Fact: The Prana Zion Stretch pants aren't that great.

They did change fabric - i used to have a pair about 10 years ago which was great! Unfortunately I bought zion pants and shorts this summer and fabric started piling from harness after 3 or 4 days climbing... Very disappointed.. 

Layne Zuelke wrote: “Gerry” stretch pants from Amazon are the poor mans Zion with a better slim fit, stronger fabric and 1/3 the price. $29

I bought these.  I loved these.  And then I noticed that my Gerry pants after two months have worn out significantly worse than my Zions have after two years.

Gerry:
- They do have one plus aside from the price -- the waist band is wider, and notably more comfortable.
- The build quality is obviously cheaper/worse - e.g. no double layer of fabric at the back of the ankle.
- The quality control is also worse - one of my pairs arrived with the front pocket folded over and stitched closed by mistake.

C Archibolt wrote: Strong legs are for mountain bikers. 

And sports climbers who are stuck around mid 5.12

gtluke wrote: Mountain bikers don't wear size 35's. Yeeash what a fatty

  

Zion slim (straight) should have a better fit. Zion is a hike/climbing pants, and as such it's a bit baggy. Tighter pants feel worse when sweaty/dirty.

Also checkout Brion. Same pants without all the tech stuff like sinch belt and side pockets. Fits a bit slim as well. It just looks like a simple slack. I wear it to my desk job, I wear it on my dates, I wore a new pair to a formal wedding, I wear it to climb, and I even wore it on a 10+ miles winter run without feeling much discomfort.

Now I wear Brion exclusively. It's not that I don't want to wear them exclusively, but I just don't see any point in any other pants. 

Han Kim wrote: Zion slim (straight) should have a better fit. Zion is a hike/climbing pants, and as such it's a bit baggy. Tighter pants feel worse when sweaty/dirty.

Also checkout Brion. Same pants without all the tech stuff like sinch belt and side pockets. Fits a bit slim as well. It just looks like a simple slack. I wear it to my desk job, I wear it on my dates, I wore a new pair to a formal wedding, I wear it to climb, and I even wore it on a 10+ miles winter run without feeling much discomfort.

Now I wear Brion exclusively. It's not that I don't want to wear them exclusively, but I just don't see any point in any other pants. 

Same. Ive switched to Brion pants. I wear them to work, the gym and outside for climbing. They fit more slim than the Zion pants, which are too baggy for my taste.

Add another vote for the Wrangler Flex Waist Outdoor Cargo.  My other pants are Prana (Brion, Zion, Bridger, Bronson, Axiom), one LuLuLemon ABC, one Mountain Hardware AP, one Eddie Bauer Guide Pro, and some other off-brands , but I found these Wranglers to be more comfortable and more durable than most.  As far as fitment, they're a little loose, but not baggy.  They won't be winning any style awards but they're $25 dollars.

Just tried Mammut’s Massone pants. Comfortable and good fit but blew out the knees and seat in less than three months. Never had pants blow out this quickly. 

My pair of zoins are still running strong.. 

Chris Cragsocks wrote: Add another vote for the Wrangler Flex Waist Outdoor Cargo.  My other pants are Prana (Brion, Zion, Bridger, Bronson, Axiom), one LuLuLemon ABC, one Mountain Hardware AP, one Eddie Bauer Guide Pro, and some other off-brands ...

that's a lot of pants

climbing friend,

you will never receive love or flash even 5.12 if you just wear $20 jeans, everyone is knowing

the pant it must retails over $80, if you would start hoping for any validations  or acceptance as human being

Another vote for Wrangler 4 way stretch pants. They say cargo style but the pockets are flush and don't bind like real cargo pants. Cheap and durable as f#$k. I have done offwidth at the voo and even cheese grated down a a scree slope and they don't even have a scratch on them

Aleks Zebastian wrote: climbing friend,

you will never receive love or flash even 5.12 if you just wear $20 jeans, everyone is knowing

the pant it must retails over $80, if you would start hoping for any validations  or acceptance as human being

Finally, the definitive word on climbing pants. Move along, everyone. 

B-Mkll Mackall wrote: Has anyone else had the problem of the Stretch Zion fabric, well... stretching? Every pair of Brion/Zion pants I've ever owned has lost its elasticity and turned baggy after a year or so of use, sometimes much sooner than that (1 month in the case of a recent pair that I subsequently returned). It's frustrating, particularly as the Zions are baggy enough already and I buy the Brions because they fit so well out of the box. 

This is my problem. I haven't had many issues with durability per se, but I hate how baggy my Brions have become after a couple years.

sierra.com/free-country-air…

Most durable and practical climbing pants I've ever had.

Alex Zucca wrote: sierra.com/free-country-air…

Most durable and practical climbing pants I've ever had.

I don't see a "slim fit" option.

I have 3 pairs and I like them so far...I also only buy them when I find a deal on them...haven't paid more than $35 for a pair

Kirklands stretch jeans ...they come in 5 colors are stretchy after and lasted 2 years with no holes. 17$ last time I looked. Another option is any cheap stretchy jeans from Ross or TJX Maxx, 15-25$ all day long. I do love my Zion s but don't use them for climbing as they are quite baggy. I have had a pair for 3 years and wear them regularly in deserts jungles and mountains all around the world, sometimes for weeks at a time and they still look new except for the burn holes.