pip3 list -o fails with TypeError: unorderable types: Version() > SetuptoolsVersion()

In case vendor packages of pip are unbundled but the vendored “packaging” in setuptool (pkg_resources) not, pip3 list -o fails with

Exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib64/python3.4/site-packages/pip/basecommand.py", line 211, in main
    status = self.run(options, args)
  File "/usr/lib64/python3.4/site-packages/pip/commands/list.py", line 95, in run
    self.run_outdated(options)
  File "/usr/lib64/python3.4/site-packages/pip/commands/list.py", line 107, in run_outdated
    if version > dist.parsed_version:
TypeError: unorderable types: Version() > SetuptoolsVersion()

I cannot find the origin of the problem. packaging is 15.3 as it is in setuptools-18.2 and pip-7.1.2.

[pradyunsg]

As @Kami-no said, this is caused by the fact that the way some distros package pip is not supported and fragile. The way to fix this to install pip from PyPI. You can even do this to fix it:

pip install --ignore-installed pip

I recommend passing --user additionally.

[moon-chilled]

Workaround for anyone experiencing this:

# pip3 install --force pip

To forcibly install the “real” version of pip from PiPy.