Rab Ascendor Light Pants

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For Alpine mountain use in warm temperatures the Ascendor Light Pant is engineered with a lightweight Matrix double weave and a slim fitting stretch waist band. This piece is well suited to summer climbing and long hot multi-pitch routes.

Rab says:

The new Ascendor Light Pant delivers the cut, the movement and the toughness to keep you in control at the rockface. The slim, athletic fit improves moisture movement, while enabling you to place your feet with accuracy and confidence. As our lightest double-weave fabric, the 133gsm Matrix™ softshell is also optimised for comfort on challenging ascents. The lofted internal fibres wick moisture fast and the tightly woven external structure provides excellent wind, abrasion and weather protection, as well as rapid evaporation of transferred moisture. In addition to articulated knees and a diamond gusset, the fabric also offers generous four-way stretch for unimpeded climbing mobility.

With a reinforced hem, robust kick patches and twin-needle seams, this is the ideal partner for tough summer climbs and long, hot multi-pitch routes.

Our Verdict

Rab’s Ascendor Light Pants use lightweight Matrix softshell fabric which has a good amount of stretch to provide comfort. The pants are also shaped around the knees to give you a more comfortable fit, this is really beneficial when going uphill, climbing or scrambling. There are reinforced patches on the inside of the ankles to add durability.

The three pockets are all a useful size and they all have zip closures, something you don’t always get on outdoor trousers. These provide great durability for such lightweight pants and when this is combined with the breathability and quick drying nature of the stretchy material they are great all-round pants. They have worked well for all activities we’ve used them for, from fast packing to climbing.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Part elasticated waist with flat wicking elastic next to skin
• Double snap waist closure
• YKK Zip Fly
• 2 YKK zipped mesh lined hand pockets
• 1 YKK zipped rear pocket
• Diamond gusset at crotch
• Knee articulation for ease of movement
• Reinforced back hem
• Twin needle top stitching on critical seams

Specifications

• Small (30″ waist) weighs: 272g
• Medium (32″ waist) weighs: 284g
• Large (34″ waist) weighs: 294g
• XLarge (36″ waist) weighs: 308g
• Fit: Regular

Material

• Main: Double weave stretch/ 95% polyamide 5% elastane/ Matrix/ 133 gsm
• Lining – Kicker patch: 88% polyamide 12% elastane/ 182 gsm