Panting over hiking pants
February 8th, 2008
Acquiring gear seems forever fraught with the potential for buyer’s remorse, but one purchase I made a couple years back continues to satisfy: Columbia’s entry-level nylon hiking pants. I’ve logged what must be over a thousand miles in these guys — they have no bells or whistles (no belts or mesh undies, which just annoy me), they’ve got tons of pockets, they wash clean no matter how much cow crap I stumble through.
They just do their job, in other words (though I admit I almost never zip the leg bottoms off.) Melissa keeps wondering when they’ll wear out. So do I. But they keep hanging in there.
Goes to show you don’t have to buy Patagonia or Ex Officio’s top-of-the-line model to get durable, quality stuff.
Have to admit, though, that I’ve seen other pants that seem promising. If you like yours, please share with the rest of us.
Tags: Gear, hiking pants
February 8th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I have a pair of mountain hardare convertable pants and love em.
I spent ten days in the sage bush at Hart Mountain in central Oregon, ruined a pair of Lowa boots but the pants look like new. We were hunting and spent every day going cross country. I also wear them backpacking taking the legs off during the day, I can’t say enough about them they are great!!
February 9th, 2008 at 6:26 am
I’m got a pair of Sahara conv. pants by REI and they’ve lasted many miles bushwacking the cactus-studded granite Sandia Mountains by my house. Built-in web belt is nice too. I’d recommend them to anyone.
February 10th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I have a couple of pair of Columbia GRT convertables. I really like them, but I hate the way the pant bottoms seem to wear out by rubbing against themselves. I don’t think I have an unusual gait, but I’ve had to patch both pairs using a more durable matereial along the bottom hems. Actually my wife sewed them for me. Looks tatty, but they work. In summer I usually zip them off.