The Rab Spire Pants are mid-weight softshell pants, designed to offer the highest possible levels of freedom of movement for alpine climbing and other fast moving mountain activities.

I tested these pants in Glencoe climbing on Stob Coire nan Lochan in early December, in classic Scottish winter whiteout conditions. The Spire Pants are built to enhance your movement on the wildest terrain, from negotiating narrow ridge lines covered in snow to thrutching up steep mixed ground on rock and ice. They live up to their billing.

Mid-weight Matrix double weave stretch fabric – this has a high degree of stretch for freedom of movement and are designed for durability, comfort, and weather protection. Furthermore, the tough nylon face in a double weave helps move moisture off the skin.

Diamond gusset and articulated knees – combined with the flexible nature of the fabric this means that you can make those crux moves comfortably and efficiently, whilst overlaid stretch reinforcement panels on the knee and instep give extra durability.

YKK zipped expanding ankle closure – this allows the Spire pants to be fine tuned to personal requirements, with similar features including a removable webbing belt, attachment points for braces, and under boot cord.

Added Features – two YKK zipped hand pockets, one YKK zipped thigh pocket, brushed tricot inner waistband for comfort, snap waist closure with YKK zipped fly, and a webbing belt with low profile buckle.

The Spire pants are a mid-weight Matrix softshell pant with reinforced knee and instep. Close fitting and articulated for technical mountain use, they are warm and durable and will be at home on the steepest ground and most committing leads. Slim fitting, yet offering exceptional freedom of movement, the Spire pants can also be fine tuned to fit personal requirements.

The Spire pants performed exceptionally well for me in Glencoe, and I envisage that they will continue to do so throughout this winter, both in Scotland and the Alps. If you only take the best gear out into the mountains then these pants should be your next purchase, as they are the ideal pant for alpine climbing and mountaineering.