Short Version:

Any suggestions for light-weight but robust pants for someone who hates heat? I’m sick of rip-stop nylon that doesn’t last a summer.

Long version:

For a little while now, I’ve been wearing a Merino Wool base-layer with either vertx casual pants or jeans and either an un-tucked oxford or another merino wool t-shirt. This works pretty well for me to carry the few things I need to carry on-body (CCW in AIWB, knife & occasionally keys on pocket clips, loose chapstick, occasionally my phone, and a box mod ecig).

But, as it’s starting to get warmer, I’m wondering what will work this summer. I live in GA and don’t deal too well with heat…I usually get heat-stroke at least a couple times a summer, though never badly enough to warrant a trip to the ER.

The Vertx pants and merino wool are recent additions. In the past, I’ve switched from jeans/slacks to super-light rip-stop cargo pants….but I’m just not happy with anything I’ve tried. They tend to only last a year, and that’s if I somehow manage to not tear them…which happens with alarming frequency for some reason. I’m not worried about when I have to dress semi-formal, as my suits work well enough, though I’ll probably have to have the jacket re-tailored to hide the CCW or go with my deep-concealment rig.

Mostly, I’m worried about the casual/ED pants. Somehow, the merino shirts/underwear I have work up to 75-80 degrees at least without a problem. I sweat, but I also sweat when walking around naked if the AC isn’t cranked…and at least they don’t stink by 12am like “normal” clothes. The 2nd layer (since my current holster chafes a bit against bare skin) slightly concerns me as the temps get up above 90, but not as much as the heavy pants.

Vertx makes a super-light version of their tac/cargo pants that seems alright…but I don’t like overt tac clothing…I live an almost entirely urban lifestyle, and they look out of place everywhere but on shooting ranges. I also don’t actually like cargo pants either since I don’t use the pockets…well, I do occasionally…but those places, a thigh rig would fit in perfectly and hold things better.

A phone pocket (sized for a 5-6″ phablet) might be a welcome addition, but only if it’s mid-thigh or higher. A coin pocket might be cool if it’s deep enough…about 2.5-3″, but not if it’s a zip-closed thing like the vertx casual pants.

Any idea? What works for you guys?