Why We Love Convertible Hiking Pants
Convertible hiking pants are one of those pieces of hiking gear that can be especially useful when temperatures change throughout the day. With zip-off legs, you can start a chilly morning in full-length pants and switch to shorts once the trail warms up without needing to pack an extra pair of shorts. We’ve worn convertible hiking pants on everything from day hikes to longer adventures, and in this guide we’re sharing our favorite options for women and men.
Women's Convertible Hiking Pants
The REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Pants were my favorite convertible hiking pants for years. I bought my first pair in 2022 and loved them so much that I eventually bought them in three other colors. They became my go-to hiking pants and they have held up incredibly well despite a lot of wear. One pair has even developed holes on the back pocket because all the hikes where we’ve slid down rocks or shimmied into a tight spot, and yes, I’m still wearing them.
What I loved most about the original Sahara pants was the fit and comfort. The shorts were a great length, I could move easily in them, and they were comfortable around my hips. Some convertible pants can feel restrictive, especially around the zipper where the legs detach, but I never had that issue with these.
REI has since updated the Sahara Convertible Pants, and unfortunately, I don’t love the new fit on my body as much as the older version. My 2022 pairs used standard small, medium, and large sizing, while the newer version uses numerical sizing, and I’ve had a hard time finding a size that fits me quite right.
My older pairs have also started feeling a little snug around my hips as my body has changed over the past few years, which is what originally sent me searching for alternatives. I’ve tried several other convertible hiking pants since then, and I’ll share what I liked and didn’t like about each in this blog post.
That said, I know plenty of people really like the updated Sahara pants, so I wouldn’t rule them out based on my experience alone. I’d recommend trying them on to see how they fit your body. They’re also at a really good price point compared with many of the other convertible hiking pants I’ve tried.
I recently bought the KÜHL Freeflex Zip-Off Pants as another alternative to my old REI Sahara pants. So far, I’ve worn the shorts on a 10-mile hike, and my first impression is that they are extremely comfortable and easy to move in. One of my biggest concerns with convertible hiking pants is that the zipper around the thigh can sometimes make them feel restrictive, but I didn’t have that issue with these at all.
I also really like the pocket placement. There are pockets along both sides of the shorts, including a zippered pocket that makes it easy to securely store smaller items while hiking. The fabric feels lightweight and stretchy, and overall I barely noticed the pants while I was moving, which is exactly what I want from hiking pants.
The biggest adjustment for me has been the length of the shorts. They have an 8-inch inseam, which is longer than the shorts I’m used to hiking in, so that has taken me a little time to get used to.
I haven’t worn them as full-length pants on a hike yet, so I’m still testing them. I’ll continue updating this review as I wear them more, but after a 10-mile hike in the shorts, I’m really happy with the comfort and mobility so far.
I recently bought the Cotopaxi LosDos Zip-Off Pants and first tested the shorts on a 9-mile hike. They were so comfortable! I really like the length of the shorts, and I never felt restricted while hiking in them.
One useful feature is that the pant legs can fold into themselves after you zip them off, and you can hook them onto your pants instead of having to put them in your backpack.
I liked the pants enough that I bought another pair in a different color, which gave me the chance to test the full-length pants on an 8-mile hike. They have a baggier fit than what I normally wear, so that is taking me a little time to get used to, but I still thought they were very comfortable to hike in.
So far, I’ve been really happy with the comfort of both the shorts and the full-length pants.
For more color options check out Backcountry or Cotopaxi’s website.
I also tried the prAna Stretch Zion Convertible Pants, but unfortunately, these did not work for me. I wore them on one hike and ended up returning them afterward because I didn’t find the fit comfortable around my hips. They felt restrictive through my hips and butt, and I also noticed some restriction around the zipper where the pants convert into shorts.
I do have larger hips and a bigger butt, so this may simply come down to body type and how these pants fit different shapes. For me, though, I didn’t feel like I had enough freedom of movement to comfortably hike in them.
That said, I’ve seen plenty of other people who really like these pants, so I wouldn’t completely rule them out. I would recommend trying them on first and moving around in them to see how they feel around your hips and around the zip-off section before deciding if they’re right for you.
Men's Convertible Hiking Pants
I have above average sized quads and larger glutes, so I need pants and shorts that fit my legs and still allow freedom of movement. A lot brands that I’ve tried on are too tight for me and year over year, Kuhl’s designs have fit me the best. The aren’t too big or baggy and aren’t restrictive to my movement or uncomfortably tight.
I bought my first pair of convertible hiking pants in 2022. They were the Kuhl Renegade Convertible Pants with cargo pockets. I’ve worn them hiking Rim to Rim, backpacking in the Grand Canyon, and across the Superstition Ridgeline to name a few. Today, the Renegade Convertible pants are still a product from Kuhl, but the design has been updated.
I own two colors in the earlier version. They’ve always felt a little tighter around my quads (compared to my absolute favorite the Kuhl Renegade short) but not overly restrictive. I love how easy they are to take off with boots on; they have snap buttons on the cuff and side zipper that allow a wide opening. Inside one of the cargo pockets is a smaller pocket that fits a cell phone. These pants don’t have Kuhl’s signature phone pocket on the lower side of the thigh and that’s always been something that I didn’t love. Overall, my experience with the shorts has been positive and the material has felt strong, lasting 4+ years.
In the summer of 2026 I purchased the new version of the Renegade Convertible Pants because I had tried them on in store earlier in the year and really liked the fit. The pockets are different and the pants overall felt much lighter than the pervious version. And I love that the current version has the signature phone pocket. The thigh opening doesn’t feel as restrictive, which is a big win for me! Additionally, I love that the current version has colored zippers to easily match the pant legs when attaching them together. However, I don’t like that the removable leg doesn’t have a side zipper to make a large opening for easy removal.
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