Walking Trousers

Montane Women’s On-Sight Pants | Review

Teaming up with the British Mountaineering Council, Montane are delivering some excellent gear for people who live and breathe and rock climbing

Why We Chose The Montane Women’s On-Sight Pants: Versatile, comfortable, practical and part of a good, environmentally-friendly cause

When we first heard that Montane were teaming up with the BMC to produce a climbing kit collection, we were sold on the pairing immediately. It was the kind of collaboration that made sense in that way only the best collaborations do. When we discovered that 5% of sales from the collaboration would be going towards supporting ‘The Climate Project’ – a scheme which helps to recover English moors through peat bog restoration – we were even more sold on it.

The Montane On-Sight pants are part of that collaboration with the BMC and, well, they’re absolutely superb quite frankly. Tough enough to handle the climbing wall rough stuff but also incredibly comfortable and wearable, including them in this year’s Outdoor 100 just made sense.

Who Are The Montane On-Sight Pants For?

This version of the Montane On-Sight Pants is designed specifically for women, although it’s worth pointing out that there’s also a men’s version of the product.

It’s an item that’s been put together with climbers very much in mind. Whether you’re an urban-based boulderer who spends most of your time kicking it on the indoor walls or you live in a national park (i.e. Dartmoor), and are out climbing on real rock every chance you get, you’re bound to enjoy what these comfortable, durable, trousers bring to your activity-focused lifestyle.

Materials

The On-Sight Pants are made from 97% organic cotton, and 3% elastane. The elastane here provides that little bit of stretch comfort, something any climber worth their salt will appreciate as it aids freedom of movement when making those awkward leg movements on the wall.

These trousers also come with a Thermo Lite stretch waistband.

The articulated knees improve freedom of movement. Photo: Mike Brindley

The adjustable hems mean you can optimise the fit nicely. Photo: Mike Brindley

Part of the Montane x BMC collaboration. Photo: Mike Brindley

Features

When you’re spending long summer days at an outdoor bouldering spot, you want your clothes to protect you from the harmful effects of the sun. Thankfully, the On-Sight Pants from Montane have a sun protection score of UPF 50+.

As we’ve already mentioned, climbers like freedom of movement in their clothing. With its articulated knees and gusseted crotch, as well as its use of elastane, the On-Site pants definitely deliver on that front.

At the top of the trousers, there’s a deep, stretch, wicking waistband. Meanwhile, down near the ankles, there’s a hem adjustment feature which can be used to optimise the fit prior to tackling a particularly problematic problem.

“Peat bog restoration will not only help our planet combat climate change, it will also help to reduce wildfire risk, reduce flooding risk, and protect endangered wildlife”

No discussion of the On-Sight Pants would be complete without discussing its pockets. There’s one large rear pocket at the back, two deep hand pockets at the front, and a specialist climbing brush pocket, which means you can keep your oversized toothbrush for rocks primed and ready at all times. All these pocket options mean you’ll never again have to leave your snack bars down on the ground, where your so-called friends can get at them.

If they’re going to last longer than one climbing mission, pants like these need to be tough and durable. The On-Sight’s twin-stitched in-seam construction certainly helps matters in this regard.

The On-Sight Pants have a deep, stretch, wicking waistband. Photo: Mike Brindley

Helping The Access and Conservation Trust

The Access and Conservation Trust (ACT) is BMC’s charity. 5% of sales from the Montane and BMC collaboration in the UK will be going to support ACT’s ‘Climate Project’, an endeavour that’s helping to recover the English moors through peat bog restoration.

Why is that a good thing exactly? Well, peat bog restoration will not only help our planet combat climate change, it will also help to reduce wildfire risk, reduce flooding risk, and protect endangered wildlife. Pretty cool, right?

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a versatile pair of outdoor trousers that’ll do the job for you at the crag, as well as the long walk to and from it, look no further than the On-Sight Pants. There are, of course, plenty of good outdoor trousers out there but these are some of the best climbing-focused ones we’ve come across. £75 for a pair of trousers isn’t pocket change, of course, but the sheer amount of use you’ll get from these makes them well spent in our eyes.