Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pants
Mens clothing
Rating
| Rating: | 8.6 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 2.0 / 2.5 |
| Comfort | 2.0 / 2.5 |
| Weight | 2.3 / 2.5 |
| Durability | 2.3 / 2.5 |
Columbia Men's Silver Ridge Convertible Pants Review
After footwear, your pants are probably the one piece of personal equipment that takes the most beating. The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants are extremely lightweight and are made for warmer conditions and in looking at them and wearing them they feel so light that you wouldn’t expect them to last. This is where they surprise with the oldest of the two pairs I currently use just over eight years old and they still in good condition.
Overall these pants are very comfortable and they are reasonably form fitting without being to tight although they lack the stretchability of pants like the Prana Zion Convertible Pants. or the Kuhl Radikl Pants. The leg length is reasonable but I would prefer the 34″ inseam which can be harder to source due to my height.
The waist band on these pants is excellent as it comes with two short stretch sections that caters for additional layering as well as weight gain/weight loss on the trail. These pants come with a belt and I suggest using it particularly if you carry lots of accessories in the pockets like I do.
Speaking of pockets, there are six of them. Two in the back, two at the waist an two on the legs (one zip and one velcro) so you have plenty of options to store your accessories.
The main drawback for these pants is that the synthetic material gives me a heat rash in extreme heat 30°C+. The zip off legs make it easy to convert into shorts if the weather gets too hot but I am anti shorts when I am hiking and will only unzip the legs at the end of the day when I am relaxing or when I need to wash the mud of the lower section of the pants.
Like any pair of convertible pants you tend to be aware that there is a zip in the legs but this isn’t so noticeable as to be annoying. When wearing these pants as shorts, the leg length sits just above knee level. Another minor annoyance is that the lighter colours stain easily. This doesn’t effect the function of the pants but does make them look dirty even after a number of pre-soaks and washes.
These pants have been around for a number of years for good reason and even with the various faults they are one of the most popular pants on the market
We like
- Zip off legs that allow for versatility of clothing choice. Too hot? Then just zip of the bottom half of the legs to cool down. Too cool? Zip them back on, problem solved
- Leg zips are marked with L and R. Believe me this saves a heap of time when trying to work out what legs section goes on which side
- Elastic stretch sections in the waist. As you loose/put on weight they will change with you (to a point)
- Six pockets: two on the legs, two at the waist and two rear pockets provide ample storage. The leg pockets consist of one zip pocket and one velcro pocket. The pockets are also a good size so will allow you to store most accessories
- I use the waist pockets to store my compact camera and it sits very securely providing quick access when the need arises
- A wide range of colours to suit the most fashion conscious hiker
- Comes with a belt which if your like me and store various accessories including my camera in my pants pocket then you will need it
We don't like
- This pants don’t contain a Durable Water Repellant Treatment (DWR) on the fabric and as such they are not the best choice for cold or very wet conditions
- I have found that when used in very hot temperatures, 30 degrees celsius and above, that I develop a heat rash. So while they are very light weight and great for warm conditions they aren’t good for extreme temperatures. While you can remove the legs to help you cool down I’m not a shorts kind of guy
Best Uses
- Three seasons hiking where snow or extreme heat is not involved
- Temperatures between 10°C-25°C
Investment
AUD $120.00 RRP. The price varies depending on the size and colour
Other Versions
Columbia produce a range of other pant styles but the Silver Ridge Convertible Pants are the best known
Full length pants on the left vs the shorts without the leg section the right
Leg zip. the zipper pull is marked with L or R so you always know which is your left and right leg section
Buy One
You can purchase the Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pants online from Amazon Australia
Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!
Disclaimer
This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker
Last updated
3/12/2023