Can You Wear Climbing Pants for Hiking?

Climbing pants are designed for a specific purpose in mind, to provide protection and mobility for rock climbers. These pants are lightweight, breathable and often made with technical fabrics like nylon and polyester. They feature articulated knees, gusseted crotch, adjustable waistbands and pockets that make them ideal for the vertical world.

Hiking pants also come with many of the same features as climbing pants but they are more suited to the horizontal world. They are usually thicker and more durable than their climbing counterparts and have a longer inseam that provides more coverage when traversing trails. Hiking pants also often come with reinforced areas such as pockets, knees, and seat that make them better able to withstand abrasion when bushwhacking or traveling off-trail.

So can you wear climbing pants for hiking? The answer is yes!

Climbing pants offer great mobility which can be useful when scrambling up steep terrain or wading through tall brush. The breathability of these pants is also great for high-output activities like hiking. However, it is important to consider the durability of the fabric when wearing them for this purpose as they may not be able to withstand abrasion as well as hiking-specific options.

Conclusion:

Yes, you can wear climbing pants for hiking; however, it is important to consider the durability of the fabric when doing so. Climbing pants offer great mobility and breathability which make them ideal for high-output activities like hiking; however, they may not be able to withstand abrasion as well as some of the more specialized options available.

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Samantha Mckinney