Posted by JennyUE This sounds like a story I wanna hear. And D, for your *actual* question, "denim" is actually the right answer - but I specifically recommend Carhartt's. They actually have extra layers of denim around the butt, knees, and thighs - high points of contact with the mofo blackberry bushes. Check em out, they are sturdy as fuck and last forever.

Those brown pants I wore during our meetup are Carhartt's, and berry thorns don't punch through them at all. When I walk around with them on, my legs feel invulnerable. I've even worn them while messing around on a slanted rock climbing wall one night, and when I would mess up near the top, I would drop on my side and slide back to the ground, letting those pants take all the friction (I wasn't using ropes, just trying to walk up the steep, rough wall to the top). I did that several times (I must have looked silly as fuck, but luckily I don't think anyone was around). The pants look a bit scuffed, but never ripped through and I never felt them getting warm from all the rubbing.

I just wish I could find a top as durable; the Carhartt sweatshirt I have is good and thick but it's not canvas, and I have been poked through it occasionally.

I work in retail selling technical clothing and gear for people doing outdoor stuff. Kuhl has a model of pant named Rydr that are thick and dense, more so than any denim I have come across. I haven't worn them myself because blackberries isn't something we run into a lot down here in Texas. But it is worth looking into. Thought I would give you some specific information. Kuhl is a really great brand too with gusseted joints so it doesn't ride up on you like a lot of pants.

Posted by IndoAnomaly I haven't worn them myself because blackberries isn't something we run into a lot down here in Texas.

What part of Texas are you in? I spent the greater portion of my youth running through the wicked thicket of blackberries

Posted by Astro What part of Texas are you in? I spent the greater portion of my youth running through the wicked thicket of blackberries

Wait, do we have blackberries down here?! I'm a little naive, having grown up in Indonesia.

Posted by IndoAnomaly Wait, do we have blackberries down here?! I'm a little naive, having grown up in Indonesia.

We sure do...pretty much everywhere.

I picked up a set of actual French production Lizard pattern camo pants a few years back. They feel about like snake chaps, and don't breathe much better, but they even stop prickly pear thorns unless you just fall right in one.

How do you wear such heavy clothing in the summer? I live in Texas, in the summer it's shortalls & flip flops, occasionally tennis shoes and once boots because I saw 2 copperhead snakes on a previous visit.
Long pants, long sleeves and heavy boots would not make for a fun explore. I've had my legs chopped up a little from brambles and gotten my share of poison ivy but I much prefer that to exploring in clothing that's going to make my outing more miserably hot than it already is.
Do you all really wear this heavy stuff during the summer?

Posted by serendipitee How do you wear such heavy clothing in the summer? I live in Texas, in the summer it's shortalls & flip flops, occasionally tennis shoes and once boots because I saw 2 copperhead snakes on a previous visit. Long pants, long sleeves and heavy boots would not make for a fun explore. I've had my legs chopped up a little from brambles and gotten my share of poison ivy but I much prefer that to exploring in clothing that's going to make my outing more miserably hot than it already is. Do you all really wear this heavy stuff during the summer?

Desperate times, and desperate measures, dear.

I'm a native Texan and you rarely catch me in less than boots and jeans when I'm trudging to an abandonment. Thorns suck, snakes suck, chiggers suck, fleas suck, etc. I'd rather be mildly uncomfortable for an hour or two than days or weeks of uncomfortable

Posted by Astro Desperate times, and desperate measures, dear. I'm a native Texan and you rarely catch me in less than boots and jeans when I'm trudging to an abandonment. Thorns suck, snakes suck, chiggers suck, fleas suck, etc. I'd rather be mildly uncomfortable for an hour or two than days or weeks of uncomfortable

Seconded, although I'm in New Mexico.

Posted by Astro Desperate times, and desperate measures, dear. I'm a native Texan and you rarely catch me in less than boots and jeans when I'm trudging to an abandonment. Thorns suck, snakes suck, chiggers suck, fleas suck, etc. I'd rather be mildly uncomfortable for an hour or two than days or weeks of uncomfortable

That's the nice thing about northern winter exploration. None of those are an issue during that season!

Now, if only it wasn't so bloody cold. And if snow didn't leave very obvious footprints everywhere.

An old one, but if you're on a budget: http://www.mothere...-zmaz82jazgoe.aspx

The glue costs ~$10 for a bottle these days, and you can combine two value village pants for extra padding.