Meet the reviewer
Patagonia Women’s Chambeau Rock Pants: first impressions
The Patagonia Women’s Chambeau Rock Pants are an ultra-lightweight pair of climbing and hiking pants that don’t sacrifice performance for the sake of weight.
Designed with rock climbing in mind, the Chambeau Rock Pants have a high waistband and an articulated cut so that they are comfortable to wear with a harness, even for extended periods. The main fabric on the body of the trousers has a four-way stretch, so they don’t impede your movement. They also have a flat construction design, so there’s no additional chafing caused by the hems.
If you’re hoping for roomy pockets these don’t quite deliver, and the thumb pockets on the front and back are really aesthetic rather than functional.
• List price: £120 / €130 / $129
• Weight: 215g / 7.6oz
• Fit: Slim, available in US 0 to 22
• Colors: Light Plume Grey / Black / Lagoon Blue / Perennial Purple
• Material: 86% recycled polyester, 14% elastane with four-way stretch and a durable water repellent (DWR) finish
Patagonia is a known leader in transparency around its manufacturing practices, so it’s no surprise that most of the fabric is made using recycled materials, including 86% recycled polyester certified by Ocean Cycle. The other 14% is elastane fabric that is PFC free, i.e. made without fluorinated chemicals to ensure the trousers aren’t adding more harmful chemicals to the environment.
Patagonia Women’s Chambeau Rock Pants: in the field
These are marketed as rock climbing pants, and I had the opportunity to test them when rock climbing and hiking in a hot, lush alpine climate in the Fann Mountains, Tajikistan. The pants needed to be comfortable for all-day wear with big temperature fluctuations and not draw too much attention in a country where women wear traditional clothes, and locals aren’t used to westerners wearing skimpy or figure-hugging outdoor garments.
The Patagonia Chambeau Rock Pants are surprisingly comfortable trousers that don’t restrict you when ascending high steps or climbing in and out of 4WD vehicles, thanks to the four-way stretch and articulated pattern. The trousers are also abrasion resistant so didn’t develop holes in the usual ‘high wear’ areas such as in the seat or the knees, thanks to the dense weave of the fabric.
I wear a size 6 in Patagonia, which equates to a UK size 10, and find these feel true to size even if you have an active body type with more curves. I tested these in the lightest color and I did notice that the trouser material wasn’t as thick as I’d thought, meaning that the pale shade left me with a VPL, aka a visible panty line. It was a bit annoying having to be mindful of what underwear I had on!
I wore these trousers in temperatures ranging from 18–48°C / 64–118°F. They allowed my legs to breathe and they didn’t feel too sweaty, but I felt they best suited the alpine settings, with glacially formed lakes, scree, and direct sun overhead, as they gave coverage and protection from nicks and stones thanks to the narrow-tapered design.
Features wise, the Chambeau Rock Pants are a more minimalist design, and a lie-flat construction means there are no raised seams or hems so they can be comfortable worn under a harness without causing additional rubbing. This also means there’s less chafing when worn with a hip belt while carrying a heavy day pack or travel bag.
There are side pockets which can fit a few items, but these aren’t super roomy and the same could be said for the rear pockets. The most useful pocket is the secure, zippered right-thigh pocket that sits comfortably above the knee and below harness leg loops. This was the go-to pocket for my phone because it didn’t restrict my leg movement or feel uncomfortable when I sat down. The zipper on the pocket was only big enough for an iPhone Mini, though.
Ultralightweight, water-resistant and compatible with harness use, the Patagonia Women’s Chambeau Rock Pants are a great technical pair of lightweight hiking trousers. They can stretch and move through the mountains with you and really come into their own in environments where a softshell trouser could be too ‘heavyweight’, yet still provide enough protection and modesty in hot climates. Plus, as they’re Patagonia, their green credentials are particularly transparent, using Fairtrade-certified materials from factories that pay a fair wage and provide reassurance that these trousers will continue to last and be made in a sustainable way.
