant have been staples in the Alpinestar’s lineup for a long time. The first version we reviewed approximately 5 years ago, and the v2 appeared in 2017. This current V3 version, as with prior versions is made for use in mild to cold weather and or wet weather. The overall styling is generic enough to appeal to any kind of rider from sport to adventure. The pants include an integrated waterproof liner situated between the pant’s outer shell and inner lining so they’ll keep you dry in case of rain. The rain barrier will also act as a barrier to ward off biting wind. And when you ride in really cold weather, you can install the removable thermal liner which gives a very generous blanket of insulation nearly the full length of the pant. This V3 pant improves temp range versatility by including a thigh zippered vent. This vent has two improvements over prior year’s versions. The vent is “direct” meaning air passes through the vent directly to your skin. In prior versions, the venting wasn’t direct and was blocked by the waterproof liner. In order to be a direct vent, the zipper is waterproof and also they’ve included a neat little snap arrangement to allow you to prop the vent open to catch more air. Even with venting, I wouldn’t recommend this pant for warm or hot weather though. But the new design features will take you further into spring.
The armor in the knees is Alpinestars BioFlex type which is rated CE1 and is flexible and comfortable, and completely appropriate for a street/adventure pant like this. you can add matching hip armor if you like using the link below.
I mentioned in the sizing advice the pants have removable suspenders, of which I’m a fan. With the armor and thermal liner, any pant like this can get a bit heavy, and without suspenders, you may have to cinch the waist down more than you’d like in order to hold them up on your waist, but suspenders really help with this. In fact, you can wear the waist at a very comfortable size position and be completely confident you won’t show the world more than you’d like when you bend at the waist.
A couple other enhancements I like with this new version is the leg design. They’ve added some bonded rubberized patches on the knees, which you’ll like when you have to kneel down. The layer is thick and feels durable and shouldn’t absorb mud or water as readily as plain fabric. The adjustment arrangement at the end of the leg is more like Klim’s pants in that it gives a wider range of adjustment than many other Alpinestars pants, so you’ll be able to get a good fit over nearly any sort of footwear.
The feature list is improved and the pricing is only moderately more than past versions, so I think they remain a winner! :: Paul, 07-15-21
Alpinestars says: Designed using Alpinestars Drystar® construction, the Andes v3 Pant offers 100% waterproofing and high levels of breathability. With added protection in strategic areas, these pants can adapt to all weather conditions and are fully compatible with the Andes Drystar® Jacket.