Royal Robbin Pants

By Bill

I call them pants, but in the United Kingdom, the word has a different connotation.  But, for me, pants are important.  I mean, like, well, they serve some special purposes for photographers:

1.  They protect me from the weather.

2.  They allow me to do stuff while taking photographs, like get down and dirty, as in this shot I got in Tanzania.  Long story, short version,  I got out of my vehicle, despite my driver's objections, went to my knees, and took 10 shots.  Well, at least the lion was sorta sleepy.  My pants got dirty, but my knees were intact!

3.  Pants are important equipment for me.  I am a BIG guy.  Which means most of the time I am down in the dirt, either on my knees, or my butt, because it is perspective that matters in photography.  Getting down, means having pants that are flexibile and durable.  Like here, when I had to sit down a dern rock.

4.  And here, where I had to get on my knees to get on the same level as the Eagle.  Dern bird wouldn't fly, just sat there on the beach, and I had to get my pants legs wet in the sand.

5.  Or here, when I had to lie down backwards on cold turf to get low enough for this shot of two young brown bears in Alaska.  I liked these little ones, they enjoyed the sun while I froze on the tundra. But my pants survived!

Well, I hope you get the idea.  Pants serve a very important purpose in doing photography.  Especially for big guys like me.

So what kind of pants to I wear?

I have some requirements:

1.  They must be weather proof.

2.  They must be durable and well-made.

3.  They must dry out quickly, either because I was in the mud, or because I just hand-washed them.

4.  They must be reasonably priced.

I found them.  They are made by Royal Robbins.  And I have worn them in Africa, Alaska, Scotland, Wyoming, and Florida.  They are the best I have found for a very reasonable price.  Trouble is, after three years, I have finally worn one pair down.  I must go buy some more.

And one final note, they even look good with a Blue Blazer.  I have worn them at some of the best hotels in the world with no complaints from the staff.  And, I must add, they really look cool, all those zipper pockets, including one secret pocket, good for stashing cash when on the street.

Amazon stocks them, and right now they are on sale, you can buy a pair here.