FRICTION PANT: Comfortable and tough for curveballs

Takuro Hayashi, a freelance writer and photographer active in ski, snowboard, and outdoor magazines, also runs the outdoor equipment store "Transit Higashikawa" in Hokkaido, and shared his experience with Teton Bros.' popular product, the "Friction Pant."

Many who consider themselves Teton Bros. fans must appreciate their crazy functionality. Every product is honed to perfection, with every detail thoroughly polished and refined. Like a fastball thrown right into the center of a catcher's mitt, it's given a powerful, straight, and powerful sound every time.
However, sometimes the grip on the ball is too strong, and an unexpected spin is generated. Even though the ball is slammed into the center of the mitt, to the spectator it appears to be taking a different trajectory than usual. This gives rise to a vague feeling of the atmosphere.
Huh? Isn't this different from usual? Aren't the Teton Bros. always hot-blooded, fastball-happy guys?
This summer, as I wore friction pants, I was thinking about that feeling of "slippage."

This "gap" can be disappointing for those who want the same story as before, but it can also be a sign of possibility.

The friction pants were born when Teton Bros. came across a product from the fabric manufacturer Cordura. The material had excellent four-way stretch and outstanding abrasion resistance. When Teton Bros. saw this fabric, they wanted to create a pair of "nice" climbing pants.

So, in addition to the stretchy fabric, we began to struggle to create a pattern that would allow incredible freedom of movement for the legs. It literally translates to six letters: "we began to struggle," but it actually took several months and many people cried, laughed, expressed frustration, and even jumped for joy. In the end, we created an original pattern that minimized seams by cutting the fabric around the legs in a spiral, allowing the legs to bend and stretch freely.

The silhouette of the Friction Pants itself was created with a different concept from the Crag Pants and Ridge Pants that have been featured in this column. That is, to be natural. The lines are straight and straightforward. If I had to draw a parallel, the shape would be similar to straight jeans from the 1970s. The pockets also have a completely denim feel. This resulted in a pair of climbing pants with a hippie-like, 20th century flavor, with a slightly low rise and a comfortable fit around the waist while still providing a relaxed feel throughout the legs.

So that was the stage for their fastball style. They took advantage of the characteristics of the materials and created the product they wanted, completely concept-driven. But there was an unexpected twist to it.

The pattern that was created after much effort offers an incredible degree of freedom, allowing the wearer to spread their legs 180 degrees without feeling any stress. Unlike previous pants, the seams wrap around the legs in a spiral pattern, meaning there are no seams on the inside of the thighs or calves.

I had never imagined how comfortable it would be to have no seams on the inside. There was no tension when walking or sitting. This reminded me of the comfort of sweatpants and shorts, and led to people saying, "Wow, these pants are so comfortable."

Furthermore, this characteristic was not even mentioned in the Cordura catalog, and Teton Bros. had no hopes for it at all. However, when they put their legs into the prototype pants, they felt a slight chill. "Huh? This fabric feels cold to the touch, doesn't it?" This material actually possesses an effect known as "cool contact," which means that the material instantly absorbs heat from the skin when touched.
Moreover, the fabric is soft and taffeta. The Ridge Pants weigh 232g compared to 265g (measured in a medium size), but the Friction Pants feel lighter when worn. The surface feels smooth and supple. They don't stick to the skin even when wet. The feeling of them gliding smoothly over the skin in any condition provides a low-friction, comfortable fit.

The project, which began with a desire for a material that allows for easy movement, eventually evolved into one that features relaxed patterns and a comfortable fit.
In addition, the fabric is tough, resistant to getting wet, and quick-drying. The non-tapered silhouette makes it easy to match with street wear and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. This means that the landing position is limited to one place.

Could friction pants really be the best backpacking pants for Asia?

Coincidentally, this year's rainy season in the Kanto region has been prolonged, resulting in humid and muggy weather. All cotton products have absorbed moisture and become heavy, and my feet have been constantly wet from the rain for the past month. Frixion shoes are much better for walking around Tokyo. Their ease of use and relaxed feel make them a perfect match for sandals. They're also perfect for torrential rain. They're quick-drying, so even if the bottoms of my pants get wet, they'll dry out while I'm on the train. As the summer heat lingers, the cooling sensation keeps me feeling cool at just the right time, and the smooth fabric prevents dampness from clinging to my feet, which can be annoying.
If we were able to cope with the unpleasant conditions in Tokyo this year, then surely we'll be fine in most places?

In other words, when they threw themselves into making climbing pants that could handle even the most extreme moves, unexpected benefits emerged one after another, and in the end, they became the ultimate all-purpose travel pants. That is the reality of Friction Pants.

If you think about it, Teton Bros. has a ton of products, like climbing surf shorts and Axio, that use technology to achieve comfort. Friction is a product that gently bridges the gap between the comfort group and the functionality group. In a Venn diagram, it's right in the middle, overlapping. That's why it's hard to describe its appeal in a single word. No matter how many words you use, you can't convey the stress-free ease of movement, the relaxed feeling, and the pleasant cooling sensation. But once you experience its true potential, you'll probably never want to let it go.

It offers just the right amount of functionality and comfort, and doesn't lack in any way. Of course, a fastball is appealing as a fastball. But there are plenty of games where this curveball can help you win.

(Writer: Takuro Hayashi / Photo: PECO)