I like ordinary wind-proof pants like khakis or twills, with sweater-knit tights underneath.
I must have been mummified in a former life…
Just cannot understand how lined jeans or carhartt canvas can ever be comfortable - Just.Too.Stiff&Restrictive, IMHO.
Even broken in they’d have to be really baggy for me to be happy.
And, IRL, I wear skinny jeans w/o a problem.
For barn work I am most comfortable in sweatpants - the best ones I found at KMart: Everlast brand for about $7.
Roomy enough to let me move around & I think that looseness allows a cushion of insulating air.
In the worst weather - teens to below 0 - I add Hot Chillys leggings.
They are made of some tech-fabric that feels like cotton, but really keeps me toasty. Current pair is going on 10yo, so they are durable.
I look for them on sale (soon!) as Cheapskate Me does not want to pay $30+ for underwear.
For riding I have an ancient pair of Patagonia riding pants.
Gifted to me by my brother, I have worn them to death.
Sadly, they do not appear in the Patagonia catalog now, so when these finally die I’ll have to try something else.
Kerrits Sit Tight, eh?
Since I have to switch during the day between riding, sitting (teaching), and barn work. Period. This is the set up that I have found works best for me over the years:
Fleece lined breeches, but not ANY fleece breeches. Only Windpro breeches. Windpro is a Malden Mills product, and Kerrits and Iridion both have breeches made with this. It’s THE BEST fleece because it is super thick and does really block wind.
Over the breeches, I wear boy’s snowboard pants from Target. They cost $14 and I get two or three pair every year. I keep an extra at the barn and one pair is always clean enough to wear.
To ride, I peel the external layer off, and for everything else the snowboard pants stay on. I sleep in the breeches on really cold nights 
I have some old pairs of patagonia expedition weight long johns (fleece) and with goretex shell pants over those you stay pretty warm. If I need more, I’d add silk long johns under the expedition weight long johns. I think you can get all of this stuff for cheap at sierra trading post.
Rule #1 from my years of Back country skiing. NO COTTON. Cotton is NOT a technical fabric and would NEVER be found on an expedition to Mt. Everest. It gets cold when wet.
When my Carharts bit the dust and I couldn’t find anymore in my size, I bought pants that hunters use. Very warm, lightweight, blocks the wind, and can fit over a pair of jeans.
I’m ok with wearing cotton to the barn on a cold dry day.
I have carhartt overalls and I usually wear an LL Bean down jacket over it. The big ugly Michelin Man kind. Warm. Will even ride in that when it is really cold.
But for 20s and 30s, I have Mountain Horse Polar pants and they are awesome. Much less hassle, very warm. Same coats. Scarf, gloves, often two layers of gloves.
I pretty much always layer over fleece PJ pants tucked into socks, and some sort of sweatshirt or Henley. Because I am so stylish here. Thank God no one ever sees me except the poor UPS man who must think I am some sort of feral wolf woman.
I hate bulky things on my legs, so when I have to work at the barn for 6 hours+ in ohio weather, here’s what I do: under armour infared shirts (I layer like 3 of them) with CuddlDuds (I think that’s what they’re called) shirts, under armour sweatshirt (theyre the warmest ive tried yet) and a patagonia coat; and as for pants, I do a random pair of leggings with jeans on top and that’s kept me warm. Then its usually thermal socks, winter headband thing for my ears, and HEAD gloves. But if I still get cold, I’ll steal a quarter sheet and use it as a blanket
[QUOTE=Mukluk;8455189]
Rule #1 from my years of Back country skiing. NO COTTON. Cotton is NOT a technical fabric and would NEVER be found on an expedition to Mt. Everest. It gets cold when wet.[/QUOTE]
Depends if you’re going to sweat or not. Cotton is a nice comfort fabric for when you’re going to feed the last hay for the night or simple chores.
Gore-Tex will retain moisture. Technically speaking it does breathe, but it breathes much less than fabrics that aren’t waterproof. I wear it as an outer layer shell when it’s windy or wet, and never with cotton underneath. But not any other time. I have some windproof fleece jackets that work great when I don’t need waterproofness.
I used to wear fleece tights, polartec ones, underneath fleece sweats and a short snow skirt like this but a cheap and washable knock off brand: http://www.rei.com/product/886558/smartwool-corbet-120-skirt
Polartece leggings/ tights are all from Athleta, eddie bauer, local retailer or just Irideon fleece breeches and I think they are all 200 weight. Another AMAZING option is the “butter” long underwear from Mountain Hardwear. You will never ever want to take it off.
Fleece pants from EB or Athleta, about $70 but last forever. Snow skirts make a huge difference in your warmth level for some weird reason. On top, fleece long underwear top, thick fleece sweater, thin puffy and thick puffy. Thick puffy comes off when I get hot, which I did in this set up even at -20F.
This was good down to -20F easily and so much lighter and easier to move around in than snow pants or Carhardts. I just can’t deal with bulky winter clothing anymore. I hate wearing it.
Other option is to move south
