I'm with RangerRob on this. Go with a pair of softshell pants (I got a couple pair of inexpensive fleece pants with full zips with a nearly windproof top surface really cheap at REI (they were an REI brand). Saved the hardshell pants for days that are super nasty and actually warrent in (actually on a day with full on spindrift at -5F to 5F and 30mph winds I still wore my softshells (it was this day http://c0278592.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/original/275369.JPG ).

When you do wear your hardshell pants go with cheap gaiters. They are going to get ripped so why pay for expensive ones that will get trashed.