Winter may be nearly over, but the cool-weather climbing temps will be here for awhile. Good for sending, so long as you’re dressed appropriately. These cozy pants have been tested at sunny winter crags and boulders. You may get throttled by screaming barfies but these thoroughly tested bottoms will keep you from freezing your ass off.
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Belay pants that flex
Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Pants
Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown
The Stretchdown Pants will keep you warm while your partner susses out the beta, so you can hold onto your warm-up and a chance of sending. What sets this pair of puffy bottoms apart is their namesake stretch and low-profile fit that let you move around comfortably.
Anyone who has felt the paralyzing cold of a too-long belay in icy temps knows the utility of a good pair of belay pants. But these pants go beyond just frigid belays. I’ve even hiked approaches in these on especially cold days. The stretchy fabric feels less prone to ripping than traditional nylon, giving these a longer lifespan. And a snap and zipper fly gave me good access to my belay loop without my pants falling off. The only wish I have for the Stretchdown Pant is ankle zips to enable me to pull them on and off over climbing shoes because I always want to keep them on as long as possible before starting a pitch.
cool style for cold weather
Stoic Venture Pant
The Stoic Venture Pant keeps it cool, even when it’s cold. The soft peach-skin canvas is stretchy with just a little fuzziness that feels nice next to your skin. They have been extremely durable, showing no signs of wear or stiffening-up after many days of cragging and washes.
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean I want to head out looking like I might quest off on a snowy alpine escapade. lI oved the loose fit through the thighs and tapered cut for freedom of movement that didn’t get in my way. These fit loose enough that I can wear a thin base layer underneath if it’s really chilly, giving them four-season versatility. The webbing belt cinched the waist nicely and stayed put all day. And, these are quite budget-friendly coming in at $79 MSRP (now on sale).
Best Cold-Weather Leggings
Arc’teryx Essent Warm High-Rise Leggings
The Arc’teryx Essent Warm High-Rise Leggings are a new best friend for anyone who’d rather get hypothermia than climb in loose-fitting pants. Made with a smooth outer layer and a fuzzy, warm interior, these pack cozy into athletic leggings.
The brushed fabric on these Arc’teryx leggings has more compression and less stretch than other leggings I’ve worn, which made them a little harder to get on. But once pulled up into place they didn’t slip or squish me, and I really appreciated the extra R-value. Two drop-in pockets thigh pockets are nice, but were placed too high to function when wearing a harness. Durability-wise these are holding up well with just a few small snags after many pitches.
Hot Cocoa for Legs
Backcountry On the Go Pant
Like encasing your legs in a cup of hot chocolate, these fleecy softshell pants will keep you warm even when it’s really too cold to be climbing. The Softshell Fleece Lined On The Go Pant combine a smooth, wind blocking outer layer with kitten-fur fleece lining in a loose, jogger style.
These joggers from Backcountry pull on and have an internal drawcord, which I didn’t feel inclined to use since the wide, flat waistband fit securely. Under a harness these felt smooth and warm without added bulk and ribbed, stretchy side panels kept me mobile in every direction. Two hand pockets, zero zippers and simple elastic cuffs give these a casual look. After heavy use and scumming around on sandstone boulders the softshell outer is showing a bit of minimal pilling, but nothing beyond what I’d expect from this type of fabric.
No Tech Softshell
Athleta Headlands Mid Rise Jogger
The Headlands Hybrid Jogger packs the performance of a wind resistant softshell into a pair of cool looking joggers. These are made with a mix of soft, stretchy fabric and tough wind and water resistant panels that makes them warm and flexible while maintaining durability.
I choose these for days with a lot of movement, or longer approaches. They breathe very well and dry quickly after getting a little sweaty. I’m impressed by the versatility of these pants. A simple drawstring waist and zippered hand pockets add functionality without veering into techy-dork territory. They keep me warm on cold days, but still feel light enough for the climbing gym often. The Headlands Hybrid Joggers are available in sizes 0-26, which is the biggest size range of options I tested. And they’re made with recycled fabrics.
Climber Cashmere
Vuori Boyfriend Jogger
These are the lightest weight pants on the list, but while they lack insulation, they boast irresistible softness. You’ll find yourself reaching for these pants often, simply because they are so comfortable and easy to wear.
The DreamKnit ™ fabric on these joggers is extremely stretchy, breathable and kept me warm in moderately cold weather without overheating when the sun started blazing. They held up well to bouldering on desert sandstone as well as pitches on snaggy limestone. These would not be my choice for full-body crack or knee-bar climbing because the knit fabric is delicate, which is simply the trade off for that cashmere-like hand feel. The Vuori Boyfriend Jogger is cut loosely through the legs and hips, with a nice tapered jogger cuff and a minimalist look.
Canvas but cool
Outdoor Research Canvas Joggers
The Outdoor Research Canvas Joggers have enough stretch and a gusseted crotch for all the stemming and high steps a girl could want. Crag-casual style, with deep drop-in hand pockets and rear patch pockets, make these always a good choice for climbing.
There’s always a place in my winter wardrobe for bulletproof canvas pants. Whether it’s desert splitters or toothy limestone, some crags just require the real deal for durability. I liked the jogger fit, they felt relaxed through the thighs and butt with a high-rise waist that sat above my harness. These aren’t the warmest pants on my list, but they felt pretty ideal for sunny desert days that warm up fast and end cold.
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