From the tough, stretchy Forged Denim Pants to a light softshell jacket, Kate Dean puts a selection of Black Diamond's women's rock clothes through their paces.

Forged Denim Pants (trousers) - £95 (£110 for men)

Design

Also available for men, the Forged Denim Pants could easily be mistaken for a normal pair of jeans – until you put them on! They're fitted like skinny jeans, which I was initially excited about as I don't particularly like wearing baggy climbing jeans in real life. They are long enough in the leg for someone tall like me for them to not be too short to cover my ankles, which is great. They are also easily rolled up for climbing in.

Performance

These denim pants are ridiculously comfortable stretchy-jeans. As claimed on the website 'slip into a pair and never want to take them off', I have been wearing them pretty much constantly. Over the past few months I have tried them in a variety of situations. I have particularly enjoyed using them on cooler days on the grit and think they suit this style of climbing wonderfully.

The BD Forged Denim is incredibly stretchy, meaning I don't feel as constricted in my movement as normal denim trousers. The experience is a cross between wearing leggings and climbing trousers. However, I'm quite keen on utilising my flexibility when I'm bouldering or sport climbing and I didn't feel totally uninhibited while wearing them. This may be due to the slim fit, which from an aesthetic perspective I really like. But it does seem that the aim to produce a product so reminiscent of high street jeans has slightly undermined the performance of the pants from a climbing perspective. I find wearing them bouldering very frustrating as not only do they stop me pulling off certain moves because I can't get my feet high enough, but they also keep falling down! The falling down issue can of course be solved by wearing a belt, but this feels even more inhibiting. Having said all that, for less gymnastic styles of climbing, they are fantastic. I have enjoyed wearing them when trad climbing on the grit, as the denim protects me from grazing myself on the rock and I am able to move as much as I need for that style.

I do need to mention the durability of the pants. Their label states, 'wear them out, we dare you' and I decided to take Black Diamond up on this challenge. I've been wearing these jeans for a few months now. In that time they have endured a night out, climbing on grit and a bike crash, yet there still isn't a mark on them. I'm excited to finally find a pair of jeans that can keep up with my clumsiness and I'm certain they will me last me for a long time. The cordura-blend fabric also manages to keep me cool despite its incredible durability.

Features

The jeans have four pockets deep enough to actually put things in – a miracle for women's trousers! There is also a little pocket to fit a brush, which is useful for working routes.

Overall

These jeans are great and if you're prepared to spend some money on them, you'll get a two-in-one pair of everyday jeans and pretty good climbing trousers. They might not be perfect yet, but they are notable for the awesome fabric that combines toughness and stretch.

Six Shooter Tank (top) - £55

Design

This is a versatile, comfortable tank top, which has considered the needs of female climbers in its design. I'm a sucker for anything with interesting back straps and even though this tank is simple, it didn't disappoint. The inbuilt bra negates the need to wear a sports bra so it looks great from the back. If you prefer to wear a sports bra, however, its simplicity means you wouldn't be wrestling with hundreds of straps. I'm a massive fan of the colours - the rusty pink version I have is unusual, bright and fun. If you aren't a fan of pink, there are four colours to choose from and I would happily own each of them. I also like the ribbed feature up the sides, which probably doesn't add much to the performance of the top but does make it look great.

Performance

In addition to being a lovely fashion piece, the tank performs really well during activity. Although I'm not always a fan of inbuilt bra systems on tops as they feel a bit strange, the padding being easily removable is a great feature for me as this makes the bra system more comfortable than others I've tried. If you prefer extra support, however, the padding is probably very helpful. I would say that the elastic around the bust can feel a little tight, so if that kind of constriction bothers you, I would recommend getting a size up from your usual dress size.

The design of the back straps and the low cut under arms make for a top that is great for climbing in. I've been bouldering, trad climbing and sport climbing in it and at no point did I feel at all constricted or have any rubbing or chaffing around my underarms and shoulders. As someone who hates being too hot when climbing, I really appreciate the lightweight fabric that doesn't cling and keeps you as cool as possible while wearing a vest.

Overall

This is a simple, fun tank top, which is great to wear when being active and doesn't restrict your arms when you're climbing.

Levitation Capris - £55

Design

They may not be particularly cheap for some basic leggings, but these 3/4 length capris are brilliant for wearing when training, climbing, running or doing more or less any sport - and if you want a longer leg they're also available in a full length version. The block colour design means they go with everything (particularly the Six Shooter Tank, of course). Having said that, I don't love the blue as I feel a bit like a smurf when I'm wearing them, but that's just personal taste and there are other colour choices. The high waist band makes them comfortable to be active in without them feeling like they might fall down. I've enjoyed wearing them for climbing, yoga and running as a result of the security the high waist provides.

Performance

The leggings allow me to utilise my flexibility and feel totally uninhibited. I also love the fact that they are slightly thicker than other leggings. This means I can wear them climbing outside without the anxiety of ripping a hole in them on a sharp rock or when I'm climbing on grit. Most of my other leggings are full of holes and I'm confident these will last much longer. The thicker fabric means you don't have to worry about your pants showing either– hurrah!

Features

The fact that these leggings aren't inundated with features is part of their excellence. Apart from having a pocket for your phone in the waist band, they are simple and functional. This pocket is very useful if you want to listen to music while running, but my hefty brick of a phone doesn't quite fit.

Overall

I am a big fan of these versatile, high quality leggings. I'd say they're worth the extra cash as they will last longer than cheaper alternatives and are just so comfortable.

Cirque Shell - £160

Design

The Cirque Shell is rather more techy and mountain-worthy than the other items in this review, and would equally suit multi pitch mountain rock and fair weather hill walking. Offered in both men's and women's versions, this light softshell jacket ('shell' is a bit of a misnomer since it's not waterproof) is an attractive design, coming in a choice of three block colours. The women's cut is fairly fitted around the waist, so if you want to be able to layer up underneath, go for a bigger size. The slim fit prevents excess material from flapping around in the wind and makes it more comfy when carrying a backpack.

Performance

The Cirque Shell is a brilliant all-round windproof, and slightly showerproof, layer. The stretch fabric allows for ease of movement when climbing. I've particularly enjoyed wearing it when multipitch climbing. The jacket is breathable enough to stop you overheating while moving but keeps the wind off to stop you getting cold on a belay. The DWR finish and quick drying fabric is also helpful in case an unexpected shower hits while on a route. It won't act as a full waterproof in real rain, however, it's only for fair weather.

The jacket packs down to a small size, so can be easily stowed in a bag as an emergency layer. As well as being breathable, the stretchy Nylon blend double weave fabric (composed of 75% Nylon, 14% Polyester and 11% Elastane) is tough enough to be worn while climbing without worrying about it getting damaged.

Features

The jacket has plenty of pockets, which I've filled with snacks for my multipitch expeditions, but are secure enough to carry a phone or topo (if, like me, you are prone to getting lost on routes). The chest pockets have been placed so that they are not obstructed when wearing a harness, allowing for maximum snack accessibility at all times. The website suggests that the hand pockets are also harness compatible – I'm not entirely sure what they mean by that as my harness completely obscures them! The inside chest pocket also has a headphone hole, making it perfect for antisocial hiking, or running in adverse weather. The back also boasts a reflective logo, making the wearer more visible in low visibility.

Another feature is that the hood is designed to fit a helmet underneath to keep you as dry and protected as possible. It can also be adjusted using a toggle at the back, but I have found that it is far too large for me when not wearing a helmet, something that seems to be a downfall for many helmet compatible hoods.

Overall

I have found this jacket incredibly useful, far more that I was expecting. I thought the lack of waterproofing would render it unhelpful to take climbing, but the fact that I can move freely while wearing it and also be protected from the wind and light rain means it is a great item to have in your climbing bag. Good for fair weather hillwalking too, or running when it's cold.