Patagonia Free Wall Kit Review

The necessities of climbing apparel change drastically as soon as you’re on the wall for several hours. Like many climbers, I learned this lesson the hard way during my first multi-pitch climb many years ago on a 500-foot wall near Buena Vista, Colo. My partner and I were both new to multi-pitch climbing and needed plenty of time to safely move through five pitches.

We began the day with warm, temperate weather. But after several hours on the exposed wall, the weather turned frigid, with gusts of wind. Then our double-rope rappel got caught in the anchors, requiring an arduous fix. What followed was a miserable, shivering, and slow-going descent. After years of single-pitch sport climbing, my partner and I had neglected to bring additional layers with us, or even a couple of shells for wind protection.

The situation wasn’t just silly — it was downright dangerous. After all, rappelling is the most dangerous part of climbing. Even a small mistake can be fatal — so trying to rappel while losing your mind from the cold isn’t ideal.

This is the situation that Patagonia’s new Free Wall Kit aims to prevent. The collection includes a down parka, pants, fleece, torso and leg shells, and a pretty sweet haul bag. It’s a batch of gear that’s tailor-made for multi-pitch climbing, especially in cold conditions.

I tested out the Free Wall Kit in both California’s Sierras and Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. Co-designed and tested by climbing legend Josh Wharton, there’s a lot to love about the Free Wall Kit. At the same time, there are several mystifying design choices by Patagonia, especially in the pants and fleece hoody. But overall, it’s a solid collection that will serve both multi-pitch rookies and seasoned big wall pros.

In short: The Patagonia Free Wall Kit comprises the Durable Down Parka ($575), the Houdini Rock Jacket ($199), the R1 Ultralight Hoody ($199), the Free Wall Pack 44L ($229), Houdini Rock Pants ($139), and Free Wall Pants ($155). The kit is intended for both multi-pitch rookies and seasoned big wall pros. The pieces are specifically tailored to withstand the abuses of rock climbing and the conditions that climbers are likely to encounter.

For more climbing gear, check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Climbing Ropes.

Durable Down Parka

For me, the Durable Down Parka ($575) is the highlight of Patagonia’s new collection. The primary reason I generally dislike down jackets is my desire for more freedom of movement. I want to feel unencumbered when I’m out and about. I also need something that can withstand the harsh treatment most of my gear receives. (Partly from the many different outdoor activities I pursue.)

So I was pleasantly surprised by this parka, arguably the centerpiece of the Free Wall Climbing Kit released this month. First off, this 800-fill down jacket makes me feel totally immune to the cold.

Unless you’re dealing with Arctic temperatures or 8,000m peaks in the Karakorum, you’re unlikely to need anything warmer than this. Moreover, the jacket is tailor-made for climbers, meaning you can move your arms in any direction with ease. It’s also far more durable than traditional down jackets.

In addition to climbers, these improvements will make it highly coveted among hikers, campers, and other outdoorsy folks seeking a durable jacket for cold weather. And for its intended purpose (staying warm while belaying your partner on an alpine wall), it’s hard to imagine a better parka than this one.

Its only caveat? With a whopping $575 price tag, it doesn’t come cheap. However, when you’re buying a down winter jacket, that price point is par for the course. It’s available for both men and women. Read the full review.

R1 Ultralight Hoody

In general, I’m also a fan of Patagonia’s update to its R1 Ultralight Hoody ($199). This product has been around for a few years. However, the latest version is very cozy, breathable, and just as lightweight as intended. The two vertical chest pockets are arguably necessary in multi-pitch, given the need for snacks on long days on the wall.

This is a half-zip fleece top. I’m usually not a fan of the anorak style (I like a fully open zip, when possible). But I warmed up to the half-zip on the R1. It allowed me to cool down when necessary, but without the fully open hoody, that can be a bit of a nuisance when you’re dealing with a harness.

Unfortunately, this ultralight fleece isn’t quite as warm as I’d like. To me, this midlayer feels more like a thick, long-sleeve shirt than an actual fleece jacket. I have other fleece hoodies that keep me warmer than this one, despite having the same features. And this one is also already showing some signs of wear.

But again, this might come down to personal preference. This snug hoody certainly offers all the freedom of movement you need while climbing. And if you combine it with a shell (like the one included in this collection), that might be enough to keep you warm. But that will largely depend on how cold it gets. It’s also available for both men and women.

Free Wall Pack

The Free Wall Pack ($229) is another standout in this collection, at least for me. Josh Wharton, the legendary climber, spoke at length about his participation in the design of this pack. He wanted a “crag pack” that could double as a durable haul bag.

It has water-repellent fabric, foam padding for abrasion resistance, and extra straps on top for hauling it up the wall to your next belay.

Its boxy shape means it (mostly) stays upright on its own. It’s one big compartment, along with interior loops and zipper pockets to keep gear organized. There’s also one extra zipper pocket up top.

There are no side pockets, and the backpack straps can be stowed away, helping prevent excessive damage from coarse rock during hauling. In addition to padded shoulder straps, it also has chest and waist straps for extra comfort on long approaches.

The extra straps for hauling can get annoying when you’re just taking the pack on and off. But I found an easy fix by just tying them together with a short cord. The Free Wall Pack costs $229, and though I’ve only used it a few times, I think it’s durable enough to survive numerous serious adventure climbs.

Free Wall Pants

Unfortunately, Patagonia’s climbing pants are the big miss of this collection. But let’s start with the good news. The Free Wall Pants ($155) use an abrasion-resistant mix of recycled nylon and spandex, along with a water-repellent finish. This makes them highly durable. That’s arguably the most important thing for climbing pants, which tend to wear out quickly from constant rubbing against sharp, featured rock.

The spandex’s stretchiness, the gusseted seam, and the articulated knees also make it highly flexible. I never had a problem with freedom of movement.

Other design choices on these pants are puzzling. They have no waist pockets. They just have two zippered pockets on the thighs, which still aren’t very usable while wearing a harness, at least for me.

Moreover, there’s no fly, and the waistband is as thin as a shoestring. It hangs down for 6 inches or more after tightening. This combination made answering the call of nature quite difficult. It should be way easier, especially when you’re spending half the day or more stuck on a wall.

These $155 pants aren’t terrible, but you can find much better options for climbing pants. The Free Wall Pants are available for men and women.

Houdini Shells

Patagonia rounds out its collection with updates to the Houdini Rock Jacket ($199) and Houdini Rock Pants ($139). Most climbers and outdoorsy people will already have shells lying around, but these make a strong case for themselves by employing several climbing-specific features.

For starters, they’re extremely lightweight, which is arguably even more important for vertical explorers than long-distance hikers. They weigh in at 4.59 ounces for the jacket and just 3.88 ounces for the pants.

Both shells also have a single zipper pocket and can be packed down to the size of a wallet. It’s also possible to attach both shells to your harness using small carabiner loops. They’re made from recycled nylon ripstop and given a water-resistant finish.

This is one of those pieces of gear that you won’t need or use on every climb. But when you do need them, they can be a lifesaver for sudden weather changes on big walls. The Houdini Rock Pants are unisex and cost $139. Thanks to a highly elastic waistband, it’s possible to use these while maintaining your belay by simply pulling them down below the loop.

The Houdini Rock Jacket and Pants are available for both men and women. These “featherweight” pieces are ideal for wind protection and are amazingly light.

I’m not sure how long they would last if they rubbed against real rock for an extended period of time. But for those looking to minimize weight on a big wall project — while still bringing along this vital piece of safety gear — they’re likely a worthy investment.

Patagonia Free Wall Kit: Who It’s For

This collection is perhaps best summarized by Josh Wharton himself: “There’s always a compromise in gear. There’s never a perfect application for everything.”

For some of this gear (looking at you, Free Wall Pants), it’s hard to imagine the appeal for anyone other than a climber. On the other hand, the parka and fleece are well-made layers that will find loyalists among both climbers and other outdoorsy types looking for high-quality cold-weather gear.

Regardless, every item in this collection is made from sustainably sourced, high-quality materials, and the designs clearly received significant consideration from Patagonia’s team of designers.

I can’t think of any single kit that will work for every kind of climber. But every climber can find something in this collection to help them succeed on their next big adventure.