9 Best Climbing Pants For Women In 2023

Patagonia is known for its high-quality clothing, and the Altvia Alpine Pants are no different.

This pair of pants is made from polyester and spandex - a lightweight fabric mix that gives you an excellent range of motion. The panels on the bottom, knees, and inner calves are reinforced with tough fabric to protect from tears from the inevitable scratching against sharp rocks.

The Altvia is harness-friendly with a waistband and belt that don’t dig into your skin. The pockets are zippered, flat, and easily accessible even when wearing a harness.

A high-quality, streamlined design comes with a comparable price tag, but the cost is the only drawback. In this case, you get what you pay for. Patagonia’s Altiva Alpine Pants stand out as the best all-around climbing pants for women above and below the treeline.

Super lightweight and breathable - the Mountain Hardwear Women’s Dynama/2 climbing pants are also your every day, everywhere pants. The Dynama/2 are odor-resistant, quick drying, and have a UPF rating of 50+ to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

The fit and feel of these pants are delightful, and there’s no excess fabric bunching around the ankles. The construction and fabric enhance your range of motion and help you try all the difficult moves.

The pockets feel too delicate to hold even small items and could be better reinforced to prevent sagging. But that aside, the Mountain Hardwear Women’s Dynama/2 Ankle pants are hands down the most comfortable rock climbing pants for female climbers.

Although the Columbia Women’s Saturday Trail pants are meant to be hiking pants, they double up as good climbing pants too. They are comfortable, and stretchy and protect you from the rain and the sun. Their Omni-Shield treatment keeps you dry and sweat-free even when climbing outdoors.

The Saturday Trail pants are available in various sizes from size 2 to 24w and come in three inseam options. The sizing and fit can be a little tricky though, so make sure your online order has a free returns/shipping policy.

Everything considered the Columbia Women’s Saturday Trail Pants are good 3-season climbing pants and the best budget climbing pants for women.

The Outdoor Research Women’s Cirque II pants are warm, weather-resistant yet breathable. They have reinforced scuff guards to protect from crampon punctures or other damage. A bootcut leg style and gusseted ankle zippers fit easily over mountaineering boots.

The Women’s Cirque II pants are specifically tailored for women. The movement-mirroring fabric is stretchy enough for those tricky moves but still fits snugly enough to hug your curves. However, climbers with smaller waists might still find them a little large despite the adjustable waistband tabs.

The pockets are water-resistant and the zippered thigh pocket is accessible when wearing a harness. All these features at this price make the OR Women’s Cirque II pants the best mountaineering or ice climbing pants for women.

From bouldering to multi-pitch to big wall climbing - the Cotopaxi Baja Pants are an excellent choice. You can even wear them outside the crag or when you travel! The soft four-way stretch fabric gives them superb flexibility for all those reachy moves. The twill backing makes them extremely durable.

The concealed security pocket has a zipper and can come in handy to stash your valuables when you’re traveling. These pants are not very warm though, so use them in mild to hot temperatures.

The only downside here is the sizing which runs about one size large. Despite these minor drawbacks, Cotopaxi Baja Pants are the best outdoor climbing pants for women.

The things I love about these 3RD Rock Women’s Leggings are their comfort, their softness, and that they’re made with love. These durable leggings are my favorite pants to wear at indoor climbing gyms. Flat seams, a gusseted crotch, and an elastic-free waistband make 3RD Rock leggings comfortable and flexible while also being soft against the skin.

The high waist supports and enhances your curves as you move smoothly on the wall. The leggings have a neat little pocket near the ankle for your keys or cards but it’s too small for anything else. Some women might find the 3RD Rock Women’s Leggings a bit warm. However, that doesn’t seem to be a problem for most when climbing indoors, no matter the season.

To top it all, these climbing leggings are made from recycled fishing nets and carpets. They are sturdy, even on plastic holds, which makes them the perfect women’s climbing pants for the gym.

The Mammut Crashiano Women’s Tights are made for climbers, and it shows. This pair of pants is breathable and moisture-wicking - which are important features for climbing clothing. It is also durable enough to wear at the crag.

The seamless stitching and wide elastic waistband make them very comfortable even with a harness on. The fit is perfect and the silhouette flatters your figure well.

The Mammut Crashiano does not have any pockets. For someone who needs to tuck away their phone or keys when climbing, the lack of pockets can be a big drawback. Pockets aside, there is nothing to fault in this awesome pair of climbing tights for women.

Black Diamond is one of the best names in the field when it comes to climbing gear and clothing, and for good reason. The BD Women’s Technician Shorts have everything a pair of climbing shorts needs.

The Technician shorts made from a nylon and elastane blend material are comfy, lightweight, and durable. The shorts come just above the knee which gives good freedom of movement. The well-designed pockets are easy to use even when you’re wearing a harness, and are roomy enough to hold a phone and other essentials safely.

I had to look closely to find any drawbacks to these shorts. Other than the sizing running slightly large, I found nothing to complain about. Be it for the gym or for outdoor climbing, these Black Diamond Technician Shorts are fantastic and are absolutely the best women’s climbing shorts.

The Gaia Unisex Super Stretch Eco Jeans are another superstar from 3RD Rock. Made from Eco Morph denim that offers a 4-way stretch and insane durability, these jeans are perfect for climbing. With looser thighs and tapered ankles, the jeans also have an elastic waistband. This lets you commit to the moves without worrying about your clothing restricting your movement.

The Gaia Jeans also score well with their functional pockets which can accommodate a large phone with ease. As always, 3RD Rock puts sustainability first - from sourcing their material to the Eco Green washing system they use to wash the denim.

The quality and comfort of these climbing jeans are excellent, but most women will need to size down for a better fit. For eco-friendly climbing jeans that don’t restrict your movement, the 3RD Rock Gaia Jeans are the best on the market.