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Hi All,

I'm heading up to NH to try my hand at some simple ice climbing. I have lots of gear for winter alpine but that stuff seems bulky and heavy. Do any of you have some suggestions about ice climbing pants? Thanks

Guess it depends what your looking for, but, I dig my OR Aspects fr cold days, and my OR Cirques for warmer conditions.
Aspect:
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/or-gear/pants/soft-shells/aspect-pants-m-s.html

Cirque:
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/or-gear/pants/soft-shells/cirque-pants-m-s.html

They have several options in that relam of pant:
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/or-gear/pants.html?p=2

Whatever soft shells fit you best. Plenty of options, I actually picked the First Ascent Mountain Guide pants over the Patagonia or Arc'teryx comps.

Patagonia Mix Master pants.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MENS-PATAGONIA- ... vi-content


Mammut Extreme Hybrid pants:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mammut ... essed=true

Don't spend too much money to begin with. Beginner cramponing and racked screws can cause havoc with pants.

I really like my Patagonia Guide pants, but any true soft shell is great.

You will shred them with crampons and whatnot, but who cares? Learn to use a needle and thread, and/or Seam-Grip.

Pack a pair of rain pants too in case you get warm weather and you end up climbing dripping ice.

There's no need to spend over $200 on pants. I was fine last year in Ouray with an ancient hard shell over heavy tights. This year I picked up some REI soft shell pants on sale, but they're more for back-country skiing than ice climbing. Stretchy pants are nice, but "ice climbing" is mostly standing around, either setting up a TR anchor or belaying, so you don't need to worry about sweating. Anything warm and water-resistant will be fine.

I have the OR Aspects and I really like them. I had a pair of Schoeller softshell Arc'teryx pants that I loved...to death. The Aspects are about as beefy as the Schoeller was.

Like the others, I agree there is no need to spend a ton of money on ice climbing pants. I've been using a cheap pair of MTH shell pants I picked up for 80 bux. I wear a pair a patagonia caps underneath and I'm good to go. This has been my Lee Vining go to setup for years. Every time I kick a hole in my pants from errand walking with crampons, I don't shed a tear. I just reach for some repair tape.

Thanks for the great suggestions! I'm all for not spending zillions of $s if I'm going to be ripping them to shreds - I hadn't considered that possibility.