Columbia Men's Silver Ridge Convertible Pants

I don’t understand all the negativity concerning these pants. They are terrific! The fact that they include a removable belt (that is HUGE for a hiking pant) and zip off at the knee are two of their best features! There are pockets-a-plenty for all of your hiking ”stuff.” The material is lightweight, but protective at the same time. If they get wet, they dry quickly. The pants can be worn on the hiking trail, to the golf course, volunteering at your school’s carnival…you name it!! And they come in numerous colors so your wardrobe doesn’t get boring! If there is any knock on these pants, it would have to be the back pockets. They were designed with breathability in mind, but the mesh fabric on the inside has come undone on my husband‘s first pair. It was super simple to take a needle and thread and close up the small holes. So now I guess I understand the negativity of the reviews… Lol! I shouldn’t have to sew up the back pockets. I still think these pants are a win!

The quality is very good being made by Columbia, I expected that. The fit was perfect and just the right weight for camping in the summer. All the pockets were very well placed and the fact you could convert them into shorts was a big plus.

Let me start off by saying I never thought I’d buy these pants — but after a few uses, I’m glad I did. I mainly use them for camping and kayak fishing, and they’ve quickly become a go-to. They handle hot South Florida days well, and when the sun starts to set, so do the pant legs. Just zip them back on and you’re covered. They also come with a belt, which is a nice touch and keeps them secure without needing anything extra. The pockets are comfortable and well-placed, and they dry fast when wet — which is great when you’re out on the water. Lightweight, quick-drying, and way more practical than I expected. If you’re on the fence like I was, give them a try — they really hold up out there.

These really are great pants. They're comfortable, fit well, and they unzip to become shorts. They also dry very quickly. I used them for my African safari, and they were perfect. That said, beware the pockets. After only about 2 months of wearing them (in rotation with other pants), the back pocket has already torn. The stitching came undone. I noticed after putting my wallet in my back pocket and feeling it fall down my pant leg. Because of how light they are, the stitching and pocket material tears very easily.

I'm a long distance thru- hiker. My weight fluctuates as I lose 20 pounds during the months on the trail and slowly gain it back before starting in these pants again. Sewn on buttons did not cut it for me. Even though mine pop when I gain weight during my off months, I prefer knowing that I have a waist button that is reliable. These deliver. Overall these pants are better constructed than the others that I have tried, and they are equally light.. Another key feature is that there is a zippered pocket on the left leg. I need to know that there is one zippered pocket. If you have extremely muscled thighs, these could be tight, but for me they work and I have average to big thighs- 5'10' 200lb as I set out. I. order the 34 waist The belt is cheap but it is fine for me and light weight. But the waist does seem to have a little give of it's own but not much. What tends to happen for me is that they are on tight side at the waist and even the thighs starting out, but after a few weeks on the trail the fit is perfect and by the second or third month, the belt is actually being used as an aide to keep them tight Bottom line they are true to size in my case..The possible drawback in construction for some, may be that there is no velcro around the ankle. In other words, you will need to take off your hiking boots while converting them into shorts or vice-versa. This is minor for me. Breaks are usually welcomed. I also like to wear them a lot when I'm not hiking. These pants are good for everyday use as well. They look good too esp. the dark colors. Highly recommended.

These pants are awesome and a great value. I bought them for a trout fishing trip so I could walk in the water and they would dry quickly and I could convert them to shorts in the afternoon when the weather demanded. I bought one pair of these and 1 pair of the White Sierra Trail Convertible Pant: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007G8AN9C/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_3 These pants are almost identical to the White Sierra. I am 5'-9" and 195 and wear a 34x30 jeans, but because my beer gut has grown to ~36", I decided to shoot for a 36" waist to allow more mobility, particularly in the legs and the fit was perfect. I bought a 36x30 in the Columbia and a L-30 inch in the White Sierra and a and they were both exactly 36x30. The zipper for the legs is right at the knee so the shorts are just above the knee when sitting. I couldn't decide which I liked more (these or the White Sierra) because they were basically the same. Material and fit and style were identical. Only differences were the White Sierra had a velcro strap to allow you to cinch the ankles, which is a nice feature, but the velcro isn't placed in a good position to allow you to cinch them as much as they should be able to. Also, the thigh pockets are truly on the side (which I like better) while the White Sierra thigh pockets were more in front of the thighs. But the White Sierra has 1 additional cell phone/pocket knife type pocket behind the right thigh pocket. Left thigh pocket and back pockets had velcro flaps and the right thigh pocket has a zipper closure, which is good for items that need to be more secure (White Sierra had all Velcro flaps). Both have flimsy but functional belts. If I had to pick a winner between the two, I may lean toward the White Sierra because the legs were just slightly more baggy to enhance mobility, but I wouldn't say the Columbia pants are restrictive in any way. These were $4 more than the White Sierra ($44 vice $40), but you can’t go wrong with either pants.

Comfortable and light weight. True to size.

First, please understand that I love these pants. They are comfortable, the zippers for attaching and detaching the pants work easily and consistently and they were my dependable pair for over 500 miles on walking the Camino de Santiago. The 3 star rating is due to the fact that the stitching in the shorts was simply not strong. At the base of the fly below the zipper the stitching came out leaving a hole which I had to hand stitch on the trail. Then the two back pockets, both with double seam type stitching could not keep the weight of my cell phone in check. I had to hand sew the left one and then quit using the right one completely as when I forgot the hole I ended up feeling my very expensive phone sliding down the length of my pants almost into my shoe. I would love to have these pants with more dependable stitching so I could feel as if I and my belongings were safe within them. I expect more from this outstanding outdoor clothing provider. They look good, they flex well, then they sprout holes in essential places. I am glad they had extra pockets as alternatives to the holey ones so my hiking could continue!