Climbing pants

Webfoot

New member
Location
Oregon
I need new pants for recreational climbing. I do not need or wish to pay for anything with saw protection but lightweight hiking pants don't hold up so I need something a little tougher. What kind and weight of fabric would work well?
 
I have three pair of old Pfanner Gladiator Outdoor pants - not the chainsaw pants - that I really like for the trees (pruning) and for groundwork sans chainsaws - the big checkbox for me is the velcro knee pockets for padding. They're the best if you're going to be cabling or somewhere where you might be in leg contact with the tree (or for landscaping/ garden beds etc.) Nice deep pockets with zippers. My go-to's, not too hot and the fabric seems bomber. Cheers.
 
Arborwear canopy pants are great - my favorites.

A little lighter on the wallet:

Do I like Canopy pants. Are they 5x as good as the Wrangler pants? They last a lot longer and are more comfortable.
 
Arborwear canopy pants are great - my favorites.

A little lighter on the wallet:

Do I like Canopy pants. Are they 5x as good as the Wrangler pants? They last a lot longer and are more comfortable.
The Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men's Ripstop Carpenter Jean with the ripstop material are pretty comfortable and last. At least for me. My current pair are 3 years old but, are ready to be replaced. Get them longer than what you wear.
 
@levi r there are so many 5.11 pants. Which type to you have?

@Neill I think almost all my pants have that and I'll make sure the new one do too.

@Chris Schultz Thanks, I see those.

@ghostice Those look great, but like Arbortec they are more than I am willing to spend right now. Do they keep out thorns? The only way I could justify it is if they could double as briar pants for my bushwhacking adventures. There are a lot of Himalayan blackberry around here.

@ATH Where are the Canopy Pants made?

@ClimbingTN "longer than what you wear" for the Wranglers specifically, or climbing pants in general?


While your replies came in I did my own search and found a couple that interest me. How do these look?

Origin VRSA
  • 100% Made in USA
  • 4-way stretch, 9.3oz, 93% Polyester / 7% Elastane
KUIU Brawley
  • Double knee
  • 4-way Stretch Canvas, 10.2oz, 54% Polyester / 33% Cotton / 13% Spandex
 
@ATH Where are the Canopy Pants made?
....
Unfortunately, not the United States. It's been several years since I bought canopy pants... They haven't worn out forcing me to buy another pair!

I and pretty sure they contract some manufacturing in Central America, Asia, and I think North Africa????

The company is based in Ohio. Apparently the original goal was to manufacture in the United States but they were unable to find a textile manufacturer that would help them. I don't know if it's true or not, but I'd heard rumors that they had some of their original clothes being made in the United States. Another much larger company that has heavy duty canvas workwear threatened to pull out of that manufacturer if they continue to supply other brand names.
 
Unfortunately, not the United States. It's been several years since I bought canopy pants... They haven't worn out forcing me to buy another pair!

The Origin VRSA cost $60 less while being 100% US made. I don't dismiss your positive experience with the Canopy Pants but if I get this style (4-way stretch, synthetic, 9oz weight, single-layer knee) I am going to try the Origin as I would like to support US manufacturing.
 
The Origin VRSA cost $60 less while being 100% US made. I don't dismiss your positive experience with the Canopy Pants but if I get this style (4-way stretch, synthetic, 9oz weight, single-layer knee) I am going to try the Origin as I would like to support US manufacturing.
Absolutely! I saw and opened that link you posted above and seriously considering buying a pair. I'm hesitant to spend $100 on pants without knowing they'll hold up. I've tried some others (less $...) that didn't hold up well. Also tried TrueWerk T1 pants as recommended by other arborists and after a few weeks it's clear they aren't going to hold up like the ArborWear pants have.

Please post first impressions of you get a pair.
 
I use all different brands. All non chainsaw. Have had all the arborwear early in my career. Then both Pfanner gladiators and globes. Both great. Then Sips geckos. Bomber. Then arbortec pros non chainsaw. Now I go between mammut lightweight hiking pants and those. But my advice are the arbortecs. In pic....never go cheap. These will last for rec climbing for years. Thank me later. They come in 4 colors. I have owned 3 colors. Tree climing is unique in destroying cheap clothing. 20241114_204737.jpg
 
Bartlettman handles the Solidur brand the seems like a decent pant too. They have to special order my size cause they don't normally carry my size but solidur does produce them. My personal choice are SIP non chainsaw and Clogger Spyders. SIPS wear like iron.
 
But my advice are the arbortecs. In pic....never go cheap. These will last for rec climbing for years. Thank me later. They come in 4 colors. I have owned 3 colors. Tree climing is unique in destroying cheap clothing.

I think caving would give competition for that last statement. I have yet to try it but I observe that both purpose-made caving suits and thrift store clothing are popular choices. I could see that being the play here too: either pony up for arbor pants or accept it as readily disposable.

Two things have kept me from arbor-specific pants, the cost and the look. The Solidur pants oldoakman shared address the cost, if they are good enough not to regret going half way? The look has nothing to do with being stylish. I would like the option to be low profile rather than showing up in full Ghostbusters kit. I have no intent to climb illegally but even if it is not against the rules tree climbing may not meet with ready approval.

The sizing I am seeing on multiple brands of arbor pants is confusing. Are these sold by true waist sizes rather than modern vanity sizing? Typing this I am wearing so-called 30" waist Marmot hiking pants, and I need a belt to hold up my 32" Kuhls. That puts me in size Small according to these charts, but I am six foot one, 175 and I haven't worn Small since I was a lad. Especially if the pants do not offer inseam choices I cannot see this working out well.
 
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I think caving would give competition for that last statement. I have yet to try it but I observe that both purpose-made caving suits and thrift store clothing are popular choices. I could see that being the play here too: either pony up for arbor pants or accept it as readily disposable.

Two things have kept me from arbor-specific pants, the cost and the look. The Solidur pants oldoakman shared address the cost, if they are good enough not to regret going half way? The look has nothing to do with being stylish. I would like the option to be low profile rather than showing up in full Ghost Busters kit. I have no intent to climb illegally but even if it is not against the rules tree climbing may not meet with ready approval.

The sizing I am seeing on multiple brands of arbor pants is confusing. Are these sold by true waist sizes rather than modern vanity sizing? Typing this I am wearing so-called 30" waist Marmot hiking pants, and I need a belt to hold up my 32" Kuhls. That puts me in size Small according to these charts, but I am six foot one, 175 and I haven't worn Small since I was a lad. Especially if the pants do not offer inseam choices I cannot see this working out well.
In arb pants, you will find yourself in smalls a lot. I have the small Clogger Zeros, and am probably bigger than you, at 6" 180#. I will say that I have some pants that say 30, and some that say 33, and both fit me about the same. Random pants though, from the thrift store.
 
Jeebus, just buy some trousers and climb a bloody tree.
Indeed, a bit overthinking. I have owned so many pants climbing trees which I stll do 5 days a week. I buy and destroy. If you see the Mammuts I am wearing most days, and I own many pants. They have holes everywhere. The crotch is lasting though. I prefer hiking pants to arb pants but certain trees and jobs call for heavier pants. Pruning I can get away with anything.
 

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