Part of a new line for Picture this year featuring knit panels for added breathability, stretch and eco-friendliness the Visk is a high-end backcountry offering. 25k/25k waterproofing and breathability puts the DRYPLAY fabric right at the top of the performance tree and this is backed up in cold, wet conditions where the Visk performs flawlessly. Freedom of movement is great thanks to a body mapped mixture of different material panels which are mainly soft and supple, but in some areas we worry that this will lead to premature wear from abrasion. There is a slightly more robust instep but nothing like that of the Arc'teryx Rush backcountry/touring pants for instance.
The mid-torso bib is designed to work in conjunction with the new Effect jacket for total body protection even when bending down to put skins on or getting a face full of powder. Venting zips on the Visk are both two-way and full length so you can't fail to get enough air to your legs, as a neat added touch they've also made the fly two-way in case you're partial to venting your bits as well. We found that the vent zips snagged up on the internal storm flap a lot, this annoyance is minimized by holding the storm flap back as you zip or unzip. There's only a single cargo pocket on one thigh to stash kit in but arguably most people using these pants would be making use of a backpack for their gear anyway.
Overall a decent option from Picture that marries high performing fabric with stretch and comfort for backcountry use.
