Someone on another site is having trouble getting signed up on summitpost so I am posting this question.
I've really taken to glissading on my past few climbs, but during my last glissade I ripped open my pants, which were just Columbia hiking pants at that point. I want to know what is durable enough for this kind of activity, but still not overwhelmingly heavy so as to be too hot in active conditions. In would help if such pants could be found at Sports Authority, having a sizable give certificate to there, but REI or other online retailers are just as welcome....thanks.

I did a long glissade Monday in my Patagucci Mixmaster bib. I think having a tight denier (not derriere) is important.

A buddy of mine bought some cheap, heavier nylon, kinda like Helly Hanson style, and cut the legs off below the knees. Seemed to work for him.

REI Taku pants delaminated on my first, I mean my friends first trip. Due to a series of long and icy glissades. Don't do it!

Somewhere I saw a pair of modified shorts with clips too attach them securely to your butt, just for glissading! Clips around waist and each leg.

I just break out the precip rain pants.

Wes

Patagonia Guide pants fit the bill. Heavy enough to survive abrasion but dry quickly and are stretchy and breathable enough to be comfortable on approach and exit.

Your pants don't have to be durable to withstand the snow. It's the rocks under the snow!

The rocks and gravel and scree and tree branches will tear at the fabric where the pressure is greatest -- under your butt. So if you can avoid the rocks, you'll avoid the tears.

Any extra layer should help your pants survive, because the outer layer will take the brunt of abrasion. But if your slide is long one, it's just a matter of time. I usually buy work pants from second-hand stores, so it's easy to throw them out when I get home.

Last spring, I had to glissade down a nice deep snowdrift. But I didn't have much for layers, just summer-weight short-shorts. The deep snow was great fun, but I got snow in my under-pants.

My buddy has a pair of glissading shorts that he bought quite a few years ago. I've never seen another pair. I think they were made by Yates. They are meant to go over your climbing pants and have webbing cinches at the thigh to keep snow out. The seat is reinforced with urethane-coated Cordura - very burly, but makes for some pretty fast glissading. Patagonia Backcountry Guides or Alpine Guides work great for me and seem to handle the abrasion pretty well.

Marmot Precips, TNF Venture Pants, REI Ultralight Pants. You don't wear 'em on approach unless it's cold or windy and jsutified and then just throw them on real quick right before you slide down.

Also, you should try skis if you think glissading is fun.

dan2see wrote:Your pants don't have to be durable to withstand the snow. It's the rocks under the snow!

I've found that ice can also shred your clothes. Am thinking about doing my next lot of glissading in my survival bag, fortunately I've never had to use it for its actul purpose.

I am a large fan of glissading in these...

I used to sew a patch of leather to the seats of my pants.

A better solution is to do a standing glissade instead.

i use my sun mountain golf rain pants! they work great! i have done a few long ones with them and they are still in good shape!

These look good, Cordura is very tough. http://www.campmor.com/outdoor-research ... =61026BLKS

Also: http://www.tahoemountainsports.com/prod ... leShopping

Sierra Ledge Rat wrote:A better solution is to do a standing glissade instead.

Yep, and it's way more fun!...but it does requires alot more skill to do it safely. I think it helps if you know how to ski, and big boots are good too. I have done sitting glissades, but always end up with a soaked butt afterwards.

This type of device seems like a good idea, except it's one more thing to carry:
http://jmjula4.home.comcast.net/~jmjula4/slider.htm

A better solution to glissading pants...