Initially, when I was on the search for well made, protective, and feature-rich riding gear, I bought some men’s Klim gear. I was willing to sacrifice fit for function, waterproofing, and protection. This was my only real option for riding gear for myself as a woman. Almost immediately after I invested in this riding gear, Klim released the Altitude pant and jacket for women. I was thrilled. It’s already hard to look like a pretty little lady in riding gear, and having men’s gear definitely didn’t help that situation. I immediately got rid of my men’s jacket and pants and got the Altitude jacket and pants.
The Altitude pants are the perfect mate for the Altitude jacket, keeping you protected from the elements and falls while staying comfortable. I truly could not believe how comfortable the Altitude pants were on our recent trip to Baja. I wore the Altitude pants every day of our 3000-mile trip and while they were comfortable for riding, I would get to camp at night and not want to take them off. It was so easy to set up camp in the evening and be rolling around on the ground without a worry. If my pants got dirty, I simply patted the dirt off.
With that point made, the fabric that Klim is using for the Altitude pant is a highly durable fabric that doesn’t bat an eye when you fall. On the inside of the groin, they use Gore-Tex stretch paneling for an increase in range and comfort. Klim rarely has to sacrifice comfort for function with their forward thinking ideas. There is leather inside the knee panels for added protection and grip.
Much like the Altitude Jacket, the Altitude pants are equipped with adequate venting to make them a versatile pant for hot or cold riding conditions. With a side front vent and a rear vent on each leg, there is an abundance of airflow through your legs keeping you cool when you need it. Sometimes when I’m really hot I even unzip my fly to get a little extra air movement through that area.
The Altitude pant comes in 10 different sizes so now you don’t just have to choose between extra small and extra large. This alone should give you an idea at how well these pants will fit. Even with a specific size, there is ample adjustability throughout the pant, ensuring a perfect fit. There are adjusters inside the waist of the pant, on the cuff of the legs, and they are even equipped with an expansion gusset that will make the pants 4” longer. I’m usually between a size 8 and 10 but it’s a real annoyance to me when pants are too tight so I sized up to a 10 and like I said, absolutely love the way these pants fit me. I’m 5’10 with long legs and the 10 fits my waist really well and I don’t have to have the extensions extended.
The D30 EVO armor in the knees and hips really take the edge off of falls and many times saved my hips from bruising horribly. The kneepads also made setting up the tent pain-free no matter what ground I was kneeling on.
The Klim Altitude pants are a versatile, comfortable, and protective piece of gear that will stand up to any adventure you throw at them. I’m beyond thrilled that great companies like Klim are beginning to realize that women need protective and feature-rich gear too and can’t wait to see what they come up with next. Once you put the Klim Altitude pants on, you won’t want to take them off and once you wear them through a fall, you won’t want to ride without them.
