Ibex Pant

Built for hillwalkers, scramblers, and alpine mountaineers who need a durable barrier against rock, brush, and wind without stepping into a stiff hardshell, this pant does not try to reinvent mountain apparel. Instead, Mountain Equipment relies on their proven EXOLITE 210 double-weave softshell fabric, which strikes a deliberate balance between wind-blocking density and mechanical stretch. It drapes cleanly, resists abrasion from granite chimneys and dense heather, and breathes noticeably better than membrane softshells when you are working hard on sustained ascents.

In the field, the trim alpine cut eliminates excess fabric around the lower leg while maintaining full articulation through the knees and seat. You can high-step, stem, and scramble without the waist sliding down or the hems snagging on boot hardware. The microfleece-lined waistband rides comfortably under a heavy hipbelt or climbing harness, and the low-profile zipped pockets keep route essentials secure without bunching up beneath leg loops.

The clear limitation is seasonal range. At around 210 grams per square meter, the fabric is too substantial and warm for midsummer valley approaches or humid conditions, yet it lacks the brushed thermal backer needed for deep winter mountaineering without an underlayer. Positioned against competitors like the Rab Torque and Arc'teryx Gamma, it holds its ground by leaning into field-proven durability and no-nonsense patterning over ultralight trends, making it an enduring workhorse for technical mountain travel.