For my climbing trip to Red Rock Canyon, I asked Outdoor Research if I could test out the new women's version of the Vantage Pants. I wore these climbing pants for six days straight (dirtbag climber) and apart from a sizing issue, found them to be super comfortable and great for summer climbing.
The Vantage Pants are cotton climbing pants with a little bit of spandex for stretchiness. The cotton is super comfortable and helps to keep you cool in the heat of summer climbing. The durable fabric kept me protected from the tough sandstone of Red Rock, enough so that I returned home free of scrapes and bruises on my legs after and entire week of climbing.
The slim profile of these climbing pants ensures that extra fabric won't get in your way, yet they remain non-restrictive. A double snap ankle closure allows you to make the pants even slimmer if needed, handy for bike commuting to the crag. The low profile waistband easily fits under your harness without contributing extra bulk.
One feature I would love to see added to the Vantage Pants is a discrete zipper integrated into one of the two back pockets. You definitely can not climb with anything in your back pockets without the high risk of it falling to the ground mid climb or rappel.
The OR Vantage Pants come in normal pants sizing 4-12, a refreshing option in place of the standard S-L. I STRONGLY suggest you order a size smaller than your normal pants size. The smaller size will look and feel like really tight "mom jeans" when you first put them on, but as soon as you start moving around, they will stretch out considerably and transform into cool looking climbing pants.
If you order your normal size, you will end up with a waist that is too big and "pants on the ground" after only a half day of climbing. Once washed, the climbing pants shrink back up to their original shape. For those worried about length, these climbing pants are long enough for the non-vertically challenged and can be rolled up for the rest if needed.
Bottom Line: The OR Vantage Pants are super comfortable and will keep you cool and protected on the rock this summer. These casual climbing pants will easily take you from the crag to the bar, and would even make a great summer hiking pant.
The Outdoor Research Vantage climbing pants come in both a men's and women's version and retail for $70.