REI Co-op  Sahara Stretch Convertible Pants - Men's

Let's start with the area where I live, the heartland of America, Missouri. If you know the Midwest you know that the summers are very hot and humid so fabrics do matter when outdoors. Which is the best thing about these pants. The nylon/spandex blend allows them to breath and stretch better than other hiking pants in my dresser. Usually I am not a fan of convertible pants put the zipper around the leg didn't seem to bother me as others in the past. My biggest detractor for these pants are the lack of belt loops and lack of fly. I am not a fan of drawstring around the waist as it loosens pretty quickly no matter what not I use.

I received these pants a few weeks ago and had a chance to use them on the trails hiking. There are definitely pros and cons to these pants. First, the Pros. These pants are very comfortable and have great flexibility. I am a big guy and they fit well. The waistband and stretch in the legs make them some of the most comfortable hiking pants I have ever owned. Additionally, at about 6'2" the length fit me well. Lastly, they have the zip off legs. Since it was cooler here I didnt have the need to test that out, but it would be a nice feature to have on summer hikes. Now for the cons. These pants have a full elastic waistband, no snaps or button to close them. Personally I like the option of being to button and unbutton pants. In addition to no button, there is also no zipper. As a guy, there are times when having buttons and zippers make things like using the restroom much easier than having to pull my pants down entirely. That is definitely not a feature I enjoyed. The second con, and maybe a deal breaker, is how loud the fabric is. It is a constant swoosh every time you take a step. Do not use these pants if you want a nice quiet hike in the woods, it wont happen. Reminds me of a scene from Seinfeld where I think George was wearing corduroy pants. I will probably continue to use these pants in the yard mowing or climbing when I dont care about certain things. Overall decent, but definitely some things I would chance

These are NICE pants, very good quality and features. Fabric is durable, stretchy, looks good Zippers are smooth Waistband lays flat Pockets are deep and in good locations Wore these on a few hikes this winter and pleased with them as a mild-weather pant. Fabric is too thick for eastern US summers, but obviously that's why the legs zip off. Good for fall and mild winter hikes. I don't love the loose styling though. I'm 6'-1", 180lbs and a size Large was the right length, but more baggy in the butt and thighs than I prefer. If you prefer a wider leg fit, these will be great pants for you.

Comfortable and good-looking pants. The fabric feels soft and also seems durable. The color options are really good. I like the draw strings as I can adjust easily and don't need to wear it with a belt. All the stitching seems solid and reinforced well esp. around the pockets. The zippers to detach the legs feels smooth and works nicely. Waiting to test it out during my next backpacking trip.

Best hiking pants I have owned, I can’t find any other brand that offers an elastic waste on convertible pants and these are perfect for hiking and backpacking. Not needing to wear a belt and have your backpack belt dig into your belt the entire hike is priceless. Ignore the bad reviews, they are all complaining there is no belt loop or zipper, apparently they don’t realize REI offers these exact same pants with belt loops and zippers, or they are just mad and stubborn to admit they ordered the wrong pants. The main point of these pants is that they offer an elastic waste band.

I tested the pants on a few warmer Minnesota winter days. I did a few short hikes on some local trails and wore them around town a bit. They fit well and move with me easy. The zip off legs work decent, i didn't find them amazing or lacking. The waist works great. The elastic and drawstring hold the waist in place without being compressive. The pockets are a nice depth and well placed. The fabric is smoth and dries fast, but does not get that plastic kind of feel some do. These are a bit noisier than cotton pants i usually wear, but not to the point of being annoying. My big negative is the lack of a crotch zipper. The waist band stretches enough to work, but is is very odd to have to pull my pants down for a leak.

While I think these pants do the job and will certainly work for most, I found the fit uncomfortable and not very flattering for someone with athletic legs/thighs. On the plus side the fabric is really breathable, holds up great in the wash, and the zipper is subtle. I did like the length of the shorts and found that much more comfortable.

After lots of research and thought, I purchased a pair of Sahara pants for hiking and camping adventures. Since wearing the pants on multiple occasions, in various weather and outdoor environments I highly recommend them. The pants fit wonderful, they move and flexible with me, especially being a large framed man. The best part is the fabric is so breathable, yet during cooler weather the pants kept me warm, without a base layer. I plan to buy a second pair!

These are more experimental/prototypical than functional. The lack of a fly/ zipper and lack of side zippers place these outside the core purpose of the classic REI Sahara pants . It is too cumbersome to drop trou - especially with a backpack on - and not possible to zip off the legs without taking boots off. I’d love to learn what the functional user profile was for these. They are lighter and simpler than the classic Sahara pants, but have lost key functionality.

These pants have a nice stretchy fabric and the cut is spot on. Not too baggy but not too tight. I absolutely love the drawstring waist. It is tremendously more comfortable under a pack hip belt than a typical snap or button closure. I dock them 1 star because they desperately need zippers at the ankles. It's kinda absurd that I have to take my shoes off to take the legs off or on. I would also like to see an opening in the fly so that I can more discreetly check my hydration levels, if you know what I mean.