There are two “styles” of hiking pant available, the convertible hiking pant and the standard hiking pant. Each style has their benefits and specific uses.
Convertible Hiking Pants vs. Standard Hiking Pants
Convertible hiking pants convert to hiking shorts by use of a zipper that allows the lower 2/3 of the leg to zip-off.
By contrast, a standard, non-convertible hiking pant is just that—a pant. The standard hiking pant often has zippers on the lower part of the leg, to make it easier to remove the pants without needing to remove boots. However, standard hiking pants can’t convert to hiking shorts.
There are benefits and drawbacks to each style. The standard hiking pant, since it lacks the zipper across the upper-leg, has a much cleaner, sleeker appearance. Even up close, quality standard hiking pants almost pass for a nice looking pair of casual, dress pants. Moreover, everything else equal, a non-convertible pant is a “tad lighter” in weight than a convertible pant is—since the zipper and extra fabric needed to cover the zipper isn’t needed.
Which Style to Choose?
Which style to choose depends on the type of hiking a person does and whether the person will use their hiking pants for “other things” beyond hiking. For example, I wear my hiking pants “around town” much of the year. The lightweight and breathability of a hiking pant is ideal for everyday tasks such as shopping, walking downtown or simply going to a neighbor’s barbeque. For these activities, I find the non-convertible pant ideal, since the look just like a normal casual pant.
But for hiking, the convertible hiking pant simply can’t be beat. I enjoy the flexibility to start a hike in long pants, change over to shorts during the warmer temperatures of mid-day, then back into long pants as temperatures fall in the evening. In terms of pure flexibility and practicality, the convertible hiking pant is better than a standard hiking pant.