Have you been wondering whether there is such a thing as bouldering-specific pants? If pebble-wrestling is settling in as your climbing discipline of choice, it is time to step up your wardrobe to meet the needs of your sport. But with so many climbing apparel companies out there, how do you know which ones are making the best bouldering pants?
We at The Adventure Junkies have done the hard searching and are ready to help out as your personal bouldering stylist. In this guide, we’ll cover what makes a pair of bouldering pants unique and offer a selection of the 10 best bouldering pants on the market this year.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FIND THE BEST BOULDERING PANTS
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BOULDERING PANTS 101
5 THINGS TO CONSIDER TO FIND THE BEST BOULDERING PANTS
1. BOULDERING VS ROPE CLIMBING
How does bouldering differ from the rest of climbing? Do I really need clothes specific to bouldering?
Bouldering is a condensed – often referred to as “pure” – form of climbing movement. Many requirements for roped climbing, such as equipment, protection on the wall, learning to belay and finding safe belay partners, are unnecessary for bouldering.
All you need to go bouldering is a pair of climbing shoes. However, chalk, crash pads and friends to support and spot are definitely a plus.
Since boulderers focus the entirety of their sport on movement, boulder problems tend to have more interesting, three-dimensional, full-body-contortionist-type moves. Heel hooking above one’s head or stemming a broad corner leads boulderers to demand pants with extreme flexibility.
A gusseted crotch often helps. Since there is no harness to go over your pants, there are no restrictions on bagginess or requirements for a cushioned waist.
Finally, boulderers often have a special kind of swagger. A sub-discipline of climbing as a whole, bouldering lends itself to a unique kind of style. Take that into consideration when choosing the best pants to meet your bouldering needs.
2. BREATHABILITY
Bouldering is one of the least aerobic forms of climbing. Typically, boulderers execute short sequences of very powerful and strength intensive moves, interspersed with lots of resting and hanging out.
Are you likely to build up a sweat in this kind of work-out? Probably not.
Still, what happens when your body runs hot while you’re bouldering on a 90-degree day in the desert, in a poorly ventilated gym in the summer or you’re banging off a 100 v-point circuit? In these cases, a pair of breathable pants could be a life-saver. Look for cotton or cotton/polyester/spandex blends to help you get the air flowing.
3. FLEXIBLE MATERIAL
Boulderers end up doing the most three-dimensional, contortionist moves in climbing. Due to the nature of bouldering movement, the pants you choose must be nonrestrictive.
Most boulderers opt for either loose-fitting pants that enable their freedom of movement, or tights that move with their bodies.
To enhance flexibility, many bouldering pants contain spandex (also known as elastane) in a cotton or polyester blend. A higher percentage of this stretchy fiber will give you more stretch in your pants.
Materials, such as Stretch Cordura, can be a great option for thickness and resistance to abrasion without restricting movement.
4. COLOR
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Color pops! If you are comfortable expressing your style with the colors of the rainbow, choosing something loud and bright will make you stand out on the rock.
Color is an especially great option if you are psyched on capturing the send of your latest project with photos. Color on your bottom half is more unique than color in a t-shirt.
5. MEN’S VS WOMEN’S
Men and women have different body structure and thus often end up choosing completely different pairs of pants. The best bouldering pants for men are not necessarily the best bouldering pants for women.
Fortunately, many of the companies featured in this article have designed a women’s-specific alternative to their top bouldering pants. As tights are a popular choice for women out bouldering, we have also featured one brand that produces climbing pants and tights for women.
Photo by http://ift.tt/2rVghbt
BOULDERING PANTS REVIEWS
1. BEST OVERALL BOULDERING PANTS
PRANA CONTINUUM
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Bouldering and outdoor activities
WOMEN’S VERSION: Prana Avril
MATERIALS: Stretch cotton
INSEAM: 32.5 in
ANKLE CINCH: Yes
COLORS: Blue, Gold, Turquoise, Rust, Brown, Dark Green, Gray
PROS: Great color selection, cinch elastic waist, articulated knees, gusseted crotch, good durability
CONS: Pants run a little long
LA SPORTIVA SOLUTION
BEST FOR: Bouldering, climbing and alpine adventures
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIALS: Stretch Cordura
INSEAM: 31.8 in
ANKLE CINCH: Yes
COLORS: Gray, Mustard Yellow, Deep Red
PROS: Technical and durable, elastic waist, integrated knees, gusseted crotch
CONS: Pants run a little warm, expensive
BOULDER DENIM
Check out the latest price on:
Boulder Denim
BEST FOR: Bouldering and city life
WOMEN’S VERSION: Women’s Skinny Fit
MATERIALS: Stretch denim
INSEAM: 34.0 in
ANKLE CINCH: No
COLORS: Dark blue (denim)
PROS: Designed for comfort in the outdoors and personal life, environmentally friendly, weather-proofed, very stretchy and does not deform, hydrophobic wash, reinforced stitching
CONS: Expensive
E9 RONDO STORY
Check out the latest price on:
Shop E9
BEST FOR: Bouldering
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIALS: 97% Cotton, 3% Elastane
INSEAM: Unknown
ANKLE CINCH: Yes
COLORS: Olive, Blue
PROS: Contrasting color pockets and stitches, loose fitting and flexible, articulated knees
CONS: European brand, more difficult to acquire in USA
2. BEST BUDGET BOULDERING PANTS
OCUN JAWS
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Bouldering and climbing
WOMEN’S VERSION: Ocun Pantera
MATERIALS: 95% Cotton, 5% Elastane
INSEAM: Unknown
ANKLE CINCH: Yes
COLORS: Slate Blue, Blue, Golden Yellow
PROS: Elastic waist, anatomical knee shape, technical cut for unrestricted movement
CONS: European brand, more difficult to acquire in USA
UCRAFT XLITE
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Bouldering, yoga and outdoor activities
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIALS: 92% Polyester, 8% Elastane
INSEAM: Unknown
ANKLE CINCH: Yes
COLORS: Gray
PROS: Elastic waist, articulated knees, hidden side pocket, lightweight and breathable
CONS: Fabric is quite thin with reduced durability, no color selection
BLACK DIAMOND NOTION
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Bouldering and Indoor Training
WOMEN’S VERSION: Black Diamond Notion
MATERIALS: Stretch cotton twill
INSEAM: 32.0 in
ANKLE CINCH: Yes
COLORS: Burnt Olive, Nickel, Dark Gray
PROS: Loose, comfortable design, soft elastic waist, reinforced knees, breathable and airy
CONS: Poor color selection for 2017, not suitable for cold days
3. BEST LIGHTWEIGHT BOULDERING PANTS
STONEWEAR DESIGNS LIBERTY TIGHTS
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Bouldering, yoga and outdoor activities
WOMEN’S VERSION: These tights are designed for women
MATERIALS: 88% Polyester, 12% Spandex
INSEAM: Unknown
ANKLE CINCH: No
COLORS: Multiple color patterns available
PROS: High rise, wide compression waistband, stretch fabric, gusseted crotch, supersoft and durable fabric, quick-drying, sewn in USA
CONS: Apparel is for women only
RAB OBLIQUE
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Bouldering and indoor training
WOMEN’S VERSION: RAB Valkyrie
MATERIALS: Stretch cotton
INSEAM: 32.0 in
ANKLE CINCH: Yes
COLORS: Dark Gray, Mustard Yellow, Turquoise
PROS: Lightweight and stretchy, great colors available, part elasticized waist, articulated knees, gusseted crotch, drawcord ankle hem
CONS: European brand, more difficult to acquire in USA
PATAGONIA VENGA ROCK
Check out the latest price on:
REI
BEST FOR: Bouldering and climbing
WOMEN’S VERSION: Patagonia Venga Rock
MATERIALS: 98% Cotton, 2% Spandex
INSEAM: 32.0 in
ANKLE CINCH: No
COLORS: Dark Blue, Dark Turquoise, Olive, Gray, Copper
PROS: Great mobility, unrestricted movement, articulated knees and reinforced pockets, regular fit
CONS: Sizing runs large
The post Bouldering Pants 101 appeared first on The Adventure Junkies.
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