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Opinion: Insulated Belay Pants?
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After reading and enjoying Will Gadd's Instagram series on warm hands and warm feet, I noticed Will mentions he commonly wears down pants while belaying in cold weather. I've always thought about this, but I never wanted to haul the additional weight, or consume more space in my pack. I'm just curious how many people out there who climb in cold regions routinely pack and wear insulated pants at the belay? If you do, do you ever find the weight, or hassle of donning/doffing to be an issue? Thanks! |
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You need full or nearly full side zips, so you don’t have to take off boots or crampons. With the side zips, it’s not much hassle. |
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They really don't weigh or take up any space really, about the space as a pair of gloves. I got some mountain equipment ones with a full side zip. |
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I don't bring mine unless its going to be absolutely frigid, and then I'm very grateful for them. Full side zip is a must and make sure you can operate the zipper with gloves/mittens on. If its cold enough to warrant them, you don't want to be removing your gloves to fiddle with a tiny cold metal zipper. |
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Feathered friends makes a great pair which has full length zips so you don't have to step through the legs. Easy to deal with while wearing a harness and pack down to nothing. |
Karl Henize wrote: Thanks, my insulated pants have full zips. I’m just curious how common it is for people to pack and haul them up a route as they add weight, decrease pack space and add complexity at the belay when your hands are already cold, etc. |
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It would have to be really cold for me to bring insulated pants up a route. More likely to just increase my pant or baselayer warmth. |
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For ice cragging? I wear them lots of times. I get hot easy when moving, so my ”action suit” is thin. But, I have tall skinny legs, so I get cold when I stop. Big insulated full zip pants are worth the effort to put them on. I don’t have much experience climbing long ice routes. But if I did, the threshold for using them would be a much lower temperature than for single pitch climbing. You can get a fair number of insulated shorts and 3/4 pants now, mostly aimed at Skimo racing/training, that are a bit easier to pack and put on. |
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I do love them for cragging though. Had a bigger group out a few weeks ago and I forgot what's it is like standing around waiting to climb. Was glad to have puff pants and a parka. More substantial than what I would regularly carry. |
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I wear insulated pant when it's really cold but only for cragging. They would be a PITA to take on and off at belays unless it's a decent ledge. Plus if it's that cold I generally do want to be stuck on a multi-pitch. Full length zips are a must. I wonder if a belay skirt might not be a better solution. |
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You’re on to something there. The Belay Kilt. The kilt is an awesome idea that needs a 21st century update. |
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I use them at base camp for winter or very early season mountaineering. I've use them at belays on ice climbs (with decent ledges). I probably wouldn't ever be rock climbing if it's that cold. I have mountain hardware chugach (long discontinued) and they weigh a little over 1 lbs, if they were lighter they might see more use, but I don't usually miss having them either... |
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Haha, @Scotty D, I have the same pants! I was thinking of the “belay kilt“ too. There are quite a few on the market now. @Mark, there is, made right here in Minnesota too’ https://enlightenedequipment.com/snow-wrap-custom/ But, really in that case, I think an extra long belay parka would do the trick. You sometimes see DH ski racers in (heavyweight) versions. if the zipper started at the normal height, back had a split and it had a set of snaps to connect the bottom corners around your legs, that would insulate the same as a kilt/skirt, while being much easier to take on and off, and less items to drop. Somehting like this (but insulated and a bit shorter, about knee height I’d think):  |
