In this casual clothing review young climbing dirtbags Heather Florence and Jonny Baker take time out from their hectic schedule of rock climbing to give us a brief lowdown of the new Wild Country apparel range.

These are casual climbing clothes, not full on mountain garments, and the review looks at fit and functionality for cragging purposes, not technical features such as whether the hoody fits over a helmet.

After 3 months of wearing the same cragging clothing day in day out, it was very exciting to receive a bunch of new clothes to review from Wild Country.  The new apparel range is designed for casual crag wear or to be worn at the climbing wall.

We reviewed a number of items from the range, both women's and men's.
 

Women's Reach Hoody - RRP: £60.00

The first thing everyone notices about this hoody is it is very bright! The orange took a bit of getting used to, but I have definitely grown to like it. [Editor's Note - The Reach Hoody is also available in Light Blue] It fits slim, so if you wanted it baggy, buy a size up from your normal size. It has a nice big hood that feels cosy when up, and a big pocket on the front with a zip, which is an unusual feature on a hoody. Although the zip pocket on the front pocket seems odd at first, I've actually found it very useful for putting things such as passports and phones in, that you need accessible but don't want to fall out of their pocket. It's very nice and comfy, but not super warm, so a summer evenings hoody.

Features:                                      

• Large casual hood with overlapping collar
• Drawstring hood
• Zipped kangaroo pocket
• 2 slash pockets
• Thumb loops
• Ribbed sleeve cuffs & waistband
• Materials: Baby french terry light 265
• Sizes: S-XL

Colours:
Tangerine Tango / Cyan
622g / 21.94oz

More Information: Wild Country Website

Women's Liberty Tank - RRP: £25.00

I found the design of this a bit odd, as there seems to be a funny zip in the middle of the top that serves no function except to show a bit of cleavage... (was this top designed by a man perchance?). [Editor's note - The Women's Liberty Tank was designed by a woman] However, this style point aside, the Liberty Tank has high coverage so that there is no accidental bra poking out, and comes low enough to stay tucked into a harness when you lift your arms up. Other than the zip, the top is really nice. The design fits well, and I like the racer back design as the straps don't fall off your shoulders when climbing.

Features:

• Wild Country logo print
• Contrast stitching
• Contrast neck and sleeve hem
• Front zip
• Lightweight
• Stretch
• Materials: 150gsm cotton stretch jersey  92% cotton / 8% elastane
• Sizes: 6-14

Colours:

Tangerine Tango Cyan Blue
& Cobalt & Cobalt
125g / 4.41oz

More Information: Wild Country Website

Women's Free Tee - RRP: £30.00

Simply put this is a great fitting, comfy top. T-shirts generally don't fit me very well as I have wide shoulders, but Wild Country have thought of that and put in a scoop neck so that the sleeves rest on your shoulders rather than bunching around your neck. The pattern on the top is pretty and unobtrusive and the material feels nice against your skin. That's all there is to it really!

Features:

• Friend print logo
• Contrast neck & sleeve hem
• Scoop neck
• Cap sleeve
• Fitted
• Lightweight
• Stretch T
• Materials: 150gsm cotton stretch jersey  92% cotton / 8% elastane
• Sizes: 6-14

Colours:
Cyan Blue / Cobalt
118g / 4,16 oz

More Information: Wild Country Website

 

Women's Balance Pants - RRP: £65.00

These are a great hard wearing trouser. I got on with them really well.

In terms of warmth, they are maybe a bit too hot for Spanish cragging, but they stood up to a wet thrutchy day on the grit very well!

They fit great, with a waist that comes high enough that you don't get a cold harness gap, but low enough that they don't look too frumpy.

The elastic around the ankles is good for being able to see your feet without getting a draught up your legs on colder days, and also useful for hitching them up to knee height on hotter days. They are also a great colour for photographs! A big thumbs up for these from me.

Features:

• Flat, elasticated, adjustable drawcord waistband
• Loose fit
• ‘Y cut’ crotch
• Ergonomic pre-shaped knees
• Low set flat front pockets
• Wind resistant
• Rear flap pockets
• Elastic boot hem adjustment system with cord locks
• Garment dyed
• Materials: stretch cotton twill / 98% cotton / 2% elastane
• Sizes: 6-14

Colour:

Moon / Cobalt
505g / 17.81oz

More Information: Wild Country Website

Men’s Enduro Hoody - RRP: £60.00

This hoody is great for wearing in between boulder problems or redpoints. A nice quick on quick off design with a functional 2-way zip up the middle and a hood for keeping warm. You can belay in the hoody by pulling up the 2-way zip so that it goes around the belay loop of your harness, which is a nice little extra and gives it a climbing specific purpose.

It's very comfy to wear, the material is soft but is wearing well so far and the hoody is quite slim fitting. It dos what you expect really and works at the crag, or for a BBQ in the evening.

This isn't a technical piece for use in the mountains in poor weather, but with a technical cut it is good to climb in, so I'd guess if it fits you well and you like the colour then it's a good buy, if not, then it's not for you.

Features:

• Full length two-way front zip
• Large casual hood with high collar
• 2 slash pockets
• Ribbed sleeve cuffs
• Ribbed waistband
• Materials: cotton sweat 370
• Sizes: S-XL

Colour
Tangerine Tango / Slate

More Information: Wild Country Website

Men’s Balance Pant - RRP: £65.00

A good comfy stretch cotton trouser, that fits well with a harness or without. The slightly elastic material lets you move well, and keeps you warm.

These are quite a tough material, well suited to grit climbing and bouldering, and general cragging. For hot summer months, certainly in Spain or France they are a bit on the heavy weight side of things, but are great for the winter months or cool spring and summer evenings.

The crotch design and the articulated knees combined with the slight stretch of the material mean that movement for climbing is not an issue with these pants, they have been designed with climbing in mind, and that is obvious as soon as you put them on.

They have a back pocket for your wallet when going for an after cragging pint which means you can't get out of buying a round, and they have two front pockets. These are a flat square design that sits more on the front of the trouser, I assume this is to keep them neat and discreet for climbing. You can chuck keys etc in them if you have to.

All in all a good cotton cragging pant. Tough and flexible.

Features:

• Flat, elasticated, adjustable drawcord waistband
• Loose fit
• ‘Y cut’ crotch
• Ergonomic pre-shaped knees
• Low set flat front pockets
• Wind resistant
• Rear flap pockets
• Elastic boot hem adjustment system with cord locks
• Garment dyed
• Brush loop
• Materials: stretch cotton twill / 98% cotton / 2% Elastane
• Sizes: S-XL

Colours:

Moon & Anthracite &
Cobalt Tangerine Tango
505 / 17.81oz

More Information: Wild Country Website

Men’s Session Short - RRP: £60.00

These shorts are designed for climbing and are a great length when combined with a harness, just covering your knee.

They are super stretchy so great for climbing in, but seem pretty hard wearing as well. The elastic waistband is very comfy to wear for all day cragging, and has no button or belt, it's just a simple elastic, giving a very clean feel and sitting really well under a harness.

There's a couple of zip pockets on the shorts - again great for nipping to the pub after cragging.

Well thought through, simple shorts that work extremely well under a harness.

Features:

• Durastretch fabric
• Abrasion resistant
• Above the knee cut
• ‘Y cut’ crotch
• Quick drying
• Windproof
• Flat elasticated waistband
• Quick drying  
• 2 Front slash pockets
• Pleated pre-shaped knees
• Zipped leg pocket & back pocket
• Brush loop
• Material: Durastretch Silvershell / Durastretch Bi Elastic
• Sizes: S-XXXL

Colours:
Black & Tangerine Tango
310g / 10.94oz

More Information: Wild Country Website

 

Men’s Friend T - RRP: £30.00

A very comfy, tight fitting t-shirt. The material is stretchy and light so perfect for summer. It has a nice logo print of a cam on the front and works from crag to the bar.

Again this isn't too much of a technical piece (it has a stretch fabric, but aside from that), so if you like the colour, and the cam logo then go for it.

Features:

• Friend print logo  
• Regular fit  
• Stretch T  
• Lightweight  
• Materials: 150gsm cotton stretch jersey  92% cotton / 8% elastane  
• Sizes: S-XL

Colours:
Moon / Tangerine Tango
229g / 8.08oz

More Information: Wild Country Website