REI Co-op  Flash Pants - Men's

I was pleasantly surprised by these pants. I had given up on pants marketed for hiking, as they are often far too bulky or ill-fitting for the kind of hiking I do: a mix of midweek urban training rucks and long weekend days in the alpine. These seemed to solve the problem. They feel like a light gym pant or performance jogger, yet they have a durable exterior strong enough to bat away sharp branches on the trail. My only “complaint” has to do with the aesthetics. They are a big baggy - which I actually prefer when on the trail. But they probably aren’t the greatest choice for going straight from the trail to the bar afterwards.

I wore these casually. They are light and do a really good job at blocking out the wind. I was surprised how windproof they are. At 5'10" they are a long on my legs but with running shoes the extra length sits on top of my shoes. They tuck in well into socks. Comfortable overall. Good strech.

I received the REI Co-op's Flash Pants in the middle of Minnesota winter, not the ideal time to put it through its paces as these are meant for warm weather. I'm looking forward to bringing them on a trip to SoCal in a few weeks, I'm sure they will shine. What I noticed first was the weight, or rather the lack thereof. The fabric is so light that it is hard to tell that I'm wearing them at all. I appreciate the super breathable fabric in the crotch. The inset pockets are generous and deep, I wouldn't worry losing something from them. But here is the deal, the fabric is so light and stretchy that even something like a 6 in. mobile phone or a key chain with a fob and a couple of keys cause them to sag noticeably Whatever the pockets contain is clearly outlined. The same is true for the zippered pocket. Don't even think about carrying your multi-tool in them. The multi-tool brings me to my next dis, the absence of belt loops. The cinch cord inside the waistband does the job, but I do like my belt which I use to carry my multi-tool. It wouldn't harm to add belt loops, even if you don't need it to hold up your pants. My last concern is regarding the durability of the fabric when in contact with thorny vegetation. My hikes have frequently included stretches where brambles line both sides of a narrow path. In situations like these, I would trust ripstop fabric more than the ultra lightweight fabric of the REI Flash Pants. In spite of my misgivings, there is a spot for these in my wardrobe. I'll be using them on those shorter, predictable hikes in hot weather, when sun protection is a must.

These pants are super comfy, the elastic waist is great. The material feels very light and breathable, and the 4 way stretch gives a lot of flexibility without being restrictive. A great summer hiker. The cut is pretty relaxed. The inner pocket is nice because the normal pockets feel kind of baggy and my phone bounces around if it's not in the inner pocket.

The REI Flash Pants are as you would expect their name to imply. The fabric is incredibly lightweight, packs away small, and it has nice 4 way stretch fabric. The pockets are incredibly generous, seriously, they're the largest pockets I've ever had on a pair of pants before. The waist is cinched down by a drawstring and that is the ultimate downfall for something that advertises itself to be hiking pants. I have a 32 inch waist and with the medium, the pants were falling off of me unless I had the drawstring tied. The other problem with a drawstring, is there is no fly. So having to fiddle with untying your draw string every time to go wee is a major inconvenience. There are no belt loops either because of the drawstring design so I feel this is a pretty serious flaw. That said, I think they'd make a great pair of winter running pants due to their light weight and four way stretch fabric.

I received this product from REI Trailblazers to try and write an unbiased review. Out of the box, these pants feel and look great. Nice light material, soft next to skin feel. They come with a drawstring to tighten around the waist which was necessary for me. I have a 33 inch waist and I need to tighten them up a bit so they wouldn’t fall down to my ankles. I ordered the XL in Odyssey color. They honestly look like nurses pants. I will wear them around the house, but I do not see myself wearing them for any other purpose. They will be good lounging pants.

Great lightweight, breathable, and durable pants that I primarily use for climbing. They're a little loose so i felt like my phone flopped around a bit in the zippered thigh pocket, but not a deal breaker, I just put it elsewhere. I prefer to climb in pants and these are super light/breathable, so I plan to wear these outdoors in the warmer months. We'll see how these hold up but so far so good!

The pants are light and airy, very comfortable and reliable. The sizes do run slightly large so I wish I had sized down. Lots of pockets and waistband is very soft and comfortable. Have worn the pants over five times throughout Seattle in the winter time and in Mexico during warm and humid environments. These are great travel pants.