REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Review

We enjoyed wearing these pants while hiking and backpacking, and they kept us cool in the humid heatwave of late summer in New England. Thoughtful design at a reasonable price makes them a great choice.

Comfort and Mobility

These pants offer the mobility of a 96% nylon/4% spandex blend that feels light and comfortable against the skin. They advertise a relaxed fit, which we found to be accurate, especially in the front and thighs. Though they are not quite as stretchy as some, especially in the crotch, we found enough freedom of movement for hiking and backpacking.

These pants aren't as well-tailored as some of the more expensive options, but for the price, they have a decent fit. Our main gripe is with the low crotch seam, which adds fabric to the front of the pants and prevents us from taking long strides. We wouldn't take these pants climbing or scrambling where acrobatic movements are needed.

With these pants, we observed a short inseam length compared to other brands. We also noticed this trend in other pants from REI Co-Op, so at least they are consistent. If you can, size up compared to your normal inseam length with other brands.

Venting and Breathability

This pair is slightly above average regarding its breathability, but it shines when it comes to ventilation. The stretch-nylon blend kept us cooler on warmer days. When it just got too hot, we took advantage of the convertible feature and removed the lower legs. Most other pairs of convertible pants require the wearer to remove their footwear to get into shorts mode. The massive zippers on the lower legs of the Sahara's make it super easy to slide them off, even over chunky hiking boots. As a result, we were much more likely to actually use the conversion feature.

If even that is too much of a hassle, though, the lower leg side zips function as an in-between option. Each leg has a snap at the ankle to hold the bottom in place so they don't flap around. And though they don't quite seem like they were intentionally designed for it, another option is to fully unzip the lowers, pull up the material above the knee, and secure it with the ankle snap. If you're worried about being able to adapt to changing temperatures, we think these pants are a truly excellent option.

Weather Resistance

We were pleasantly surprised by how water-resistant this model proved to be. In the first rainstorm we wore them, they kept us completely dry from the waist down. After a few spins through the washing machine, they started to show signs of water absorption. These pants certainly aren't waterproof, but they'll protect you from a few raindrops, at least at first.

One sneaky smart addition REI made to these pants is making the hand warmer pocket interiors from half stretch nylon (against the skin) and half mesh (facing away from the skin). This arrangement provides a modest amount of ventilation while also preventing precipitation from running into the pocket and down your thigh.

Features

The Sahara Convertible is loaded with features. Some could use a small tweak, but for the most part, we were impressed. These pants come with a full complement of pockets: two front hand warmers, two cargo, and two rear. The righthand front and cargo pockets also have smaller inset mesh pockets for change and protein bars, respectively. One of the cargo pockets closes with a zipper and one has a flap over the opening.

We love the depth of the two front pockets. We wish the rear pockets had a zipper (instead of just a flap with no secure closure). We didn't have a huge issue with items falling out, but for traveling in busy areas where wallet security is a consideration, it would bring us peace of mind to be able to close those pockets completely.

As for other features, the conversion zippers glide much more smoothly than those on some other convertible models. For even more user-friendliness, they are right/left color-coded, so it is easy to reattach the legs on the correct side. The vertical zippers help adjust the fit over a variety of mountaineering footwear. The value presented by convertible pants is excellent, meaning you get both a pair of pants and a pair of functional shorts with your purchase.

Elastic in the waist allows for some leeway when selecting the right size.   Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

The Sahara includes two front cargo pockets, one with a zipper and one without, as well as zip-off shorts that also unzip vertically for easy removal over footware.   Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

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Versatility

The Sahara pants perform well in a variety of activities. Their multiple ventilation options and durability allow them to adapt nicely to both hot and cooler weather, and their water resistance is great for getting you through a heavy rainstorm relatively unscathed.

We don't think they are particularly stylish. The cargo pockets and conversion zippers aren't our first choice to wear around town, but if practicality is more important than fashion, this pair will suit you well. We don't like to use these pants when we need a wide range of motion, but for most hiking and walking, these pants are versatile enough.

Should You Buy the REI Sahara Convertible?

These pants are a solid choice for a variety of outdoor activities. They have a host of useful features that make them a great value for anyone who needs a reliable pair of hiking pants that they can turn to again and again. They are comfortable to wear on the trail, but they also make a good pair of pants for travel due to their breathability and convertibility. And at 11.9 ounces, they pack away nicely in a carry on.

What Other Hiking Pants Should You Consider?