VALBON PANTS

I wore these a few times to the rock gym and took them outside for the first time. They got absolutely shredded in the bum after a short chimney section, along with my butt cheek. Granted this was granite which can be like a cheese grater, but the fabric held up like tissue paper. Not recommended for outdoor. I liked the fit, but they will need a patch after 4 months.

These are the ultimate rock cragging pant: They've got a loose but athletic fit for fine-tuned face climbing, a light weight with excellent breathability for warm crag days, durability for vigorous thrutching, and enough stylishness that if you're traveling with only a carry-on bag you can use these at the crag and then still show up respectable enough at the restaurant for dinner. The low slung pockets give the Valbon a casual feel and allow easy access to items even with a harness on and the side-zip thigh pocket allows for safe storage of a phone, keys, or other items. I brought a pair of these to Puerto Rico recently and found them quite comfortable while climbing, for evenings on the beach, and while out on the town. Because the Valbon are largely cotton, I wouldn't recommend them alpine climbing or any longer multi-pitch where being caught in bad weather could be an issue (cotton retains water). I'm an Ortovox Athlete, so you've got a right to be a bit circumspect about my review, but I can tell you that this is a piece that I truly believe in and a product that I use regularly at the gym, when bouldering, at the crag, on short multi-pitch, and just kicking around town, and I'd highly recommend the Valbon to anyone looking for something similar.

I bought these trousers this spring to wear teaching rock climbing. They have proven to be durable and reasonably breathable on hot summer days. I like the hem adjustment. This allows me to hitch the legs up above my ankle when I really need to see my feet. For some reason, no matter how much I tighten the waist cord, they seem to want to slip down under my harness which can be downright annoying. They are tough enough to last several seasons.