As much as I enjoy the MK Alpine pants, their inconsistent sizing bugs me to no end.

I've tried the Carhartts and they seems really stiff to me even after numerous washings/wear/etc.

Looking for pants that can handle a good beating while tromping around in the field/bouldering/camping/etc that will have a reinforced stitching/knees/seat with thigh pockets.

I've looked into the "tactical" style pants from 5.11/Woolrich/TAD/Crye/Beyond and they appear more LE/Military oriented.

Cabelas/BP/REI have offerings too although would prefer solid colors.

Suggestions?

Well, the 5.11s work pretty well. The material is nothing real special (nylon/cotton blend) but the make is well thought out. Also the material is treated with dwr so they bead off random moisture and spills.

I've got a pair of the Beyond Fleece pants which are pricy but have been worth every penny. The schoeller wb 400 material is water resistant, wind resistant and and stretchy so they dont bind when climbing steep slopes. The thigh pockets are too small though. Otherwise about the perfect mountain pant. I'll be sad when they are no longer patchable. However, I don't see much listed on their website which doesn't look like a good sign to me.

Check out Arborwear:

http://www.arborwear.com/products/pants

I've heard good things about their tech pants. They're made to take abuse and I know several climbers who use 'em.

Eric

Thanks fellas....EricM, I'll look into the Arborwear stuff.

OH, the 5.11 are nice looking just a bit too flashy if you know what I mean...

The search continues....

+1 on the arborwear.

Another nod to Arborwear.

Mil Surplus BDU pants?

I like the Riggs work pants by Wrangler. http://www.wrangler.com/store/WRG_WESTERN_STORE_US/en_US/style/3w060.html You can get them in brown, green and a dark khaki. The pockets close with snaps so there is no annoying velcro. they have double knees to.

I like the lighter weight Carhartts and have a seamstress throw another layer of material over the knee area.

I agree the heavy weight Carhartt are too much.

Brian

Arbor wear is great tough gear.
Shrinks at least on size.

get some tru-spec 24-7 pants in the poly cotton blend. they are a similar material to the 5-11 tactical pants, but offer more of a traditional fit. the back pockets while having a velcro flap are in a more traditional location, instead of the 5.11 ultra deep rear pockets which cause your wallet to sit against your back thigh and be extremely uncomfortable while riding in a vehicle. they don't have that rope thing that can get hung up on things. the 24-7's also have 2 pockets in each leg cargo pocket designed for AR -15 mags, BUT they work PERFECT for sliping in an LCP, TCP or kahr p380, its like a built in holster and the way it rides you forget its there, I could also hang upside down by my feet and the gun would stay put. they are pretty much the only pant I wear nowadays, I wear coyote tan, dark enough to look clean but light enough to still look nice even going on a night on the town with the wife. I love the pants, the poly/cotton blend dries quickly, stains wash out, breaths well so I don't get baboon azz, and wears like iron. never actually wore any of them out, they just fade and get dingy looking so I put them at the bottom of the stack. lately I enjoy wearing them so much I even wear them when I hunt, despite them not being camo, oh well.

Arborwear in a heartbeat.

Thanks fellas!

I will check into the AW pants this weekend and report back!

My Father-in-Law swears by the Firehose pants sold through Duluth Trading. He wears them on bird hunts in SD, elk hunts in CO, deer hunts in AL, and many places between each year. I've yet to get a pair to try, but we just came back from a trip to MI where he was raving about how tough and comfortable they were and he recommended I get a pair.

Any more info with the Tech pants yet?

My vote is Railriders. I've had extremely good luck with the Rock Jeans which were modeled after the Carhartt double-front pants. I also like the Weather Pants/Extreme Adventure Pants for backpacking, etc.. So far, all of their products I have tried have been bombproof.

My favorite are Kuhl (www.kuhl.com). I've got a couple pairs of the crag canvas. They are rugged, articulated perfectly, fit well & they all fit the same.