Vuori Ripstop Climber Pant Review: Go Beyond Hiking

The Vuori Ripstop Climber Pant delivers all-day comfort and abrasion resistance with a sleek, modern style — perfect for hiking, climbing, and casual wear.

What We Dig

What We Don’t

The Specs

The Verdict

The Vuori Ripstop Climber Pant seamlessly blends function and style. Their all-day comfort, mobility, and abrasion resistance makes them an excellent choice for hiking and climbing, while the slim fit and laid-back, West Coast style means you won’t look like a fish out of water wearing these around town.

In my opinion, the Ripstop Climber Pant’s versatility doubles its value. This isn’t a pair of hiking pants that only comes out of the closet when you’re headed for the trail — chances are they’ll quickly become your go-to pants every weekend.

These aren’t the cheapest pants on the market, but their value significantly exceeds the price tag. They’re a strong contender for the best hiking/climbing pants out there, and it’s always worth paying a little extra for long-lasting quality.

About Vuori

When Joe Kudla started Vuori in 2015, he set out to create a new line of activewear that delivered comfort and performance without sacrificing style.

He started working on clothing designs with a modern, athletic fit that looked great and performed even better, a welcome change from traditional activewear companies that didn’t feel fresh and modern.

An avid yoga enthusiast himself, Kudla also wanted to offer better men’s yoga products. Given the market was (and still is) dominated by women’s brands, Kudla aimed to deliver yoga apparel that was designed by men, for men.

Vuori has since expanded to women’s clothing, everyday wear and more, always staying true to Kudla’s original emphasis on comfort, performance, and style. You’ll find their classy apparel at major retailers like REI and Nordstrom, or you can visit their stores in Encinitas, Manhattan Beach, and San Francisco.

They really make great products and we have even picked Vuori Banks as the best overall travel shorts for men.

The Ripstop Climber Pant

As the name suggests, Vuori designed their Ripstop Climber Pant with rock climbers in mind.

The three-piece gusseted crotch offers a wide range of motion, improving mobility as you’re ascending cliffs and boulders.

When your legs inevitably brush up against the rugged rock, the two-way stretch, ripstop fabric and Teflon coating keeps your pants from shredding and staining.

The pants also feature two zippered pockets where you can stash your keys and wallet, because nobody wants to lose their car keys when they’re halfway up a rock wall.

Of course, the Vuori Ripstop Climber Pant isn’t just for climbers.

The same features that appeal to climbers make for excellent hiking pants, and the slim, modern fit looks great when you’re wearing them around town. In all three scenarios, the elastic waistband and drawstring ensure a snug but comfortable fit.

Related Read: Maximum Puff: Patagonia Macro Puff Jacket Review

Customer Reviews Of The Vuori Ripstop Climber Pants

I like to peruse the review boards before making a significant purchase, as you’ll sometimes find that a company’s marketing materials don’t always translate to reality. In this case, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the Vuori Ripstop Climber Pants are actually as comfortable and stylish as they sound.

Regardless of which retailer you purchase from, you’ll find rave reviews ranging hovering around four stars or higher. There’s a healthy dose of critical reviews out there, but most of them pertain to the fit and length rather than product quality.

Positive Reviews

“I think I finally found the pant I have been searching for all along,” says Alex Welton at Backcountry. “These are the best! Tapered leg, gusseted crotch, drawstring and button, soft material, little bit of stretch, very discrete zippers, [and] comfy as hell! I will probably be donating most of my other pants after buying these. I just reach for them instinctively day after day.”

“I was looking for some travel pants for a trip to China and it came down to these and the Patagonia Quandary pant,” says Eric Olofson at Backcountry. “[I] decided to go with these ones and I’m glad I did. They are really comfortable and breathable. I love the stretch waist and drawstring but that they also have the button and zippered fly. The modern, slim fit and narrower leg opening won me over. Get ’em…they rule!”

“These pants are fantastic for climbing,” says user D_The_Climber at REI. The material is tough yet breathable, and the design allows for a full range of motion. Great for all levels of climbing.”

“I’ve been searching for the perfect adventure, do-anything pant for years,” says Joe at Vuori. “I’ve found that many of the traditional outdoor brands look and feel too technical and look awkward for daily wear. On the flip side, many modern brands are too slim in the thigh and aren’t built for active humans. This pant has found the perfect balance — a modern fit with enough room for an athletic build and range of motion for any activity.”

“The Vuori Ripstop Climber Pant has quickly replaced all other pants I have purchased — including Rhône, Lulu, and North Face,” reports Jess D. at Vuori. “I wear these pants daily and have found the fit, look, style, and durability to be outstanding. I wear them on climbs, hikes, bikes…just haven’t worn them to church yet!

“Not to mention, Vuori is an unassuming brand for true outdoor and adventure lovers,” continues Jess. “I wear Vuori because it is the antithesis of pretentious, luxe, and ‘fabletics’. I don’t need that in my life. I need function, style, class and a brand that doesn’t distance me or distract me from my friends, fellow climbers, and trail junkies.”

Critical Reviews

“Like most other negative reviews, they look super great, exactly what I was looking for, but they have faded after being used only a few times,” reports Nick at REI. “For the price tag that should not be an issue.”

“Still stiff,” reports Baily H. at Vuori. “They are not for people with big calves, [and] could use a zipper on the ankle”

“The only thing I would change…add [a] symmetrical leg pocket and have a zipper on the left back pocket as well,” says Dimitri at REI. “Otherwise perfect traveling and all-purpose pants.”

“Very comfortable, but they do run small,” says Joe N. at Vuori.

“Very long,” comments Helen S. at Vuori. “[It] would be nice to have length options.”

Community Consensus

Here’s the bottom line: if style is important, you’re a fan of slim-fit clothing, and you’re looking for a premium, comfortable pair of adventure-ready pants that you can wear from the airport to the backcountry, you’re gonna love Vuori’s Ripstop Climber Pant.

From hiking and climbing to running errands around town and lounging on your couch, these pants can do it all. Some reviewers even reported wearing them to work, making the pants even more versatile and useful.

The downside to the pant’s slim fit is that they run a little small, though you can avoid an uncomfortably-snug fit by simply sizing up.

Vuori actually recommends going up a size for customers who prefer a more relaxed fit.

The fixed 32-inch inseam can be problematic on both sides of the spectrum. Tall people may find themselves in a pair of high-waters, while folks with shorter legs may need to roll up the bottoms. If your inseam is significantly above or below 32 inches, you may want to go with another brand that offers multiple inseam lengths.

Our Recommendation: Buy ’em

Vuori apparel is “built to move in, styled for life,” and the company’s Ripstop Climber Pant is no exception.

They perform exceptionally well in the field for hikers, climbers, and campers, and they’re stylish (and comfortable) enough to add to your everyday-wear arsenal.

They’re priced at the higher end of the market for hiking/climbing pants, but the price is precisely in line with other premium pants from prAna, KUHL, and Patagonia. You may find cheaper hiking/climbing pants elsewhere, but considering the wide-ranging versatility of the Ripstop Climber Pant, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better value.

More Top-Notch Gear

Get epic travel ideas delivered to your inbox with Weekend Wanderer, our newsletter inspiring more than 10,000 readers every week.