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After serious testing in a range of conditions and climbing disciplines, we found the best men’s climbing pants for every style and budget.
Whether you’re training in the gym or planning your next multipitch project, we’ve identified the best climbing pants for every budget and adventure.
The best climbing pants are designed with careful consideration of everything climbers need. Solving boulder problems, tackling grueling alpine routes, and redpointing single-pitch sport routes all require capable and durable clothing.
Apparel-related discomfort can limit performance. Climbing pants should offer freedom of movement, protection from the elements, comfort, and thoughtful features.
To help you identify the best climbing pants for your specific needs as a climber, we’ve also included a comprehensive buyer’s guide at the end of our list of recommendations, as well as a detailed specification chart, and an FAQ section to mop up any final queries.
Scroll through to see all of our recommended buys or jump to the category you’re looking for:
Pants are like job interviews; first impressions are huge. While long-term durability can only be tested over months and years, the fit, feel, and general comfort of pants hits immediately.
Suffice it to say, it didn’t take long to recognize that the Arc’teryx Lightweight Konseal is an excellent pair of climbing pants. The drape is slim yet unrestrictive. The material is light and breathable. The key features and appointments are well-considered. Most purpose-built climbing pants are adequate, but lacking one or two crucial characteristics. The Lightweight Konseal is 99.9% perfect.
We tested these pants on a series of warm days in central Wyoming. Folks flock from across the globe to sample the region’s dolomite sport climbing and relatively cool sub-alpine summer. In 80-plus-degree temps, the Lightweight Konseal remained breezy and cool. When they did get slightly damp from an afternoon drizzle, they completely dried in less than 10 minutes.
Of course, it’s possible to climb rocks in any kind of pants, but the Konseals truly earn their “climbing pants” identity. A low-profile webbing-and-buckle belt is integrated directly into the waistline, so the fit is adjustable even with a harness on. On the right thigh, a hidden pocket fits a contemporary iPhone and keeps it out of the way of harness leg loops. This makes it easy to stop mid-pitch and consult Mountain Project or a paper topo.
The only obvious features missing from the Lightweight Konseal are adjustable ankle cuffs. We initially thought this would be annoying, but Arc’teryx managed to stitch the cuffs in such a way that they maintain their position when rolled partway up the calf. An elastic cinch would boost utility, but the Konseal does just fine without it.
The material is akin to parachute fabric — thin and supple. It’s likely a bit delicate for long pitches of off-width climbing, but we haven’t had any issues with rips or tears over ten-plus days of climbing sharp dolomite limestone.
A size 32 regular came up a little short on a 6’2″ frame. We didn’t test the tall version, but we imagine it would have covered the inch of ankle that the regular left exposed. The fit is slightly tapered and athletic, but range of motion remains fully intact. We stemmed, chimneyed, and pogoed with ease.
We’ve tested dozens of climbing pants, and nearly every pair has felt like a compromise — until the Lightweight Konseal. These will be our go-to dungarees until further notice.
The simple and streamlined Basin Pull-On Pants ($79) from Mountain Hardwear are the most comfortable rock climbing pants we tested. We recommend these pants to any climber looking for a go-to pair of pants for all types of climbing.
Unlike many of the pants on this list, the Basin features a straight-leg fit. The extra roominess in the legs allows for totally unrestricted movement. The stretchy blend of nylon and elastane breathes well, too. We never overheated in these, even though the pair we tested was dyed black.
Dual square-cut, drop-in front pockets help prevent your items from easily sliding out while climbing. A zippered back pocket provides a secure place to keep a phone on multipitch routes, though it’s slightly tricky to access while hanging in a harness.
Even after many uses, the elastic waistband held its shape and never dug into our skin. As a backup, a simple drawstring allows the wearer to customize their fit. These pants do not open at the fly, which slightly complicates the process of relieving oneself in certain climbing scenarios.
The Basin Pull-On has quickly become one of our favorites for both climbing and everyday use. With supreme comfort and a relatively affordable price tag, these are great climbing pants for folks on a budget.
For cold-weather climbing conditions, the Gamma Pants ($190) from Arc’teryx offer an impressive balance of warmth, comfort, and freedom of movement. We tested these pants in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, during a series of blustery early spring climbing sessions. Our lower body always felt warm and well-protected — even when exposed to severe winds and rain.
These versatile softshell pants will thrive in any cold-weather climbing scenario. For ice climbing or mountaineering, the Gamma is equipped with many helpful features.
Unlike most pants on this list, the Gamma is a bit of a thicker weave, making them feel lightly insulated. Even with the extra warmth, the pants remain fairly breathable, an ideal combination for constantly changing alpine conditions. We wore these in all sorts of weather and even used them for backcountry skiing on a mild spring day.
While multipitch rock climbing, we appreciated the addition of a zippered thigh pocket that was easy to access with a harness on. An integrated low-profile, adjustable waistband is simple to use and eliminates the need for a belt.
The straight-legged regular fit is roomy enough to allow a full range of motion. Stems, splits, and high steps are all on the menu in the Gamma. The adjustable cuffs help maintain a clear line of sight between you and the rock or snow beneath your feet.
Like most Arc’teryx gear, these pants are not cheap. However, their high-quality materials, thoughtful features, and impressive versatility offer plenty of value for the price. For those looking for a reliable pair of climbing pants to wear in unpredictable mountain environments, go for the Gamma.
The Notion Pants ($95) from Black Diamond are one of the most comfortable styles on the climbing pants market. In addition to their supreme comfort, these pants are reinforced in key areas for maximum durability, and they’re easy to move around in.
Though we tested these pants for various climbing disciplines, we liked them most for bouldering. They can accommodate high steps, mantles, and wide stemming with ease — all movements relatively common while bouldering. Because bouldering usually takes place in cooler weather, it’s a perfect activity for the thicker material of the Notion.
Instead of traditional pants sizing, these pants come in sizes XS-XL. We tested a size medium, and they fit pretty well on a 32-inch waist, though the legs did have a shorter cropped fit. Thanks to the elastic waist and cuffs, the Notion can stretch to accommodate different body types. Overall, the fit is on the looser side.
The Notion pants are not packed with features or technical materials. Instead, these are extremely comfortable climbing pants best suited for bouldering in the gym or outside in cool conditions.
Climb long enough, and most pants end up looking like they’ve been assaulted by a belt sander. Whether it’s a season thrutching up splitters in Indian Creek, or smearing around on some Squamish granite, when the going gets tough, the prAna Kragg Pants ($99) are up to the task.
Built from a tough cotton canvas with a lick of elastane for some stretch, these burly trousers were made for the rough and tumble routes you might encounter. The weave won’t be the most breathable, but we had no qualms about going full contact while wearing them.
The cut of the Kragg is more reminiscent of rugged work pants, down to the double knees and loose cut through the hip and thighs. An adjustable webbing waistband cinches up the whole affair up top, while twin elastic cinches at the ankles keep the pant legs out of cracks.
The pocket set-up is climbing-friendly, with two angled front drop pockets, a secure rear pocket, and a zippered stash pocket on the left thigh that is placed ideally for access while wearing a harness. The thicker material does make accessing the pockets a bit more of a hassle, but we’d rather that than have our phone take a dive mid-crux.
In all, the Kragg pants are built to be abused season after season. For durability, we’re confident they’re the best climbing pants you’ll find.
Many climbers consider jeans too hot and too restrictive for climbing, but these might change their minds. We tested several pairs of climbing jeans, and we found Coalatree’s new Decaf Denim ($109) the most capable and comfortable of them all.
The common complaints about climbing in jeans just don’t apply to these pants, and they still manage to preserve the feel and durability of high-quality denim.
Coalatree is known for its low-impact manufacturing processes and utilization of recycled materials. Uniquely, each pair of their Decaf Denim pants are partly made from recycled coffee grounds and plastic water bottles. This innovative fabric blend feels highly breathable compared to other jeans.
We wore these while sport climbing in warm summer weather, and we remained cool and comfortable throughout the day. Upon their first use, these jeans feel soft and lightweight against the skin, and the four-way stretch makes them plenty flexible for dynamic climbing movements.
Though these jeans are not designed specifically for climbing, they have been purpose-built for active use. A hidden zippered rear pocket keeps items secure and would certainly come in handy while multipitch climbing.
Like many jeans, the Decaf Denim is cut extra long to allow the wearer to cuff or roll the legs. Unlike many jeans, these pants manage to look great and also function as high-quality climbing apparel.
Newly updated for 2023, the Outdoor Reseach Cirque Lite Pants ($139) take an already capable alpine rock pant and elevate it with a few new key features, including an integrated belt, expandable ankle gusset, and tweaked scuff guards over the previous version.
We first tested the Cirque Lites during an early spring pilgrimage to Joshua Tree, where while they might have at first felt undergunned, surprised us with their rough and tumble durability. The Crique Lite pant is obviously a lighter cut of the uber-popular OR Cirque pant, but whereas those pants excel as mountaineering softshells, we found the Lites right at home on rock pitches.
At 12% spandex, there’s stretch for days in these climbing pants, and on pitch after pitch we had no problem making the move. We also greatly appreciated the zippers on all pockets, which kept our phone and essentials where they needed to be.
The expandable ankles also feature loops for a piece of shockcord under the instep, making these pants ideal in our minds for early-season snow approaches to rock routes, where you very well may hike up in high-top approach shoes or boots, then transition to rock shoes.
For the climber who wants a light summer alpine pant that moves with you, the Outdoor Research Cirque Lite Pants are high on our list.
For staying cool during high-intensity, fast-paced objectives, these lightweight pants from Patagonia are top-notch. The breathable and lightweight Terravia Light Alpine pants ($129) thrive in warm and humid conditions.
Made from a blend of polyester and spandex, these pants are super stretchy and will not restrict movement. Even with a highly tapered fit, they allowed us to high step, stem, and heel hook with ease.
Like all well-designed climbing pants, the Terravia Light fits comfortably under a harness or backpack. All three pockets have zippers, and a phone-sized thigh pocket sits out of the way of harness leg loops. We like the low-profile elastic waist belt but felt that the integrated drawstring belt often loosened up on its own.
As to be expected from ultra-lightweight pants, these are not the most durable option on our list. After a handful of pitches of trad climbing on rough granite, small patches of lightly frayed abrasion began to show around the knees. For off-width climbing and other more rugged disciplines, you’ll want something a little hardier.
We recommend the Patagonia Terravia Light Alpines for summertime alpine objectives, long approaches, and generally staying cool when the conditions get warm.
The Mountain Hardwear Chockstone Trail Pants ($99) are high-quality and fully capable of thriving on the rock or at the gym. The nylon and elastane construction is fairly standard, but the fit and features are well above average.
Like all good climbing pants, the Chockstone comes with an integrated fit adjuster at the waist. This micro webbing and buckle system is ultra-low profile — it never causes an issue underneath a harness. The actual buckle is so tiny that it can be difficult to grab and operate at times, but we found we got used to it after a few wears.
Like the brand’s excellent Basin pants, the only zipper pocket is in the rear. Though the pocket is secure and roomy, we’d prefer a thigh pocket for easy access while wearing a harness.
We’ve been wearing the Chockstone for a few months, and they still look good as new after an attempt on the Grand Teton and a multi-day ascent of El Capitan.
We recommend the Chockstone Trail Pants for climbing in moderate to warm weather. The material is light and breathable – perfect for hot summer days. If you’re looking for similar pants for cold weather or high-elevation climbing, Mountain Hardwear also makes an Alpine version.
The origins of Gramicci are firmly rooted in rock climbing. Though their current apparel lineup trends slightly toward an urban setting, we found the NN pants ($110) to perform beautifully on the walls and boulders of Yosemite National Park.
Gramicci is credited with developing many active apparel innovations that have since become industry standards. The NN pants feature Gramicci’s patented gusset crotch and super-durable stretch cotton twill fabric.
This combination of features allows for unrestricted movement when climbing in the gym or at the crag. We climbed many pitches of rough granite cracks in these, and the fabric held strong without any signs of wear.
Though we love the feel and durability of the stretch cotton twill, it’s not quite as breathable as some of the more lightweight options on this list. These pants perform at their best in cooler conditions. Still, the minor lack of breathability is more than made up for in build quality and comfort.
The NN pants include an elastic waist belt that can be adjusted via a low-profile, built-in nylon belt. This adjustment system is simple, sturdy, and easy to access with a harness on. Though these pants do not include a zippered pocket, the rear pockets have a Velcro closure that helps secure a phone or other valuables on a multipitch route.
Overall, these are high-quality pants that are ready-made for use in all parts of your life — climbing, hiking, or just plain hanging out.
The recommended pants on this list are the result of multiple years of extensive testing. We’ve tested pants in climbing areas across the US, including the Wasatch mountains of Utah, Yosemite National Park, and numerous air-conditioned climbing gyms. We sport climbed, bouldered, and wrestled our way up off-widths on our search for the best climbing pants of 2023.
With every pair that we tried, we assessed durability, versatility, freedom of movement, and fit. While we appreciate stylish pants and nifty features, we focused on one question above all else: are these pants effective while climbing?
There are many disciplines of climbing, so not all climbing pants should have the same materials and technical specs. Bouldering pants need to be stretchy and durable, while alpine climbing pants need to be light and breathable.
On this list, we’ve divided our recommendations into specific categories. These categories are the product of our ongoing testing process. With each new pair of pants we try, we carefully assess their strengths and weaknesses and place them in categories accordingly.
As new climbing pants hit the market, we’ll be sure to test them and compare them against our existing favorites. At any given time, our list will include the best of the best.
Though you don’t strictly need climbing-specific pants to climb, they do have many clear advantages. Climbing pants offer helpful and specific features other activewear pants do not — including harness-compatible pockets and crampon-ready durability.
In this handy how-to-choose guide, we’ll cover all of the major considerations for selecting the perfect pair of climbing pants. This article focuses specifically on the best climbing pants for men. If you’re looking for women’s-specific options, check out our article on the Best Climbing Pants for Women.
Climbing is an umbrella term that covers many different sub-sports and disciplines. For example, alpine scrambling and indoor bouldering are very different activities. Ideally, your apparel and overall kit should always be tailored to match the demands of the specific activity at hand.
A pair of pants that’s great for one discipline of climbing may not be right for another. On this list, we’ve selected our favorite pair of climbing pants in many categories, including Best for Bouldering, Best for Alpine Climbing, and Most Durable.
Climbing pants are guaranteed to make regular contact with rough and abrasive surfaces. For this reason, any pair of climbing pants worth its price tag will be abrasion-resistant and hardy.
In a climbing setting, durability is important. When you’re knee-jamming your way up a wide crack, you’ll want to know your pants won’t be completely shredded by the time you reach the anchor.
While durability is a priority for climbing pants, comfort, stretch, and breathability are important too. It’s not easy to design a pair of pants that is both abrasion-resistant and breathable. As a general rule, the lighter and more breathable pants become, the less durable they’ll be.
On this list, we’ve selected lightweight options like the Patagonia Terravia Light as an ideal choice for warm conditions. While these pants are supremely comfortable on light and fast summertime objectives, they’re also more vulnerable to rips and tears.
On the other end of the spectrum, the prAna Kragg are incredibly durable. However, they do not breathe well and should be reserved for cool weather.
To maximize mobility, climbing pants need to stretch. Most of the pants on this list are constructed from fabric blends that include stretchy materials such as elastane or spandex.
Pants with two-way stretch will stretch from side to side but not from top to bottom. Four-way stretch pants will stretch side to side and from top to bottom.
On this list, the Mountain Hardwear Basin Pull-On Pant is among the stretchiest styles. Another great option is the CoalaTree Decaf Denim pants, which are the stretchiest climbing jeans we tested. With pants like these, you’ll be able to use your body’s full range of motion with ease.
In addition to elastic material, most climbing pants are made from a blend of cotton and synthetic fabric such as polyester or nylon. In most cases, pants that are mostly cotton will be heavier, less breathable, and more durable.
On our list, the prAna Kragg is a heavy-duty, cotton-based pant that still allows for good mobility. Synthetic-based pants tend to be stretchier, less durable, and ideal for warm weather.
The Mountain Hardwear Basin Pull-On pant, our selection for the most comfortable climbing pant, is 94% nylon.
There are a few key features we feel all good climbing pants should have: secure pockets, an adjustable waistband, and a gusseted crotch. Practical, purpose-built features are the difference between climbing-specific pants and all other options. On this list, we’ve included lots of great pants, and each pair offers a unique set of thoughtful features.
Wearing a belt with a climbing harness is uncomfortable and inconvenient. Instead, look for a pair of climbing pants that includes an integrated system for adjusting the waistband.
On this list, we’ve included pants with various styles of adjustment systems. Of these, the classic drawstring is probably our least favorite, as these tend to loosen easily on their own. We love the adjustment system of the Arc’teryx Gamma Pant, which use a super-secure piece of low-profile webbing to tighten or loosen the waist.
Many climbing pants feature drawstring ankle cuffs — a simple feature that adds some extra utility. Tightening the cuffs of your pants can keep any excess material out of the way while climbing and hiking.
As an extra bonus, this feature also functions as a safeguard against mosquitoes and ticks. On this list, the Outdoor Research Cirque Lite are a nice lightweight option with drawstring ankle cuffs.
While wearing a harness, it can be difficult to access traditional pants pockets. Many climbers bring a phone along on multipitch routes, and it can be nice to have an accessible and secure place to keep it.
Many climbing pants include thoughtfully placed zippered pockets where a phone or other essential items can be kept safe while climbing. On this list, we love the zippered pockets of the Arc’teryx Gamma for their easy-to-access zippered thigh pocket. It’s out of the way of harness leg loops and large enough to hold most modern phones.
The best pants for climbing are the ones that meet your needs and are enjoyable to wear. On this list, we’ve included many pairs of our favorite climbing pants of 2023. The best bouldering pants will not be the best for ice climbing. Check out our buyer’s guide to figure out what kind of pants will suit you best.
Climbing pants are just like any other pants, except they’re designed with climbing in mind. Climbing pants tend to have unique features geared toward climbers such as a small pocket for bouldering brush or a zippered thigh pocket to hold a phone while wearing a harness. Additionally, climbing pants are often extra stretchy to allow for increased range of motion and dynamic body movements.
On this list, we’ve included styles that range from $40 to over $150. Excellent options are available throughout this entire range. Higher-end materials and features tend to come with a higher price tag.
On this list, we recommend the Arc’teryx Gamma Pant for ice climbing. These durable softshell pants are stretchy, warm, and well-appointed with lots of ice climbing-specific features.
For instance, on the inside of each ankle, these pants have a patch of burly abrasion-resistant fabric to prevent shredding from crampons. Also, these pants easily open up around each ankle to accommodate ice climbing and mountaineering boots.
After months of testing, we found the best women’s climbing pants for every style and budget. Suit up and climb on.
We found the best climbing harnesses of 2022. Whether you’re sport climbing or mountaineering, we have you covered.
Austin Beck-Doss is a Staff Writer at GearJunkie. Austin has been writing about climbing, hiking, and snowsports for 6+ years. Prior to that, Austin worked as a rock climbing and wilderness guide.
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