That is correct! If you haven't used lycra on rock or even better the newest Euro stuff in the alpine or ice you have no clue on what you are missing. Troglodytes that don't yet climb leashless need not apply, you can move along now :)

Yep, those are Nomics on moderate alpine terrain, soloing in ski boots and risking life and limb with a another BD stainless horizontal failure. Ya gotta dig the matching top and glasses though, right ;)

Euro trash on a alpine winter summit in the Cascades Submitted By: Dane on Jan 22, 2013

Now get that harness up over your hipbones and you're all set...

I have always wondered why we winter climb in baggy, poorly fitting pants. Those look awesome. A well cut neoshell pant/tight with some waterproof fabric in the butt and knees would be perfect.

Helmet? check
stretch soft shells? check
state of the art ice tools? check
rigid boots? check
spiffy gaiters? check
wind layer on the chest? check

Yuck

I recently bought some new softshell pants. In order to get the waist to fit, the legs got snug. So, I might be sporting the Eurotrash look in the future. Maybe i'll put like an 18 sausage in there to freak people out. Also, when meeting new climbers, I'll talk with a fake German accent with poor grammer. Just to keep people guessing.

Guten tag, bitches.

Pull your leg loops up really high and throw a sausage in your pants you'll be good.

I like a closer fit pant for ice but no thanks! Although I wish I could find my photo of me climbing the the Grand back in the early 90's. Lycra all the way!!! But it was black. LOLOL!! I look at that photo of myself and laugh now.

Maybe it's true in climbing fashion as in regular fashion, trends come back around??? Oh, and I think those colors clash.

This was taken more recently than I'd like to admit.

Ah, springtime ice... Submitted By: Gunkiemike on Jan 22, 2013

There is a certain group in NH that seem to be trying to bring back the bright tights thing. I think they go way out in the woods and break them out then do manly things like shoot guns and do ground up hand drilling. As long as they stay 5 miles away I am ok with it.

Looks like a Rando that got WAY off course

As a former competitive swimmer I've spent a huge amount of time in Lycra and Spandex.

Now as a climber I wear jeans or Carhartts..

I'd like to revert back to my natural Lycra clad state, where can I get a pair?

There should be a happy medium between spandex and snowboarder-baggy pants. I like the integrated gaiter approach of the dynafits a lot. Snowcuffs blow but these look useful.

Anyways, Dane what kind of tape are you wrapping your tools with?

Lycra to tools, this is going bad to worse!

Tools?

coldthistle.blogspot.com/2010/09/something-better-out-there->>>

runningfunky.com/

In case anyone gets inspired.



I can't say how it will stand up to sandstone, but they were comfy as hell for 30+ miles.

Teaching an ice climbing class in '88.
In the mid '80s, rock or ice, I wore them everywhere short of Denali.

rock'in lycra on the mtns '88 Submitted By: Dane on Jan 23, 2013

@goldsmith
The softshell pant with waterproof butt and knees you mentioned is exactly the pant that I wanted too - so I just sewed some. Schoeller softshell and Gore-Tex on butt, knees, and the bottom 8 inches of each leg, gusset crotch and articulated knees. Semi-snug fit. They rock.

Alternatively if you can run a straight line on a sewing maching it would not be too hard to snug up the lower leg area of most commercially produced single layer pants (insulated versions start to get a little more complicated, but I think those are rare as real climbing pants...).

Anyways, you can wear carrharts or a nightie out there, and if you're climbing hard and moving fast, you've got my respect.