Dirtbag Solutions: Softshell pants

Hey all,

I posted here a few months ago about getting into ice climbing. I'll be taking classes at the Adirondack mountainfest this weekend!

One problem arose, I don't have any good pants to wear. The high for the day is supposed to be 25 degrees fareinheit. I own base layers, hiking/climbing pants, snowboard pants, normal athletic pants, and rain pants.

What combination would be best for a day of ice climbing? I'd rather spend my money elsewhere than having to shell out a small fortune for ice climbing pants (pun intentional... I'm terrible).

Any ideas, or should I just suck it up?

The hiking/climbing or pile polypro pants, with the rain pants as the shell. That should be ok when moving mostly. But if you sit for much of the class, I'd go w warmer, w snowboard pants. With a base layer below that if you get cold sitting, like me.
Yeah the prices are egregious.

Wear your least favorite/oldest pair of snowboard pants that are still functional. Good chance of snagging a crampon on your pants when you are first learning to walk in them.

My normal ice climbing kit is:

Top:
Thermal shirt, wool for short approaches/cold days, or poly for long approaches and/or warmer days. The poly dries faster

Fleece shirt for insulation

Softshell jacket with hood

Belay puffy - synthetic fill to say warm when wet.

Extra for wet days - hardshell jacket for really drippy days

Bottoms:
Medium weight fleece pants

Uninsulated softshell pants for average days, or

Uninsulated hardshell pants for warm/wet or really windy days.

Hands:
Thin fleece gloves for the approach. These will get too sweaty to climb in.

2-3 pairs of warm gloves with good dexterity for climbing

Hardshell overmitts for belaying/rappelling

Have fun up there! 25F is good ice climbing weather - cold enough for good ice but not freezeyourbuttoff cold.

The issue with non-ice climbing pants is not the fabric, it's that the cut is terrible for ice. They are way too baggy and snag on crampons. I see beginners snagging their fancy ski pants all the time.

I'd look for something used or in sale. It shouldn't be hard to find something under $50. What size are you?

Just wear your hiking/climbing pants with a mid to heavy weight baselayer underneath. But... invest in a pair of gaiters. They protect your pants from crampons, keep you warm and keep snow out of your boots on the approaches. You may not have to even buy a pair of gaiters - Outdoor Research is usually at every Ice Fest and they demo their gaiters. Bring your rain paints, in case it's cold or wet.

Agreed with Dobson, snowboard pants are terrible for ice climbing - heavy, thick and supper baggy.

You can spend $10 on a bottle of Nikwax, that will help keep water from absorbing into your hiking pants. You can also put some duct tape around your ankles, or find a pair of OR Gaiters on Ebay to save your pants, then you could wear your Snowboard pants, which will be fine for your first few days on ice.

The Mountaineer has a pair of Rab soft shell pants for $100. I got them after I forgot a bag last trip. Those pants were great with silks when the temp was 25. Otherwise wear your ski pants and demo gaiters.

Kathy.. No bra on the list?? Wanna go climb sometime. Haha..

Thanks for the help all!

So I guess the plan is baselayer, hiking pants, I'll toss my rain pants on if it gets soupy, and I'll demo a pair of gaiters for the weekend.

I'll also bring a foam pad to keep my ass dry when sitting... Cold butt I can deal with. Wet butt I can also deal with. Cold-wet butt?
That might just ruin my day.

Dobson, I am a 30-32 most days of the week.

Don't sit, that's ridiculous.

Just buy a pair of gators or pants. These items do NOT cost a small fortune.

Or borrow or see if they can lend you a pair there.

I use Marmot's scree pants..got them on sale for like $70 and there hasn't been anything I can't do in them. What do you consider a small fortune?

Kirby1013 wrote:The Mountaineer has a pair of Rab soft shell pants for $100. I got them after I forgot a bag last trip. Those pants were great with silks when the temp was 25. Otherwise wear your ski pants and demo gaiters. Kathy.. No bra on the list?? Wanna go climb sometime. Haha..

Not that you'd see anything under all those layers!

So, just in case WilliamR needed to know what bra I wear ice climbing, Ragged Mountain in NH makes sweet stretch fleece jog bras. I'm sure they could custom make one in his size.

;^D