Run Oregon sometimes receives products to review and was sent some styles from each to try out for the Fall season ahead. Clearly, the items of clothing received from Royal Robbins aren’t all that running related, but they definitely fit into a Pacific Northwesterners sensibilities and have ties to many other PNW outdoor activities.
Items:
- Alpine Mountain Pro Pant ($90)
- 71% nylon, 25% polyester, 4% elastane
- Readydry Boxer Brief ($28)
- 94% polyester, 6% elastane
Company: I had actually heard of Royal Robbins prior to them sending us some items to test out. Obviously, their gear is more casual and outdoors wear than running wear, but their big claim to fame has actually been in the rock climbing world. I recommend reading about their story, but here is a little synopsis of their company was started:
Royal Robbins and his wife Liz were iconic Sierra Nevada rock climbers during the 1960s. They belonged to a scrappy band of modern climber/philosophers who coined and embraced the term “clean climbing”: a set of practices and techniques that enabled them to climb big walls with little or no damage to the rock, a literal representation of their lived ethos of deep respect for the natural world.
When Royal and Liz were making their mark in the climbing world, the outdoor apparel industry started and ended with Army surplus and jean cut-offs. Climbers and hikers sorely needed clothing that could move, that could stand up to the harsh Yosemite granite, and that fit well and looked good.
Today, our heritage brand still makes enduring, classic, outdoor clothing for people who embody a love for the natural world. Our modern classics enable people to get up in the morning and “dress once.” Our clothing performs well because it moves, dries, packs and wears extremely well. We embrace a refined aesthetic with a sophisticated, nature-inspired palette that is understated, classic and smart. It works on the trail, at the office, on a plane, at dinner. Our clothing literally goes everywhere.
Impressions:
The Alpine Mountain Pro Pants from Royal Robbins are quite fantastic. I have purchased, and returned, a number of trail specific pants mostly due to odd, overly loose fits and comfort challenges. I’m willing to say up front that these are probably the best trail pant I have worn in quite some time and strike a unique balance of being great for both casualwear, as well as traversing mountain trails. They are comfortable and we really appreciate the form and function.
As far as looks go, these look like a standard pair of casual khaki pants. They have 3 colors (green and grey in addition to the khaki), but the latter was on point with what we expected from this palate. I have worn these out in public (to church, dinner, and even work) and have not even received a second glance or comment, from even my family, about why I’m wearing trail pants around. On a personal choice, we prefer for there to not be a pocket over the left by, but also realize that this is a small personal nit pick that doesn’t matter all that much.
We found the fit in the Alpine Pros to be quite on point. It’s not too slim, but also does not enter the fit-territory that I avoid – baggy outdoor wear. It’s a nice middle ground that benefits from their four-way stretch construction. That stretch, which most of us are probably familiar with in one way or another, allows for a lot of motion and mobility – making a great price for outdoor wear in addition to day-to-day casualwear. It is also made with 88% recycled fabric (made from recycled water bottles!) and coated with a water resistant finish.
The multiplex waistband allows for a snug, yet for giving stretch fit, making it – at least to me – not needing a belt to keep up. Hidden on the inside of the bottom cuffs, is a cinch system that would allow for those times when you are on trails (perhaps bushwhacking and exploring) and don’t want debris to arise from underneath.
We are surprisingly big fans of these pants.
Outside of clothes, Royal Robbins also has an essentials collection, which is a lot of essential (duh) items like socks underwear and undershirts. If you have followed over the years, we have almost a dozen post surrounding men’s underwear, so reviewing their Readydry Boxer Brief is not out of the ordinary.
Though there is often not a ton to talk about as it pertains to underwear, this underwear (they come in a 4 inch and 7 inch varieties) are actually quite unique enough to talk about.
Some of it is relatively standard, as their construction of durable mesh provides moisture-wicking qualities and provides nice stretch at the same time. They also have flat lock seams to avoid chafing. There are, however, some unique aspects as well, like a locker loop for hanging and quick drying – making this an ideal pair to pack an overnight hiking trips. The fabric is actually called S.Café® as it combines post-consumer coffee grounds and recycled polyester from used plastic bottles to deliver built-in odor resistance and 3x faster dry times than cotton. How cool! As I’m writing this, I suppose I’m both drinking AND wearing coffee. They are a bit pricey as far as underwear go, but they seem to be a pair that would stand the test of time, and also not fill up a landfill shortly after purchasing and wearing out.
Royal Robbins has a variety of other pieces of apparel in Men’s and Women’s varieties that may strike your fancy for all your outdoors needs. You can even try it and return it for free if you don’t love it.
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