Hiking pants?

[Macchina]

I am looking for a new pair of pants to replace my nylon zip-offs. I think I want a pair of nice cargo pants unless there is a good pair of zip-offs out there. I am very partial to rip-stop cotton such as some BDU pants are made out of. I just ordered a pair of 5.11 Flash pants, but I think these will be a little too warm. I am looking at these Woolrich Elite ripstop pants. Any suggestions?

 

[j williams]

I love my woolrich pants. they are great. Northface makes some nice ones too.

 

[kgd]

I like the quick dry series nylon. They tend to be mosquito resistant and UV resistant. Cotton gets wet and stays wet but they are damn comy when they are dry. Columbia markets good quick dry nylon pants at pretty low cost.

 

[Ken C.]

Columbia GPS pants. I have 2 pair designated strictly for hiking.

 

[Fallbrook Forge]

well if you're like me and have a 36" inseam, none of the standard "outdoor" clothing mfgs' will make a pant that fits you, I have and love 5.11 nylon and cotton pants, if I'm backcountry I stick with nylon, check these out
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?id=cat601779&navAction=jump&navCount=1&cmCat=MainCatcat21082&parentType=category&parentId=cat21082

 

[myright]

I just got a pair of EMS brand zip offs. They are the same material as BDUs and very comfortable.

 

[Noshtero]

Surprisingly the best pair I've found was at a Steve and Barry's. They're cotton cargos, but their a really light weight cotton. You have to really look for them. S&B's sells probably 4 or 5 different heavy weight cargos, and then this 1 pair of light weight cargo. I've seen them from other companies as well. The dead giveaway is they usally have draw string AND snap/zip flies on them. The heavy weight cargos never have draw strings.

 

[Mack]

I tend to wear Eddie Bauer ripstop zipoffs. Very comfortable, light and loose fitting.

 

[fzen]

Last year J.Crew (yeah, the yuppie store) had awesome lightweight cotton ripstop cargo's on sale for $20. They were very light weight and great for the summer. Buttons instead of velcro on the pockets - more secure and quieter to open. I plan on wearing my in africa in a few months.

That said I wouldn't wear them any place where the weather drops below 50F. Once they get wet they stay wet. I'm looking for some poly cotton blend cargo's myself. I just hate how loud the synthetic materials are when they rub against anything.

 

[hayseedw45]

I'm going to be trying out the 5.11 Nylon Tactical shirt and pants on an upcoming trip. I like the fit and the wear of the cotton 5.11 gear so I decided to try the nylon. Which is supposed to be quick drying and provide protection from the sun.

Jerry

 

[stingray4540]

Good 'ol solid tan BDU's are hard to beat, especially for the price.

 

[vetkaw63]

Cotton kills!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Depends.
Where I live we get more than a few days with triple digit temperatures, and a lot of days in the mid to high 90s. Cotton absorbs water both ways. I.e. it absorbs sweat from my body as the sun evaporates it, it helps cool. Sometimes I'll drench myself with water for the cooling effect. So the properties of cotton that kill in cool weather can be a lifesaver in hot weather.

That being said, I like my good ol' Carhartt shirts and cargo pants.

 

[koyote]

Cotton is dangerous, but... well, I like my utilikilts. I do hike in them, at least 3 season. Socks and longjohns sometimes, but they sure to hold stuff well.