Making Knee Pads a Must-Have: FORLOH Women’s BTM Pro Pant

Sometimes you don’t even know what you’ve been missing out on until you try out something new, as is the case in this reviewer’s experience with the FORLOH Women’s BTM Pro Pants’ knee pads. We’ll talk about a lot of the fit and function of these brush pants, but no aspect stands above the knee pad.

My spouse and I took these pants (men’s and women’s versions) on our fall hunts this year, and literally walked over the river, through the woods, up mountains, through hail, in gale-force winds. The BTM Pro Pants kept us warm and dry when we needed them, and were also incredibly breathable for those heart-pumping climbs.

These pants are seriously functional, with a fitted silicone internal gripper waist, all the pockets you’d need, quiet materials, and intentional durability. Oh, and did I mention the knee pads?

In short: FORLOH has delivered on its “Brush To Mountain” promise in BTM Pro Pants. The brand’s focus on functionality and durability didn’t compromise the feel and fit. They look and feel as good as they perform.

FORLOH Women’s BTM Pro Pant Review

Overall, these pants are fantastic. Once we dialed in the right sizing, we loaded up the truck and headed to Montana for our fall deer hunt, where we put them through their paces. I’ve always worn bibs out in the field, and I’ll never go back after these pants. The optional knee pads are such a game changer that, in my opinion, they’re not optional.

Getting the Right Size

The first impressions when we received both the men’s and women’s pants were, well, sad. They didn’t fit. We used FORLOH’s size guide and noted down measurements for each other. We felt confident in our ordering, but the sizing did not run true.

I ordered a women’s size that is my standard jeans size, and while I could get them buttoned, there was no way I could spend a day in the field in them. On the men’s side, my spouse found that the pants actually measured a full 3 inches too large in the waist when he laid them out on the table flat. I ordered a size bigger, he ordered a size smaller, and we finally got there.

What we learned is that the women’s sizing runs small in the waist, and the men’s sizing runs large. Look, I’m not going to fault FORLOH entirely. I know we live in a world of “vanity sizing” because no one wants to face up to their real size. My point is: give yourself enough time before an upcoming hunt to return the pants if the first size you buy doesn’t fit.

Editor’s Note: As Hunt and Fish Editor, I try not to meddle with reviews too often when it comes to the opinions of testers. However, when I hopped into this review to give it an edit, I expected to add something about the fit. I also have these pants and ran them through a single pheasant hunt, but the waist was so tight compared to the rest of the pants, I just couldn’t see putting myself through trudging through the field again in them. The pants themselves seem awesome, but the waist fit was so uncomfortable that I didn’t even really get a chance to give the pants a fair shake. Compared to my other brush-style pants of the same cut and size, this pair is a few inches smaller at the waist. Size up, ladies. — Rachelle Schrute

Features and Functionality

The BTM Pro Pants’ woven twill fabric uses a proprietary Polygiene Stay Fresh Technology for odor control. We wore these for three consecutive days of all-day hunting, and they didn’t get smelly along the way. I’d also give some credit to the fabric’s breathability, so we weren’t getting swampy when doing those steep, long climbs that the Rockies are known for.

Pair this with strategically placed panels of the BTM Wax Ripstop Fabric in the knees, lower leg, and backside. They’re perfectly placed to not only withstand abrasion, but I also found them to be a bit of extra insulation when I was sitting on a cold rock or frozen drift boat seat, and an excellent wind break. Both materials are exceptionally quiet when you’re moving.

Usually, if I’m carrying a sidearm on my hunt, I have to wear a pretty stiff and burly belt. But thanks to the BTM Pro Pants’ internal waist silicone gripper, I was able to wear a more sporty, flexible belt. My spouse also carries a large hunting knife on his belt and found the same thing to be true. The waist stayed in place, and we never found ourselves hiking the pants back up, even when we were dragging a beautiful mule deer out.

Lastly, the BTM pant has all the pockets I would want on my hunt, with some thoughtful additions — the reinforced area for my pocket knife was delightful, and while the cargo pockets on the thigh didn’t get utilized for any large items, we did find them to be perfect for the extra rounds of ammo we carry.

Knee Pads or Bust

I can’t say enough about the molded knee pads. The first time I kneeled down in the dark to tighten my boots before our hike in, I put my knee down on a pointy rock. But the knee pad protected me, and I smiled, knowing we were about to start a fond friendship, those knee pads and me. Throughout the day, I found myself comfortably kneeling when I would glass over a ridge, minimizing how much I skylined myself.

Or when I was in an exposed field, and wanted to reduce my height, no problem. I’d comfortably, confidently kneel. This is saying something in Montana, where there are plenty of cactus prickles, ready to embed themselves in your knees. Most importantly, when it came to taking the successful shot in the field, my spouse got down on one knee in a spot where he needed that stability to take a clean shot.

Just make sure you take the knee pads out after your hunt. I found that the truck ride home was much more comfortable after removing the knee pads. A small price to pay for all-day comfort, and it gives you a chance to let them air dry overnight — they do take on just a little moisture if it’s a wet day.

Can Stand Up to the Weather

Anyone who hunts or recreates in Montana knows that on any given day, especially during the fall, you can get a whole range of weather conditions. In the 3 days in the field, we had 65+ mph winds, sub-zero temperatures, rain, and sideways hail, and then sunshine and balmy days.

The BTM Pro Pant can do them all. With a minimal base layer underneath, not once did I get cold (a rarity for me). I stayed dry, and I could open the side vents on the warm afternoons.

Final Thoughts

The FORLOH BTM Pro Pant is a functional and tough piece of gear, without compromising comfort and style. They look as good as they feel, and they’ll keep you warm, dry, cool, protected — whatever you need in the field … if you can get them in the right size.

Just don’t forget the optional knee pads. They’re not optional.