The trend of “stretchy jeans” for men in climbing seems to be gaining traction ever since Outdoor Research introduced the Goldrush jeans a couple years ago. After testing out the Goldrush’s I was definitely sold on the concept of wearing jeans that have a blend of cotton and synthetic fibers — for comfort and for the stretch factor while climbing. After becoming sold on the Goldrush’s, I also got my hands on a pair of DU/ER’s Performance Denim, Relaxed Fit, After Dark to contrast and compare.
Retail: $129
DU/ER’s use polyester and lycra, blended with cotton, which results in a comfortable fit, and plenty of stretch for stemming while climbing. The Relaxed Fit pair I tried out definitely feels thin, and thus would probably be better for sport/gym/bouldering than burly trad climbing in chimneys and such. Places like Indian Creek would likely eat these stylish jeans up in no time.
Thus, I have to say these jeans are best suited for the urban environment, from a climbing gym to bar type situation. They are comfy though, and this pair is certainly not for the skinny jeans/hipster crowd. In DU/ER’s words, the Performance Denim in After Dark “feels spacious in the thigh and calves while still tapering slighting at the ankle for a clean and contemporary look.” In climber speak, and after wearing these for a couple months, this means you’re going to be comfortable, but the jeans taper enough that you can see your climbing shoes when pasting onto tiny footholds.
Overall, I liked these jeans a lot. They live up to the hype of “performance jeans” while still keeping a stylish look, and comfortable fit. Another solid option for the fellas when seeking out for lack of a better word, “stretchy jeans”.
-LM
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