Clogger Zero Gen 2 Chainsaw Pants

The Zero Gen 2 is the Clogger pair aimed at people who want the lightest possible saw protection. It is a favorite style with climbers and summer storm crews who run a saw all day and need pants that breathe and stretch.

What the Clogger Zero line is for

Clogger built the Zero range around one idea: saw protection people will actually wear. Heavy logging pants and chaps work, but in July they turn into a sweat bag and end up behind the seat. The Zero Gen 2 cuts weight and adds stretch so you can climb, crawl through brush and move logs without fighting your clothes.

Climbers using a top-handle saw are the obvious fit. Ground people on long removals and storm crews running saws for days in a row get the same benefit.

The Gen 2 update keeps the same idea as the original Zero and refines the fit and materials. If you wore the first generation and liked it, the second generation is meant to feel familiar while addressing the feedback climbers gave on the first round.

Protection you should understand

The front of each leg has layered cut-resistant fibers designed to clog the drive sprocket and stop the chain when it contacts the pants. Clogger also offers Zero chaps for people who prefer to strap protection over their own pants. Either way, protection only covers the front of the legs.

Read the label for the certification standard and protection class, and make sure it matches your saw work and your employer's rules. A chain cut into the protective layer means it is time for new pants.

No pants are cut-proof. Protection is designed to stop a chain at the speeds and conditions in the standard, and it does nothing if the saw contacts an unprotected area. Your first defense is still saw handling: chain brake on when you move, two hands on the saw, and a secure work position before you cut.

Clogger Zero vs heavier logging pants

Heavier logging pants usually have tougher outer fabric and hold up better to constant blackberry, rock and stump abrasion. The Zero Gen 2 gives up some of that toughness for comfort and mobility. For felling and bucking in rough country, a heavier pant may last longer. For climbing and hot weather, the Zeros are easier to live with.

Compare them with the Clogger DefenderPro Light if you want a middle ground between weight and durability.

Climbers should also think about how the pants work with a saddle. Leg loops and bridges sit over the upper thigh, so look for a cut that does not bunch under the leg straps. Light, stretchy fabric generally rides under a saddle better than stiff heavy pants.

Sizing and care

Order your usual waist size, and check inseam so the protective panel meets your boot top. Wash them per the label without bleach or softener. Inspect after each day on the saw, keep fuel and oil off them, and remember that pants back up good technique, they do not replace it. Get trained before running a saw on the job.

Because light pants trade some abrasion resistance for comfort, expect them to show wear sooner if you spend a lot of time kneeling on rough wood or dragging brush. Many sawyers keep the Zeros for climbing days and hot weather and a tougher pair for heavy ground work.