Summer Soft Shell pants

Hey all! I'm curious as to what you all would recommend for summer weight soft shell pants. I've used the OR Voodoo pants and like them a bit, but the pockets are kind of shallow and they are a bit baggy in the ass region for me. The ME Ibex pants are incredible, but they are too warm for late spring- early fall conditions for me. For me personally, durability is a bigger thing because I generally abuse the heck out of whatever I wear and I don't mind paying a bit extra if they last me longer. Anyone have any pants they swear by? 

-Sock 

In my expereince no trousers last all that long, ME are good people and make good products, probably one of the few brands out there that actually make good kit without concern for how it looks on the hanger, they're literally the only brand I have seen that actually protects zips from abrasion.

I got a pair of La Sportiva Roped pants last year, and they have proven to be my lightest weight soft shells. Love the zippers on all the pockets, wish all my pants had that. Durability is what you would expect. Single parameter sizing though, so fit might be a challenge for some.

Prana stretch zion straight leg, I have several and have worn holes in a few spots doing offwidth but otherwise they are pretty durable and comfortable. I wear them everywhere, around town walking/biking even in a light rain, climbing, hiking, summer mountaineering (when it's not too cold or wet). Get em on sale and don't get the super light colors or they'll be covered in blood and dirt stains soon.

I’ve been loving the MH Chockstone alpine pants. Super light, breathable, have great adjustability and are slim fitting. Pretty durable as well, definitely a few times I thought my crampons definitely caused a tear but there was nothing to be seen. 

Prana Brion pant and the BD alpine lite pant are both good options for summer. 

I just wear wrangler synthetic pants from Wally World.  Cheap and they have actually taken a decent amount of abuse (FYI I like offwidths).  They are definitely breathable enough for summer too.  IUNO that's my 2 cents.  I just hate beating up super expensive clothes when I can sacrifice a little bit of durability for huge cost savings.

Atticus Lee wrote:

BD used to make their Modernist pant with Schoeller dryskin fabric. Those pants kicked ass, I had a pair and after six years of daily use/lots of granite they began to wear out and develop some holes. What really got them in the end was being sprayed with water mixed with tear gas. BD stopped using the Schoeller fabric and the new ones don’t compare at all, less breathable, rips way quicker etc.

Thunderbolt Sportswear makes pants out of Schoeller dryskin. I’m not 6 years into them yet but I can say they feel nice and I trust the fabric to hold up well.

It's probably for the best they dropped Schoeller, the nanosphere DWR is made out of a c6 fluorocarbon which is you know, pretty bad. When the whole industry is trying to move away from PFC's it isn't best practice to stick with the one company that hasn't moved on.

Gonna second OR Ferrosi. They breath really well and stretch great. They're lighter feeling than Zions imo. They are pretty durable in my experience as well. Have definitely bled from shin and knee area a few times without any damage on the pants. Not sure how that happens but it does. 

OR Ferrosi

Atticus Lee wrote:

The guy asked for a recommendation of some good pants, I gave him one. Doesn’t need to turn into a lecture on our individual consumer habits. FWIW, shaming people for buying the wrong pair of pants doesn’t do much to assuage the problems created by capitalism. 

Lol when did I shame anyone for buying a pfc coated pair of trousers? I simply stated the disadvantage of Schoeller products and gave the reason why a lot of the industry has moved away from them, I imagine cost plays a part but the marketing of PFC free is totally a thing rn.

That anger is misdirected.

You're the only person who sounds angry rn.

my gamma rock pants have been beat up (Evolution traverse) with 100's of days on them. From what I can tell this is the replacement https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sigma-fl-pant would buy again 10/10 

Another vote for OR Ferrosi.  Also nice they make a convertible option.  

The new Patagonia Altvia lite pants are the best softshell pants I have ever used.

Atticus Lee wrote:

If you think “the industry” is going to move us to a place that is sustainable, you’re wrong.

Once again when did I say the industry is going to move us to a sustainable place? Consumer choices are making companies use more sustainable materials and treatments, people care about sustainability, brands like to use it to tell a story which then sells more products.

 There is no ethical consumption under capitalism.

I can think of so many ways for capitalism to be ethical it might blow your mind. Been thinking a lot about the means of production recently?

 Knowing that, it doesn’t really make sense to criticize folks for their choice in trousers, does it?

I think you're at a loss there, what you have stated is wrong or at best an opinion, therefore your following statement is also wrong or at best an opinion. I do love seeing anti-cap people state their opinion as fact.

Seeing love for Ferrosi- I loved them while they lasted, they pilled from a harness within two cragging sessions and were in the garbage after three months with holes everywhere.

Atticus Lee wrote:

If you think “the industry” is going to move us to a place that is sustainable, you’re wrong. There is no ethical consumption under capitalism. Knowing that, it doesn’t really make sense to criticize folks for their choice in trousers, does it?

Dude take it somewhere else we are here to talk about pants

bearded sam wrote:

my gamma rock pants have been beat up (Evolution traverse) with 100's of days on them. From what I can tell this is the replacement https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sigma-fl-pant would buy again 10/10 

How big is that leg pocket? Iphone size? 

get some Eddie Bauer Guide Pros on sale. Custom fit by waist and inseam. They'll take a tear here or there but hold up well otherwise, and if they don't just return them. It's all I guide in

John Sigmon wrote:

How big is that leg pocket? Iphone size? 

If it's the same size as in my phsion fl pant yeah it will take a large phone but, I really wouldn't recommend this spot for a phone, a big hard heavy slab on your thigh not only feels weird but also will wear out the trousers faster, go for trousers with a rear zip pocket. 

Big fan of the Kuhl renegade rock pants. Plenty of room to move, a bit more of a slim fit in the lower legs (which I prefer).

My only gripe is the snap button instead of a traditional button.