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Shorts or Pants for Climbing Trad?

Original Post
Daniel Melnyk · · Covina · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 50

I don’t think I have ever seen anyone climb trad in shorts and I never have. Anyone out there actually climb trad in shorts?

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241

Sum say you cain’t!

Austin Goff · · Winston-Salem, NC · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 118

All the time... Summer in the Southeast. 

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241
John Wilder wrote:

And if you're climbing anything but face, the rock will probably do some damage too.

Last week I cut my leg up on a sport route and had no problems in shorts on a crack. Funny old world, I guess.

Pants will make sense for more situations but you can climb many routes in many styles in the short pants. Exercise your judgment on a case-by-case basis, it’s not that big a deal.
Brie Abram · · Celo, NC · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 493

I've spent years climbing trad in shorts in North Carolina. But since moving to NC a few years ago and starting to climb every week, I decided that if it's too hot to wear pants, then it's too hot to be climbing in that particular locale.

mbk · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

I don’t even wear shorts in the gym.

Edited to add/clarify: this is because I wear pants instead.

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241

Do you wear shorts under your pants?

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115

If it is warm out, I wear shorts. I’d rather bleed than sweat.

An exception is made for blue-collar wide climbing. But I don’t find myself doing much of that. And shorts + knee pads is always a viable (and cooler than pants) option.

Andrew Seymour · · Folsom, CA · Joined Jun 2016 · Points: 0

I wear shorts all the time in Tahoe during summer. I don't notice a big difference in how banged up I get vs pants.

Jeff G · · Colorado · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,098

I almost always wear shorts in the warmer weather

Stuart Ritchie · · Aurora, CO · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 1,725

I must say that this is perhaps the most ridiculous question I've seen yet on here, and I've been on for a very long time.

Max Supertramp · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 95

banana bender

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Daniel Melnyk wrote: I don’t think I have ever seen anyone climb trad in shorts and I never have. Anyone out there actually climb trad in shorts?

Almost always if conditions warrant and the style of climbing allows.

Jonny 5 · · Squamish BC · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 1,220

I wear shorts in Squamish... 

Buck Rio · · MN · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 16

I usually wear pants if I have to do even a little bush-wacking, because I am extremely allergic to uroshiol oil (poison Ivy). But hey, wear what you want, not what you see other people wearing.

Gilman Coryell · · Mount Vernon, ME · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 65

Wool knickers

M guzzy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2018 · Points: 0

The old school Trad of Trad climbing wear......

Long=painters paints
short=Chounaird Stand-up shorts
Stylish Layering=Chounaird Stand-up shorts over polypro long underwear

Suburban Roadside · · Abovetraffic on Hudson · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 2,419
Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492
Stu Ritchie wrote: I must say that this is perhaps the most ridiculous question I've seen yet on here, and I've been on for a very long time.

I accidentally packed my climbing rope in a bag with my shorts. I realized my error and unpacked as soon as I got home. I can't see any damage on the rope. Is it still safe?  Should I call Petzl about this? A friend told me there could be invisible damage, so now I'm afraid to climb on it.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
Gunkiemike wrote:

I accidentally packed my climbing rope in a bag with my shorts. I realized my error and unpacked as soon as I got home. I can't see any damage on the rope. Is it still safe?  Should I call Petzl about this? A friend told me there could be invisible damage, so now I'm afraid to climb on it.

As long as your shorts weren't in direct sunlight or exposed to battery acid, your rope should be fine.

If your shorts were exposed to battery acid, please consult an urologist, with all haste.
Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374
Max Supertramp wrote: banana bender

Just make sure y'all packs out the peel after yer banana gets eatin, eh? 

Best, OLH
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Trad Climbing
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