REI Co-op Sahara Convertible - Women's Review

The Sahara Convertible pants come in plenty of sizes for every body shape. REI makes them in plus, regular, and petite sizes ranging from 0 to 26w. The shorts range from 6.75 inches to 7 inches in length. Their 96% recycled nylon and 4% bluesign-approved spandex blend gives these pants a light, stretchy feel.

Comfort and Mobility

While zip-offs can sometimes have a bad rep for looking frumpy or dorky, we felt anything but while wearing these pants. While they're not the most stylish we tested, we actually felt great, even confident, while wearing them. The legs are slightly baggy but still have a relatively form-fitting look around the waist and thighs. The relaxed fit works well for a range of body types. While these aren't the coziest pair of pants we tested, the fabric is still fairly comfortable, and we didn't experience much chafing after many miles of hiking.

We are also impressed by how well these pants move. Extra tucks of fabric around the knee give you enough range of motion for scrambly hikes or rock climbs. We didn't encounter any restrictions when chimneying through the canyons of southern Utah or scrambling across rocks in Tahoe while wearing the Sahara.

The partial stretch in the waistband gave us good movement when bending over or stretching out. While some stretchy fabrics tend to stretch out over time, the Sahara maintains its shape mile after mile.

Venting and Breathability

We appreciate that these pants breathe exceptionally well and let air pass through to cool your legs. But they're almost too good at it. A few times during testing, our legs got chilly. If you're primarily hiking in hot climates, these are an excellent option. If not, you will likely need a baselayer beneath these pants.

The ability to convert these pants into shorts is obviously a plus. And if you hate long shorts, the shorter, breezier inseam of the Sahara is likely to be much more up your alley.

REI also added a side zipper on the zip-off portion of the pants. This lets you easily remove the lower panel without taking off your boots. Though we thought this amount of zippers would lead to chafing, we never had that problem. We also appreciate how easy it is to turn these pants into shorts. While putting the panels back on is still slow, it's not as irksome as taking our shoes off.

Weather Resistance

The Sahara's durable water repellent (DWR) finish does an admirable job of keeping splashes and sprinkles from soaking your pants. On misty, drizzly hikes, sea kayaking trips, and wet dog walks, these pants shook off light dousings with ease. However, they didn't hold up for long in rainstorms. The Sahara's were among the first pants in the test to dry out after a good soaking. All told, we think these are excellent pants to wear during a light drizzle.

These pants are the perfect balance of breathable and wind-blocking. While they do let some air through, we still felt comfortable in up to 20 mph winds. While there are better options we reviewed that block wind over 40 mph, these do a good enough job at blocking wind for most casual adventures. We especially appreciated these pants' design in warm, sunny conditions, thanks to their UPF 50+ protection, which kept us well covered and sunburn-free.

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Construction Quality

We've worn these pants for a few seasons now and don't have any cause for concern. While the material is thin, it shows minimal signs of wear and tear. When we tested the hem on rough granite, we could see some scraping after 20 or so passes.

We also appreciate how much consideration went into constructing these pants. With excellent features that have yet to fail, you get a lot of use out of these pants.

Versatility and Features

Convertible pants get high marks for versatility on the trail. As shorts, the Sahara's range from a 6.75-inch to 7-inch inseam, which is just long enough to prevent chafing but short enough so we felt like we were actually wearing shorts. We appreciate the more feminine look compared to other convertibles.

With excellent water-repelling technology and quick-drying fabric, the Sahara pants are also a good option for a kayaking trip or activities around the water. Their exceptional mobility also lends them usefulness at the crag, though we aren't sure how the thinner fabric will hold up to abrasive surfaces over time.

Where they aren't as versatile is in the rest of your life. They work great for outdoorsy pursuits, but don't transition well to the office or a quick dinner with friends. They're a look and it's outdoorsy.

One of the biggest reasons that the Sahara Convertible is worth a few extra bucks when compared to the pared-down, least expensive models is that REI did not skimp on features.

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One of our favorite features is the zips on their hems, which let you convert them to shorts without taking your boots off, a rare feat. They also allow you to unzip the bottoms to catch a breeze. If you unzip them too much, though, the flopping fabric gets in the way.

The other feature that makes these pants more user-friendly is the color-coding on the zippers that turn them into shorts. This helps you reassemble the pants without having to guess which side is which. We love this.

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The pockets also work well. You can fit your hands fully into the front pockets, a shockingly rare feat for hiking pants. The two cargo pockets can hold most phones, and one has a zip to secure important items. These pants also have a built-in drawcord belt, which is super handy if you are planning a longer adventure where your weight might fluctuate. There are belt loops too, if you prefer to use a belt, or like to have something sturdy to hang your keys on while hiking.

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Should You Buy the REI Co-op Sahara Convertible

The REI Co-op Sahara Convertible pants have many useful features and excellent comfort and mobility, giving you everything you could ask for in a reasonably priced pair of pants. These aren't the least expensive pants in our lineup, but the Sahara Convertible out-performs most of the other models in this review and is a pair of hiking pants and shorts wrapped in one. These pants included recycled materials and materials that meet bluesign environmental standards. If you value environmental sustainability, that could sweeten the deal.

What Other Hiking Pants Should You Consider?

If you need to save some money, the Cycorld Convertible Outdoor Pants 11 are convertible pants for less. They aren't as comfortable, though, and you will need to remove your shoes to switch between pants and shorts.