durable climbing pants

Prana stretch Zion convertible mine have lasted years now hiking and climbing. The convertible and regular leg fit completely different.  The regular are like skinny jeans if you want looser legs get convertible even if you never use them as shorts.

Gumby the White wrote:

Send us a booty pic

If you want work pant style and climbing pant stretch, your best options are probably arborwear, duluth trading firehose pants, or the carhartt rugged flex line.

I'll put in another vote for Prana Stretch Zion. They're a bit on the expensive side, but I had a pair that lasted 4+ seasons of decently extensive climbing.

If you don't mind the colors & price, the Kailas 9A pants are pretty amazing. Mine have survived a pretty decent amount of offwidth (LCC granite & Indian Creek), including quite a bit of chimney. I'm really surprised that I haven't blown through them yet. They've survived things that eventually killed the Prana Stretch Zion.

Wrangler Outdoor > Stretch Zion
fit better, more durable, bigger side pocket, cheaper

Prana Zion. If you go through those fast, you're doing something more than climbing.

I find that using my hands instead of my knees works well for prolonging pant life.

Jim Urbec wrote:

you forgot: "along with the velcro patch hat, assaulter boots, and MOLLE day pack." all of which they need to wear/carry at Disney world with their kids cause shit is gonna go down.... actual military experience maybe a week before they developed shin splints at basic training and got chaptered.  #tacticool 

You should see my facebook ads now that I clicked on the "tactical" link!  #quarantineproblems

Jon Rust wrote: Wrangler Outdoor > Stretch Zion
fit better, more durable, bigger side pocket, cheaper

Zions
Good: the integrated belt is very nice and they hold up ok to a bit of abuse
Bad: expensive, super baggy fit catches on everything, and the cuff snaps are just silly (edit: also the giant puff-out side pocket is annoying)

Wrangler Outdoor
Good: $25 a pop (or add $2 for fleece lining), decent fit, better color options, takes a lot of abuse without damage
Bad: The waist rides higher than typical jeans, but at 1/3 the cost of Prana this is no biggie.

Wrangler for the win.

Most of my rock climbing pants for decades now have been older dress pants I can no longer use at work. (I am a Realtor) Just need them to be loose enough for climbing. 

I’ve been through all the climbing specific pants and now have gone to the Wranglers. Cheap, stretchy durable and comfy. 

+1 for Carhartt Rugged Flex pants. About as durable as it gets with 2% spandex and reasonable pricing.

I recommend the straight fit duck double fronts. They can take some serious abuse.

Troll in the Dungeon ! wrote:

mine got wrecked super fast outdoor climbing

Looking for some climbing pants with the reinforced seat and knee areas.

I think any pants a little strong and with some strech will be fine. 

I really wonder what some of you are doing with your pants... you know you re supposed to climb with hands and feet, right ? ;) 

(joke, don't hit me :)

+1 for the Zions if you want a premium pair that's worth the price tag, Wranglers if you want an economical offering without having to worry too much about abuse, lost, theft.

I've loved my Zions, but it does hurt when they (eventually) wear out, or I lose them to theft or carelessness (2 pairs so far...   Damn Seattle car prowlers!    )

As for hating on "5.11":

5.11 Tactical started in Modesto, California as a clothing line created by mountain climber Royal Robbins. Upon reaching the top of a climb in Yosemite California, he noticed that the trousers that he was wearing were not suited for climbing. Robbins decided that he needed to design something more durable and with better functionality. He owned a boot and clothing company and began manufacturing pants by the name of "5.11" that had a trademarked tactical strap and slash pocket design in 1968.[1][3][4]
The name "5.11" comes from the highest rock climbing difficulty level that was listed in the Yosemite Decimal System at Yosemite National Park, which was developed by Robbins in the 1950s.[5] The difficulty level is somewhat jokingly defined as, "After thorough inspection, you conclude this move is obviously impossible; however, occasionally someone actually accomplishes it".[6]
Robbins sold a 51% stake in his company to Dan Costa in 1999,[7] who, after much streamlining, noticed that the 5.11 Tactical pants were becoming popular at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.11_Tactical

So it goes...

P.s. "5.16 Recreational Outfitters" appears to still be available. Anyone want to send me some seed capital? I guarantee a 0.05%ROI after 3 years.

Costco's weatherproof branded stretch pants are great.  Durability has been comparable with my past prana pants and they were 20 dollars or less.  

Just picked up two pairs since the smaller sizes sell out quickly