climbing pants that don’t fall apart

I’ve been rocking the Prana Zions for a while, but they just aren’t durable enough, especially given that they cost as much as a few good cams. I’m looking for something that won’t fall apart after a season of Indian Creek pitches and thrutching up granite chimneys. It seems that every manufacturer advertises how stylish their pants are, and how you can wear them to the bar (the bar!) after a day of cragging. That is the last of my concerns. What pants have you been climbing in for years without major rips?

You can go cheap instead of durable. Your local thrift store probably has a few stretchy pants for a few bucks each.

Luke Lalor wrote: You can go cheap instead of durable. Your local thrift store probably has a few stretchy pants for a few bucks each.

This

I have a pair (two, actually) of MEC Stretch Granitic pants mec.ca/en/product/5024-860/…  Most durable climbing pants I've ever had. Ugly, but light, stretchy and after 7 years - one pair has a small hole in the pocket. Of course they're not made any more. 

Gamma Lt pant or Sigma SL climbing pant from Arc'teryx. They're both fantastic. 

Arborwear’s cedar pants. Tough as carharts but stretchy. You’ll look like a workin’ man at the bar instead of a euro 

Cheap AND durable
https://baseball.epicsports.com/prod/45163/champro-mvp-open-bottom-relaxed-fit-baseball-pants.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsc7jhOnE4wIVhJ6fCh2RGQGiEAQYBCABEgKZu_D_BwE

I've been loving the Talus Pant from La Sportiva lately! They are a nylon based material and seem quite durable so far. 

Everyone that have Kailas pants give me the same feedback. They like their durability. Kailas did not use home made cheap  nylon fabric. They use Cordura fabric on most of their clothing and it's well know for their durability. All kailas product are expansive but I have put them in sale 50-70% off at Verti Call. You should give them a try.

Luke Lalor wrote: You can go cheap instead of durable. Your local thrift store probably has a few stretchy pants for a few bucks each.

Mother Earth hated when I did this, tossing all my cheap hole filled pants to landfill, not to mention Mr. Epidermis on a few occasions.

Now the Arc’teryx Gamma Rock (renamed to Sigmal FL) has taken the beating these past few years with no more holes (and no it’s not because my climbing skills have gotten better) and Mother Earth is happy with me :-)

Graham Johnson wrote: I have a pair (two, actually) of MEC Stretch Granitic pants mec.ca/en/product/5024-860/…  Most durable climbing pants I've ever had. Ugly, but light, stretchy and after 7 years - one pair has a small hole in the pocket. Of course they're not made any more. 

Can't find them anywhere online dong a search.

Kaden Olson wrote: I’ve had an exceptional experience with the Patagonia Venga Rock Pants. They are double crotched which gives you a little bit more flexibility and Patagonia has a 100% iron clad guarantee on their products so if it gets ripped or you aren’t satisfied, they will repair or replace it for you for free.

Did two climbs and the knees were toast. Granted, it was Ahab and steck salathe, but still...

do you ever, ever see pics of real ow climbers rocking dead bird or whatever pants? ummm, no.... it would be moronic to destruy expensive dead bird pants on OW's at the creek and elsewhere. cheap jeans, painters pants, etc is the ticket. like other folks above have already stated.

dead bird lolz, mother earth hates you lolz..,

GearGuy 316 wrote:

Mother Earth hated when I did this, tossing all my cheap hole filled pants to landfill, not to mention Mr. Epidermis on a few occasions.

Now the Arc’teryx Gamma Rock (renamed to Sigmal FL) has taken the beating these past few years with no more holes (and no it’s not because my climbing skills have gotten better) and Mother Earth is happy with me :-)

Reducing demand on new clothing has a huge benefit on the environment: wri.org/blog/2017/07/appare…

And the Arcteryx pants are made with essentially the same materials as the Prana pants.

peterfogg wrote: I’ve been rocking the Prana Zions for a while, but they just aren’t durable enough, especially given that they cost as much as a few good cams. I’m looking for something that won’t fall apart after a season of Indian Creek pitches and thrutching up granite chimneys. It seems that every manufacturer advertises how stylish their pants are, and how you can wear them to the bar (the bar!) after a day of cragging. That is the last of my concerns. What pants have you been climbing in for years without major rips?

Jeans. Chouinard et al figured this out years ago.

These pants by Wrangler are inexpensive, stretchy, and work well.  Although not as high in quality, they are as comfortable and functional as my Marmot, Columbia, and North Face climbing pants at a fraction of the price.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Men-s-Outdoor-Comfort-Flex-Cargo-Pant/528287501?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227092881963&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=212833208121&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-345705904038&wl5=9002226&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=528287501&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiLiKw4vG4wIVC5-fCh1txgVmEAQYASABEgLYcvD_BwE 

Marc-Olivier Chabot wrote: Everyone that have Kailas pants give me the same feedback. They like their durability. Kailas did not use home made cheap  nylon fabric. They use Cordura fabric on most of their clothing and it's well know for their durability. All kailas product are expansive but I have put them in sale 50-70% off at Verti Call. You should give them a try.

Yea kailas fan here

Levi's 

I’ve been climbing in my Zions for 11 years. They do show some wear and tear. I don’t think they’re designed for thrutching up OW and chimneys. 

Tyler S wrote:

Reducing demand on new clothing has a huge benefit on the environment: wri.org/blog/2017/07/appare…

And the Arcteryx pants are made with essentially the same materials as the Prana pants.

Thanks for the link. Very enlightening. Like that "Patagonia’s Worn Wear program offers a service to fix old clothes rather than only sell new ones. " I think both The North Face and Arc'teryx are doing something similar.

Reading that article and looking back, I regret throwing all my worn out thrift pants in the garbage. I should have tried fixing them up by just buying 2 of the same and after they are both damaged, use one as "spare parts" to patch the other.

I own 2 different colour Prana Zion Convertible Pants, and don't use them for climbing since the leg opening on the Zion Convertibles is too wide in comparison to the Arc'teryx Gamma Rock. This may be different on the regular non-convertible Zion Pants. Also, the high abrasion resistant knee area of the Gamma Rock Pant is definitely more durable than the Zion, as the Zion has the same material throughout and I do see wear on the seat of one my Zion Pants I use often for hiking and camping.

JaredG wrote: I’ve been climbing in my Zions for 11 years. They do show some wear and tear. I don’t think they’re designed for thrutching up OW and chimneys. 

If you are referring to the non-convertible Zion Pants, does the leg opening taper at the end to allow you to see your foothold? My Zion Convertibles are straight leg with wide opening.

Also, is the seat of your Zion pants showing any wear just by regular sitting down?