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Choisir son vêtement d'escalade homme, de la veste au short
On the sixth pitch, the sun has left the rock face and the wind is picking up in the dihedral: that's often when you regret leaving your jacket at the base of the route. Good men's climbing clothing is designed for the whole day, from the approach to the rappel, under your harness and helmet. Ours are made from recycled knits, and can be repaired when the rock wears them down.
L’s essentials
- A stretch softshell as a climbing jacket, a pocket windbreaker, a membrane jacket when the weather is uncertain.
- 4-way stretch pants, with or without reinforcements depending on the rock; shorts for the approach and the gym.
- Raised pockets and zips that open from the bottom, accessible with a harness buckled on.
- Hoods that fit under a helmet, long UPF 50+ sleeves for sunny rock faces.
- A 5-year commercial warranty, in addition to the 2-year legal warranty of conformity, and a repair service.
Which men's climbing jacket should you choose for the weather?
The jacket is the most sought-after piece of men's climbing clothing, and the one people choose most poorly. A climbing jacket needs to block the wind without restricting your shoulder when you raise your arm above your head. Three types share the job.
The softshell, the default climbing jacket
The men's L'UKPIK weighs 306 g and is made from 180 g/m² recycled polyamide and elastane fabric that stretches in every direction. An underarm gusset frees up the armhole, snug cuffs keep air out at the wrists, and its fluorine-free water-repellent finish handles a light drizzle. For cold days at the crag, the TENGMALM, brushed on the inside in a 240 g/m² fabric, keeps you warmer at the cost of 480 g.
The pocket windbreaker
The NAGALAKA weighs 180 g and is made from 78 g/m² recycled polyester, woven and dyed in Isère. It packs into its own pocket and disappears into a corner of your big-wall pack. It's the layer you pull on at a belay when the wind picks up, then take off as soon as the next pitch is back in the sun. It protects against wind and a brief shower, not prolonged rain.
The membrane jacket for big-wall climbing
When the day is long and the weather uncertain, the EVE jacket is your insurance. Its Sympatex membrane offers 20,000 mm water column and a RET below 8; its seams are sealed, its two Napoleon pockets stay accessible with a harness on, and its large hood adjusts over a helmet at three points. The trade-off: it breathes less than a softshell, so save it for the rough weather. Our article on softshell, hardshell, or windbreaker compares the three types, and all our garments are in men's technical jackets.
Pants or shorts: men's climbing clothing for your legs
For the lower body, everything starts with a 4-way stretch knit made from recycled polyamide and elastane, 79% and 21% respectively, in our RIOUPOU and PTARMIGAN2 pants and shorts. What differs from one model to another is the protection against rock and the length.
Reinforced or unreinforced pants
The men's PTARMIGAN2 weighs 290 g and uses 200 g/m² ripstop on the seat, thighs and knees: these are the areas that rub against slabs, under a harness and in chimneys. Its knit fabric also has a UPF 50+ rating. The RIOUPOU, weighing 282 g, uses the same 175 g/m² knit fabric without reinforcements: more understated, it's just as suitable for the crag as for the city, but will wear out faster on abrasive granite. Our recommendation: RIOUPOU for limestone and the gym, PTARMIGAN2 for trad climbing.
Shorts for the approach and the gym
The men's MILVUS, weighing 146 g, has a built-in liner short that prevents chafing on a long approach hike; its pockets are still usable with a harness on. The PERNICE SH 2, weighing 170 g and made from 145 g/m² knit fabric, has loops for adjusting the fit under a harness. The RIOUPOU shorts, weighing 183 g, and PTARMIGAN2 shorts, weighing 202 g, use the same knit fabrics as the pants. They're all included in our men's shorts for approach hikes and climbing.
Under the harness and helmet: the details that matter
Men's climbing clothing is worn under a harness and often under a helmet. These two constraints rule out many hiking garments.
Warm layers compatible with a harness
On the SISKIN fleece, weighing 355 g and made from 185 g/m² grid knit, the two zippered pockets are positioned high at the waist to stay accessible with a tight harness belt. The CORUJA hybrid puffer, insulated with 80 g/m² wadding on the body and stretch panels at the sides, opens from the bottom with its two-way zipper: you can free the belay loop without opening the whole jacket. At the belay station, it keeps your core warm, while its stretch sides let heat escape when you start climbing again.
Hoods and base layers
The hood of the SISKIN, like that of the GANGA long-sleeve, fits under a helmet without bunching up. The GANGA, made from 110 g/m² UPF 50+ knit fabric, protects your arms and neck on an exposed rock face, with thumb loops that keep the sleeves in place. A useful reminder: the UPF rating is measured on dry fabric and decreases when the knit is soaked. In cool weather, the 180 g TYTO in upcycled wool keeps you warm even when damp: it's the men's climbing top to wear next to your skin from autumn onward.
Materials, assembly, and repairs
Our men's climbing clothing is made with recycled ECONYL polyamide, recycled polyester, and upcycled wool; the elastane that provides stretch is not recycled. LAssembly takes place in Hungary for the UKPIK, TENGMALM, SISKIN, NAGALAKA, and PERNICE SH 2; in Poland for the EVE and CORUJA; and in Lithuania for the GANGA, TYTO, and RIOUPOU and PTARMIGAN2 shorts. LFabric origins are listed separately: the fabric for the UKPIK is woven in Spain, and the fabric for the EVE in Ardèche. Our clothing contains no PFAS, and has done so since the brand was founded in 2018. Every item comes with a 5-year commercial warranty, in addition to the 2-year legal guarantee of conformity, and our repair service for clothing worn out on the rock can replace a zipper or repair a damaged knee. For women's and unisex pieces, see our full range of climbing and crag clothing.
Frequently asked questions about men's climbing clothing
Do you need a waterproof jacket for multipitch climbing?
On a two- or three-pitch route with an easy walk-off, a windbreaker is enough. Beyond that, or in the mountains, a membrane jacket like the EVE keeps you from getting soaked if a storm rolls in before the summit. It's heavier than a softshell, but men's climbing clothing for multipitch routes needs to prepare for the worst: better to carry it in your pack for nothing than wish you had it.
Sweatshirt or fleece at the foot of the crag?
A cotton sweatshirt keeps you warm at the start, but it holds onto sweat and dries slowly. A grid fleece like the SISKIN or PHANTOM HOODIE, made from recycled polyester, insulates when you're stopped and lets moisture escape when you start climbing again: it's the most useful men's climbing layer at the foot of the crag. If a sweatshirt is your favorite piece for after the session, save it for the drive back to the car.
What men's climbing clothing should you wear at the crag in winter?
In winter, we climb on sunny crags, but belay in the shade. The go-to outfit: an upcycled wool TYTO next to the skin, a grid fleece, a TENGMALM or UKPIK softshell over it, and stretch trousers. A down jacket to put on at the belay makes all the difference. Add a GEBO beanie; its fleece band fits under a helmet.
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