RMI and Whittaker Mountaineering Gear Guides Mount McKinley Expedition | Page 25

Climbing Pants (Layer 3) Soft-shell climbing pants offer a wide range of versatility. You can wear them in combination with the base layer on colder days or alone on warmer days. Why Soft Shell Pants? The soft shell material breathes well and allows the sweat and heat generated during the climb to dissipate, while still offering some resistance to light wind and precipitation. These climbing pants are our main workhorse layer, often worn alone on the approach and with a baselayer on the upper mountain for added warmth. Depending on the model, soft shells come in varying thicknesses. If you are climbing when temperatures are generally higher, or you tend to run warm, aim for a lighter weight version. If you are climbing in the early season or find yourself always being the person wearing an extra layer, bring a pair made from a thicker material. Insulated Pants These pants are primarily worn around camp in the evenings or early in the morning when the temperatures are frigid. They are pulled off when you start climbing. It’s not uncommon for climbers to wear these insulated pants along with their other layers on summit day. A thinner insulating pant does the trick when used in combination with your other layers. Hard Shell Pants (Layer 4) A waterproof pant with 3/4 side zippers (sometimes called 7/8 or full side zips) are required for facilitating quick clothing adjustments over boots and crampons.