We need to talk about Prana... I'm really concerned.

I wasn't sure where else to go.
I have considered Prana Zion pants essential climbing and outdoor gear ever since I discovered it a decade ago... but it looks like that might be about to change..?
Has anyone else notice that it looks like Prana is phasing out the original Zion material for that new ReZion stuff? 

Last year when the ReZion shorts and pants came out I got a couple pairs of the shorts and thought they were fine. The fit is nice and the material is slick. But after wearing them for a couple days they were already pilling. This happened quickly on both pairs that I got. It was obvious that the material wasn't nearly as long lasting/rugged as the original Zion material. 

At first I wasn't worried because I simply assumed they would keep selling original zion alongside the new stuff. But I just got the new ReZion focused brochure in the mail yesterday and after checking the website it appears as though they are trying to phase out the original material for this new stuff on their flagship pants. 

Is this really happening? Is this going to be a repeat of the 5.10 Moccasym disaster? 

I'm tempted to go to REI and buy every pair of OG Zion pants that fit me because I might never see them again...

Zions are my favorite pants! I hate to hear this. Has anyone found any alternative pants that are competitive? I was looking at trying some of ORs offerings. Might have to hit my local REI as well.

One of my Zions is pilling, but I'm going to give that one a pass, because I spent a couple hours fighting through dense manzanita to get to a paraglider who was stuck in a tree.

Prana + Panic = Pranic Attack!

OR Ferrosi 

Eddie Bauer guide pro. Every once in a while the stitching fails on the pockets, but they give you your money back and you buy another one. The material is outstanding and incredibly comfortable, light, and protective. I have a bunch of dogs and I prefer the guide pros to the Zions because the latter seem to collect an inordinant amount of dog hair

Old Navy jeans

Jon Browher wrote:

Eddie Bauer guide pro. Every once in a while the stitching fails on the pockets, but they give you your money back and you buy another one. The material is outstanding and incredibly comfortable, light, and protective. I have a bunch of dogs and I prefer the guide pros to the Zions because the latter seem to collect an inordinant amount of dog hair

I swear by these. I lived a summer in one pair and finished the season with a very small hole and abrasion on the right knee... only to spill a quart of wood stain on them a year later. I guess the stair brought the water resistance back though!

Personally, I don’t like my zions much. Weird crotch holes that people notice and the boot cut aren’t my style. Also, they got stained.

My $90 new eBay Gamma LT pants, though… Those things are awesome!

I learned they were making the change about a year ago and bought a whole bunch. However they were originally making them wasn’t eco-friendly or bad for the environment so they had to make the change. 

Are Gramicci pants still made? Wore them for 30 years...well, not the same pair!

I do own one or two pair of Prana Zion pants. Meh. Not really worth the cost.

To those of you who have worn both the Guide Pro and Zions: have you noticed a difference in the fit? The former look like skinny jeans in photos. 

Marc, I blew through a recent model of Gramicci climbing pants in record time. Don't remember the model, but I wouldn't take that brand anywhere more abrasive than a coffee shop.

Logan Peterson wrote:

To those of you who have worn both the Guide Pro and Zions: have you noticed a difference in the fit? The former look like skinny jeans in photos. 

Marc, I blew through a recent model of Gramicci climbing pants in record time. Don't remember the model, but I wouldn't take that brand anywhere more abrasive than a coffee shop.

Before I started wearing zions I had a few pairs of guide pro pants and shorts. I did like them... until I found the zions. I was not a huge fan of the guide pro fit. I could never get pants that were long enough in the leg for the right waist size. Guide pro material is pretty robust, almost as good as the zion material, but the finish (stiching, buttons, etc.) was not anywhere close to zion in my opinion. It's been a long long time since I have bought a pair of guide pros, so maybe I'll have to give them another try.

As for the OR ferrosi, I have both the ferrosi wind breaker and the ferrosi insulated jacket. They are really great. I haven't tried the pants yet, but I will certainly be giving them a shot if the zion material is permanently changed. 

Sam Oudekerk wrote:

Gamma LT pants, though… Those things are awesome!

Best pants ever.  Perfect fit and indestructible.  My backup pair are still backups because the primary pair just won't wear out.

If you have a local seamstress/tailor (sorry, I can't bring myself to call someone who sews, a sewer)? 

Take your pants to them. They may be able to get that fabric, make you a pair or two custom fitted, and for less than you might expect. People on MP sew, for that matter, including pants, packs, all kinds of stuff.

I just buy thrift store clothes, for rock climbing and life in general. Jeans, pretty much. Whatever sorta fits and is less than $5. Here's my heirachy:

1. Nice enough to still wear in public (at work, when I still worked). Try to not wear them climbing, but forget, or don't bother. Getting too beat up for work, then...
2. Camping, rock climbing, with others around. Start getting rather thin, with holes....
3. Still number 2, depending. Enough holes to look like designer ripped jeans... 
4. Still number 2, probably. Also used for yard stuff and gardening. Shoveling shit, literally. Getting embarassing in all contexts....
5. Painting. Probably still worn climbing....

But hey, that's me. No offers for a modeling career. Ever. The closest I ever came, was an offer of $50 for 15 minutes of my time, but I was 19 then, and kinda assumed it would have very little to do with clothing, other than a single zipper. Not mine.

Logan Peterson wrote:

Marc, I blew through a recent model of Gramicci climbing pants in record time. Don't remember the model, but I wouldn't take that brand anywhere more abrasive than a coffee shop.

Yet I have 10 year old Gramiccis that have been used exclusively for climbing and I’d still use them tomorrow.

Maybe you’re just really hard on your pants. Do you do a lot of off-width or chimneys? Climb on coarse rock?

Logan Peterson wrote:

To those of you who have worn both the Guide Pro and Zions: have you noticed a difference in the fit? The former look like skinny jeans in photos. 

There is a slim fit version of the Guide pants. I use the regular and they are a good cut -6'2, 180lbs

If you're looking for durability, check out the Guide Pro Work pants

I have several EB guide pants in front of me right now. The pockets blows right through in no time. And I get holes in the knees pretty quickly. The button needs to be resewn every now and then.

You also need a belt because it doesn't have an integrated one like the Zion.

There is a thicker version of the EB pants thats seems a bit more durable.

But unless you get em for 50% off I wouldn't buy em.

Old lady H wrote: But hey, that's me. No offers for a modeling career. Ever. The closest I ever came, was an offer of $50 for 15 minutes of my time, but I was 19 then, and kinda assumed it would have very little to do with clothing, other than a single zipper. Not mine.

 

$50 was probably a lot way back then huh?

Marc801 C wrote:

Yet I have 10 year old Gramiccis that have been used exclusively for climbing and I’d still use them tomorrow.

Maybe you’re just really hard on your pants. Do you do a lot of off-width or chimneys? Climb on coarse rock?

I am hard on pants. That said, I found my Gramiccis to be less durable than just about anything else. Maybe it's the model. They were thick cotton with an internal belt and no loops. I'm no expert, but I suspect the stitching was done with some proprietary, water-soluble thread. The weave pattern seemed to be that of office slacks--one tiny nick elongates from seam to seam with a few bends at the knee.  I want to like the company because they sponsor one of our local crusher kids, and I'd love to know about a current model that's fit for something other than talking about climbing. 

Zion pants are severely overrated. They weigh a lot......MH chockstone is a way better option.  

rab sawtooth