The First Lite Obsidian Foundry Pant: My Go-To for Warm Hunts in Rough Cover
After about three seasons and 30 to 40 wears, I keep coming back to the Obsidian Foundry when warm weather, lots of movement, and rough cover all show up at once.
Matt AndersonThey aren’t an everything pant. They fit a pretty specific window of temperatures and conditions.
I like the First Lite Obsidian Foundry Pant because it gives me a useful middle ground: lighter and less restrictive than the tougher pants I wore before, but durable enough that I trust it in New England brush. I do not use it as an everything pant. I reach for the Trace in hotter, cleaner conditions, and I want more insulation when I am sitting or glassing in cooler weather without a base layer.
What works. What doesn’t.
A clear look at where this gear earns its place and where the tradeoffs begin.
Pros
- I have found it durable in whips, thick underbrush, and one hard deadfall catch.
- I find the waistband comfortable and less restrictive than the tactical pants I wore before.
- I like the balance of warmth, movement, and durability for many early-season conditions.
Tradeoffs
- I would like vents for easier heat dumping on hotter days.
- I think it becomes more pant than I need around 80 degrees or hotter when cover is not nasty.
- I want more insulation for long static periods below roughly 50 to 55 degrees without a base layer.
The field story
The conditions, decisions, and repeated use behind the conclusion.
Why I Bought Them for Idaho
I originally bought the Obsidian Foundry ahead of an Idaho elk hunt. As the trip got closer, we realized it would be warmer than expected, but we still knew we would be moving enough that a stiff or restrictive pant would be a problem. Around the South Fork of the Salmon River at roughly 8,500 feet, that balance started to make sense to me.
New England Brush Is the Test I Trust
The whips and thick underbrush I hunt and scout through in New England can be brutal on lighter pants. One scouting day, deadfall grabbed the Obsidian Foundry hard enough that I expected a tear when I looked down. There was nothing. After three seasons I can finally see some thigh wear from that kind of cover, but I still would not call the pant compromised.
The Waistband Is a Bigger Deal Than I Expected
I do not have a technical way to describe the waistband. It simply wears more like the waistband on a pair of stretch sweatpants than what I expect from a tough hunting pant. With suspenders, I find it especially comfortable. That is a noticeable change from the 5.11 tactical pants I wore before, which almost required a stiff tactical-style belt for me.
Where I Choose the Trace Instead
I own the First Lite Trace and like it too, but I prefer the Obsidian Foundry for most of the conditions I actually hunt in because it feels far more durable to me and slightly warmer. If it were around 80 degrees or hotter and I knew I would not be pushing through nasty cover, I would reach for the Trace instead.
Why I Do Not Treat It as an Everything Pant
The cooler end matters too. If temperatures are dropping below roughly 50 to 55 degrees and I am going to sit or glass for a long time without a base layer, I start wanting more insulation. Those boundaries are personal estimates, but they define the window where this pant works best for me.
A Specific Tool I Keep Reaching For
I keep reaching for the Obsidian Foundry because its specific window overlaps with a lot of my early-season hunting: warm weather, plenty of movement, and rough enough cover that I want more confidence than I get from an ultralight pant. I would still choose the Trace for extreme heat without nasty cover, and I would want more insulation for long static periods in cooler weather. If I could add one thing, it would be vents so I could dump heat more easily on the hottest days.
FAQ
What conditions do I use the First Lite Obsidian Foundry Pant in most?
I use it most in warm early-season conditions when I am moving a lot and still expect rough cover, brush, or terrain that makes me hesitant to trust an ultralight pant.
When would I choose the First Lite Trace instead?
If it were around 80 degrees or hotter and I did not expect nasty cover, I would reach for the Trace because that is where the Obsidian Foundry starts to feel like more pant than I need.
How cold do I use the Obsidian Foundry without a base layer?
If I am going to sit or glass for long periods and temperatures are below roughly 50 to 55 degrees, I start wanting more insulation. That is my personal experience boundary, not a tested product rating.
How has the pant held up in brush?
After about three seasons, I am seeing some thigh wear from whips and thick Maine underbrush, but I do not consider the pant compromised. I also had a scouting incident where deadfall grabbed the pant hard enough that I expected a tear and found none.
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