What To Look For
Convertible hiking pants serve campers as both pants and shorts. The pants should be made from a lightweight and quick-drying fabric, such as nylon. There should be a storm flap over the zippered attachment to protect from moisture. Color-coded zippers make identifying and attaching the legs easier, while ankle zippers make it possible to remove the lowers without taking off hiking boots. Look at the inseam measurements for both the pants and the shorts to ensure that they fit. Higher UPF ratings indicate better sun protection, and some pants have insect repellent treatments in the fabric.
Common Pitfalls
Consider the purchase as both a pair of pants and a pair of shorts. While convertible pants likely will be on display as pants, take the time to unzip the bottoms and test them as shorts before buying to make sure that they are comfortable.
Where To Buy
Outdoor sporting goods stores are the best places to shop for convertible pants. If pants are sized on a small- to large-based system, be sure to consult the sizing chart for your numerical size. REI and EMS are among the retailers offering a good selection of convertible pants.
Cost
Convertible pants are a relatively narrow category with a few outdoor clothing retailers like North Face, EMS, Ex Officio and REI offering competing products. Pants typically run between $50 and $100.
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