Psiphon AR Pant
Our new partnership with Arc’teryx
has meant that we’ve had a good look at the range of kit they offer and the
chance to test a number of great pieces.
I’ve been using a good
spread of kit this winter from the Arc’teryx Mountain Guide Pro Shell jacket,
their lightweight Nuclei and Atom Core Loft jackets, the new super light Alpha 45 back pack, gloves
and the R320a fully adjustable harness.
I’ve also put the Psiphon
AR Pant through its paces over the past 6 weeks of winter climbing.
Fabric
The Psiphon AR Pant is a
Burly™ Double Weave softshell fabric. The softshell fabric itself has a four way
stretch weave combining the strength and durability of a nylon face fabric with
the comfort and moisture wicking performance of a microfiber polyester fabric. The
DWR finish that Arc’teryx gives the pant adds a water repellent finish that’s
made the pant super versatile in all my icefall and mixed climbing activities
this winter, I’ve hardly worn my Pro Shell over trousers ice climbing this
winter even in heavy snow or when climbing a wet pitch on the ice! I’ve stayed
warm and dry the whole time. (I’ve been wearing the Arc’teryx Phase AR moisture
wicking base layer thermal bottoms underneath the Psiphon AR Pant for extra
warmth and comfort on the colder days – the combinations great, even during high
activity on the longer treks to the remoter icefall's)
Design
It’s a simple but very tailored
design with two low
profile zippered hand pockets and a larger thigh pocket which is easily
accessible and useful for carrying route topo’s! The pants have an interesting
waist belt and buckle closure with the buckle hooking over the desired loop for the best comfort and fit. Again simple and works well feeling both secure, flush
fitting and comfortable under the harness waist belt. Clients have also noticed
how tapered and neat the Psiphon AR Pant looks from the knee down. This
definitely helps ice climbing especially on the steeper pitches when you need
to be able to see your front points for that extra security. I haven’t touched
the trousers once with my crampon points even post holing in the deep snow
getting to the base of some of the more remoter icefalls. A ¼ length ankle zip and gusset helps
both with tightening up your boots after a long approach and before the steeper
ice climbing and also for a more comfortable fit over touring ski boots for those
powder days when the ice is bombed out!
Like I said for me winter climbing, layered with the
Phase AR mid-weight thermal bottoms, the Psiphon AR Pant is a winner - a super
comfortable soft stretch fabric, warm, breathable and repels most of what the
winter has thrown at me so far. For the odd longer Alpine winter route which requires that
extra commitment or working in the foulest of weather, I’ll just thrown over the
top my pair of Alpha AR Gore Tex Pro shell Pants – Job done!
Safe climbing
Ade
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