Mammut Massone Light Pants Review: Sturdy Enough? (2024)
The Mammut Massone Light is a stylish climbing pair focusing on comfort and mobility.
Weighing only 302 g/10.7 oz, they are incredibly lightweight for all your climbing and hiking adventures.
Are they a good pick for your practice and preferences? That’s what we’ll find out in this review.
Mammut kindly sent us a pair for trial. Unfortunately, it was too small for me, so I asked my buddy Ben Dory to take them for a spin and give his blunt feedback on these pants. He climbed with them for two weeks on sport and trad climbing routes, single and multi-pitch, in Pedraforca and Cavallers in Catalunya, Spain.
Here’s his verdict. Scroll down for more details.
- Very lightweight
- Flexible and breathable
- Sustainable (almost entirely made from recycled materials)
- Stylish
- Not much protection for cold conditions
- Tricky slim fit
- Durability to be seen in the long-term!
Key Specs
Let’s start with the gritty details. The Massones blend recycled polyamide and spandex to deliver durability and stretch. They include:
- Two front pockets
- Zippered back pocket
- Water-repellent finish
- Elastic waistband (with drawstring) and hem
- Sun protection (although there’s no factor provided)
These pants are available in men’s and women’s versions. However, watch out for sizing (see more on this below).
Comfort
The Mammut Massone Light Pants offer a comfortable fit thanks to great flexibility and a lightweight design.
If you check our selection of the best pants, you’ll see that most models weigh about 500 g/17.6 oz, so here we have 200 g/7.1 oz less! This can make a slight difference in terms of comfort on long multi-pitch routes where you not only have to climb but also belay in awkward positions.
On this point, Ben noted that the waistband paired very well with a harness without uncomfortable pressure points.
The material’s flexibility allows for a wide range of movement during climbs, which is always a plus, especially on routes and problems where you’re at your limit. Also, the elastic hem allows the lower part of the pants to stay in place and not get in the way as you’re climbing.
The downside of the lightness and thin material is that it won’t keep you warm in cold weather. Ben climbed in the heat of the summer in Catalunya, so he enjoyed the breathability. As such, the Massones are a good pick for climbers who don’t like to wear shorts for fear of getting scratched on the rock or other obstacles, and yet still want to enjoy optimal breathability not to feel too hot.
Last but not least, the pockets are practical, and having a zippered one accessible from the harness is always a plus to carry important items without being worried about them falling off mid-climb.
Fit and Sizing
These pants run small compared to their size. They were too small for me, and Ben wished he had more space. Therefore, we recommend opting for at least one size larger than the size recommended by Mammut’s sizing guide.
The slim fit is very stylish and gives the pants a sleek climber look, which is a nice change from the typical baggy cut of many pants. As such, they can be worn as relaxed lifestyle pants.
However, the tight hem at the ankles might be restricting for climbers with a stronger legs. If slim pants are generally not good for you, it may be better to go for two sizes more or pick another model. In that case, we recommend trying them before buying to be safe.
Value
At first, we were worried about the durability of the material. Being lightweight and thin, it looks flimsy. However, Ben was reassured after his first sessions.
The pants held well and didn’t fray or tear from being in contact with sharp granite rock like the beautiful one of Cavallers.
We’ll need to update this review after a few more months of use to ensure it kept its promise of durability, but so far so good! After all, polyamide is the fabric used in parachutes, so it’s unsurprisingly tear-resistant.
The price varies per region. It’s listed at $100 in the US vs. €135 in Europe. The latter is a bit pricey, but it’s now on sale at €81, which is much more reasonable and quite good value considering the quality.
Mammut is a serious brand known for its sturdy gear (we love their Mammut Crag Classic rope for sport climbing!) and these Massone pants don’t disappoint.
Our Verdict
The Mammut Massone Light Pants offer excellent comfort with their lightweight design and stretchy nature that doesn’t impair movement.
We recommend them for climbers in warm weather who want something minimal, highly breathable, and robust. These qualities also make them a great option for indoor climbing, especially if you tend to scratch yourself easily on the plastic holds/resin walls.
It wouldn’t be the best pick in winter or on alpine climbs–for these scenarios, the regular Massone might be more suitable (we haven’t tested them yet).