ProView – HIMALI Men’s Equilibrium Stretch Pant

Everyone needs a pair of go-to pants: ones you grab without thought in the morning before heading out to the crag; ones you pull on without even checking the weather forecast; ones that you know are going to fit well, even if your waist line has changed a bit.

HIMALI has provided us with the Equilibrium Stretch Pants and I was able to test these out for the last month to see how they shape up against my other go-to pants while I climbed around home in Moab and beyond.

Purpose & Performance

The Equilibrium Stretch Pants are designed to be active pants that shine while rock climbing. They are incredibly stretchy, which means no matter what style of climbing you prefer, these pants are going to move with you and not limit your flexibility or vision.

The material is a Polyester/Spandex blend that is surprisingly durable. I was quite skeptical when I first saw these pants, as sandstone crack climbing is not the easiest on fabric. Overall, the fabric held up amazingly well outside of one point. HIMALI put a hidden zippered pocket on the right thigh. So hidden I did not even know it was there until the zipper ripped apart while I was climbing an offwidth. The zipper survived and still works, but that area of extra material is a definite wear point and has already ripped. I am sure that area will be why I will need to to repair or retire these pants. I would much prefer there be no thigh pocket; though it is big enough for a phone or an energy bar which is nice when you are going light and fast on some multipitch climbs.

These pants are quite breathable and incredibly quick drying. This was a noticeable benefit while climbing during the winter here in Moab. You cannot help but sweat when you are hiking up steep talus approaches but when you get to the base of the wall you tend to lose a lot of heat as your sweat soaked clothes start working against you. My typical move is to hike in something different than what I plan on climbing in, especially if it is a shady winter climbing day. These pants allowed me to forgo the change of clothes as the material dried very quickly, often leaving you never really feeling sweaty during the approach. The quick drying aspect was nice, too, as I wore these pants almost every single day. I was able to pull them out of the washer and hang-dry them outside very fast. This is an awesome feature for you traveling dirtbags.

Fit & Comfort

The waistband is probably my overall favorite part of these pants. It is wide and soft and is next to unnoticeable under a harness. I do not think I have come across a more comfortable waistband for climbing. It has the right amount of tension that the pants stay put without squeezing the life out of you. There is an internal draw string, too, if you need a bit more to keep them up.

I followed the size chart that Himali has on their website and found, while using a tape measure, that it was spot on. An extra large fit my waist and inseam nicely at 6’2” and 225 lbs.

You might find the inseam to be a bit shorter than what you are used to or are expecting. This is a feature, not a bug, but it is not really clear in the product description on the website. This shorter length (a measured 31” inseam for the XL) helps keep the pants from covering your feet while climbing, which is nice, but I feel the look is a bit too high-water and draws from the style. I think a more standard inseam would not be a bother while climbing because they are so stretchy.

The overall style and look of these pants was off, too, for my taste. I was expecting a more slim-fitted jogger-esque fit based on the product photos. In reality, there really is no shape to them. The best way I can describe the style is imagine wearing poorly fitted and cheap dress pants. The fabric creates a straight line from the hip straight down to the ankles and overall, is not very flattering. I would prefer these pants to have a more tapered cut down to the ankle, like traditional slim fit pants. Of course, while you are climbing, the harness breaks up those lines and the style is unnoticeable. I do feel that any color other than black will improve the look of the pants. In its current shape and style, it is unlikely I would buy these pants again.

Who is this product for and what sets it apart?

The Equilibrium Stretch Pants are an excellent high-stretch active pants. They are designed for climbing and under a harness they are well thought out and incredibly comfortable. Pockets are zippered and accessible while wearing a harness and the waist band does not fight with the harness. Not a climber? These may not be the best looking or best designed pants for you. However, they would equally excel at high aerobic activity where you need long pants that move with you, breathe well and shed moisture incredibly fast.

Friendliness to the Earth

Himali boasts that these pants use BlueSign approved materials and are produced in a FairTrade Certified Factory.

BlueSign is quite common these days and can be found throughout the outdoor industry. BlueSign is synonymous with an eco-friendly production process. This process ensures that the chemicals used in the manufacturing process are measured, eliminated or mitigated in order to help protect both the environment and those working in the facilities.

A FairTrade Certified Factory is not a designation I have seen often. FairTrade Certified, sure, but a whole factory? That seems new and uncommon. A little digging shows that FairTrade Certified, the organization behind the certification, started their Factory certification designation in 2010 with a major improvement in 2023. Through their supplier search, I found 38 facilities globally that were Factory Certified in the “textiles or materials” category (of the likely thousands of facilities globally). Needless to say, this is not common to see. These facilities must follow production standards that apply to categories like “fundamental rights at work”, “conditions of employment for workers” and “occupational health and safety”. We as consumers can assume that facilities that are certified are being held accountable to their employees when it comes to their work environment and hopefully reducing the exploitative nature that often comes from manufacturing facilities around the globe.

The Final Word

The HIMALI Equilibrium Stretch Pants are a great product for those looking for an unencumbered and unrestricted climbing experience without sacrificing comfort.

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