Women's climbing pants: love 'em or hate 'em

The shop I work at carries E9 - our selection is here:

https://www.gearx.com/e9

I currently have two favorites: 

Prana Halle pants: pros - comfy, form fitting, but not too form-fitting, thigh pocket for phone/snack. cons - pockets too small, back pocket flaps get in the way, not durable enough

Eddie Bauer women's guide pants: pros - essentially same as above, but these have two zipper thigh pockets, which is great. cons - don't have drawstring waist, not durable enough, after a year-ish of somewhat hard use, have stretched out to the point where they are falling off and I have to wear a belt.

No matter what I do, I can't make climbing/hiking pants last more than a year. Durability is the big one for me. And if only the pockets were bigger. 

For what it's worth, my friend really likes the Toad&Co Flextime Skinny Pant, but those seem more suited to bouldering/sport climbing to me (no pockets).

Jess Arnold wrote:

Thanks for all the insight so far, this is super interesting/informative/validating to read. 

Has anyone here tried the Patagonia RPS rock pants or the women's Arc'teryx Gamma Rock? 

I love the Patagonia RPS pants. they are light and comfy and water resistant but not at all plasticy. Also I am very small and many outdoor brands dont fit me at all (Prana, Kuhl, Rei, etc). But patagonia runs a bit small so they fit  me really well. Also a really awesome thing that I have been stoked on recently is Patagonias Worn Wear website. They sell lightly worn products at a quarter of the price. I buy most of my clothes from thrift stores, hate consuming so much, and hate paying full price for expensive gear so this has been a godsend. Also REI is doing a similar thing with used gear. https://www.rei.com/used https://wornwear.patagonia.com/shop/womens 

My all-time favorite climbing pants are the older  (early 2010s) Patagonia Rock Guides. They're virtually indestructible, yet lightweight. I spend a lot of time on sandstone, so I run pants and climbing packs through the ringer.

All i want in a pant for climbing is thigh, zippered pockets, and good stretch! I use the flexibility in my hips a lot when i climb, and i don't want to be restricted.
I climb with my phone for route finding, and the thigh pocket seems to be the only one that doesn't get in the way of my climbing.
My current go to pants are the Arcytryx Gamma AR and LT. I love climbing in yoga pants for comfort and stretch, but they don't have pockets. :( 

Kat H, LOL!

Kat H wrote: At 5'10 and 112lbs I've pretty much given up on pants. I buy cheap second hand pants and settle for either:
1) exposed ankles combined with epic camel toe
or
2) enormopants that catch the wind..and require a belt that interferes with my harness

97% of the time I settle for the latter. 

I think you should consider getting handy with needle and thread.  I tend to buy cheap, used outdoor gear and just sew them to fit me.  I recently  picked up a pair of Patagonia pants for under 20 bucks, but 6 sizes too big.  I sewed my at-home version of little bar tacks between the belt loops.  You don't need a machine or anything to do alterations like this, and if you pick similar color thread, no one even notices.  Crappy low light photo of my handiwork below.  No belt needed.

Kat H wrote: At 5'10 and 112lbs I've pretty much given up on pants. I buy cheap second hand pants and settle for either:
1) exposed ankles combined with epic camel toe
or
2) enormopants that catch the wind..and require a belt that interferes with my harness

97% of the time I settle for the latter. I reluctantly got some tights, but they don't mesh well with the comfy undies I favor. Also makes me feel a little self-conscious -- your whole anatomy is really on display in those getups! It amazes me that my husband who is over 6'7 (with all the abnormal measurements that entails) has a hell of a lot easier time finding pants than me. He probably has 10 nice hiking/climbing pants on rotation, while I have 4 pairs that all fit poorly in one way or another. At the gym I just wear shorts.

Frankly, I don't expect the clothing companies to cater to my body type. I figure once you're that many standard deviations from the mean, you're on your own. (But on the offhand chance that someone on MP has a lead on the pant of my dreams, I'm a 34" inseam with 34" hips and 24" waist and I like pockets!)

That's where you're asking too much. Pockets are not ladylike, according to whoever is in charge of women's fashion trends. 

+1 on granny panties and leggings being a real dilemma. Nothing is more comfy than a big ol' pair of cotton drawers.

Personally, since trying 3RD ROCK pants and leggings, I've not used any other brands except for ones I already owned. They're based out of the UK so 'euro style.' For me, I climb outside 4-5x a week and I need stuff that doesn't wear out so quickly. All the other leggings and pants, especially E9, that aren't as fitted wore out way too fast for me. The leggings are recycled and because of that they are super thick and I dont get any holes.

All this being said, some of their stuff is a touch on the warmer side because a little bit thicker so you don't get holes in it -- but I continue to wear the pants because they are perfect for off-width even when it's hot cause they dont get tons of rips!!

I've tried Prana, Arc'Teryx, Patagonia, Marmot, Adidas, EMS brand, and more. Some I've loved the fit and style of (Prana Halle especially) but all have durability issues. If I wear them often, they just don't last longer than 1-2 season. There is only one brand that has lasted: Lululemon.

I have had two pairs of Lululemon leggings that I have climbed in for over six years. I wear them as a baselayer for ice/alpine rock and as climbing pants in the spring and fall. These things have been beat up (I'm talking rock fall, cactuses, weeks without a shower, offwidths) and they look brand new. No piling, no tears. I think they are the "Wunder Under" style.

Edit: Just noticed that they are the pants I'm wearing in my profile pic.

La MoMoFace wrote: +1 on granny panties and leggings being a real dilemma. Nothing is more comfy than a big ol' pair of cotton drawers.

I used to think that... Then I discovered breathable seamless underwear such as

these or these

Not necessarily specifically these brands, though this is some of the brands I have. Now I'm cycling through a few pairs of these, while a large pile of cotton underwear sits in the drawer waiting for those times when I get behind on my laundry. 

Those are a great price, I'll have to try them - I've always shied from fancy sport undies because the pups love munching on my roos. 

Update from me: Have found some pants that I absolutely love.

The REI Taereen Pants are my new go-to. I have only climbed in them 7-8 times so far but they still look brand new. The fabric is super stretchy and lightweight but seems fairly durable. I didn't like the Prana Halle pants because of their flared bottoms. But these have a tapered fit and are extremely comfortable. Have gotten lots of compliments on them! I usually wear a pants size 6-8, but size 4 in these fits me perfectly. So stoked to have found them. Highly recommend!

I've been climbing in three different pair of pants recently.

• Prana Halle (size 0 short)
  • Pros: come in three different inseams, fabric is durable (been climbing in the same pairs for at least 3 years), water repellent, button snap feature for rolled up legs
  • Cons: waist stretches very easily, button threads are loose
• Prana Avril (size XS)
  • Pros: elastic waistband, adjustable hem w/bungee cord
  • Cons: Heavy fabric for warm weather
• Athleta Trekkie Jogger (size 0 petite)
  • Pros: lightweight, come in three different inseams, stretchy, snap button-type closure
  • Cons: run a bit big, noisy when you walk
  • I haven't been climbing in these long enough to test the durability but so far they have held up great both indoors and outdoors!

For reference I am 5'-2", 115 lb with a 26" waist and 28" inseam. The Athleta Joggers are my current favorite pair.

Kat H wrote:

Hey nice handwork Alicia! I've got a few planned projects of my own once I get some free time to search craigslist for a second-hand sewing machine. Taking in waist and legs on large sizes seems easier than adapting small sizes to be longer in crotch and inseam. Another vote for women's outdoor pant sizing to follow waist/inseam models like men's, the arbitrary XS/S/M/L/XL is a total joke considering the huge variety of female body shapes. At my gym alone we've got as many varieties of lady legs as we've got ladies...no wonder most of us cave to the accommodating yoga pant. 

Ah, the uniqueness of the female booty -- a source of endless inspiration..and frustration.

Thank you!  My sewing is actually pretty terrible, so you really made my day with that.  Most of my projects look like Frankenstein's monster (see pic for evidence), but they tend to stand up to abuse.  Chimneys and off-widths destroyed my leg pocket on my favorite pants, so I hand-sewed a pocket to my pocket.  Now I have a zipper pocket and a non-zipper pocket for quick access.  It's ugly as hell, but very functional and hanging in there despite my abuse!

Adding that I also have a few pairs of Schoeller material pants (Mammut and REI brand). They're bomber, but more suited for cooler days.

I recently got a pair of the Kuhl Spire Pants, and I like them so far! The thigh pockets are the best I've had so far. Can't comment on their durability, because I haven't had a chance to put them through the wringer yet, but they're pretty comfy and breathable.

Update: They aren’t particularly durable. If only someone could come up with a pair of pants that could last me a year....

After years of frustration, I found a pair OR just starting making for wm.  The Wadi Rum pant.  I LOVE them.  The material is perect, not techy.  Waist is great, length is good.  I am a climber and Crossfitter so I have a butt.  Patagonia and Prana do that weird fits-the-butt-but-huge-in-the-waist thing.  

Carey De Luca wrote: After years of frustration, I found a pair OR just starting making for wm.  The Wadi Rum pant. 

These look like what I've been looking for. Do they hold their shape over the course of a day, or does the spandex make them stretch out and get too baggy? 

I'm pretty hard on my pants, and I've found that regular women's Carhartts are the only pants that don't stretch out, I can climb comfortably in, and don't get destroyed within a month. But I'd like some pants with a narrower leg since I have to roll up the Carhartts to see my feet. Anyone else with any suggestions?