Outstanding design, solid performance

Mountain Hardware hits a home run for backpackers with these durable, convertible pants. I carry a heavy pack, and the lightweight nylon strap belt is unnoticeable beneath the pack's waist belt. The features are well thought out: there's an internal zip pocket inside the right front pocket, so you won't lose your wallet or other small valuables. The left front pocket has a hook to keep your car keys from getting lost. The rear pockets are deep but loose, so items in those can potentially fall out. The ankles have snaps--you can easily slide the lower pant leg off over a large boot when you want to convert to shorts. The material is extremely durable and mosquitoes can't seem to bite through them, but they are easily burned: I have a small hole in my pair from a stray ember. Even though the material is tough, the pants are also light weight and comfortable in almost any weather. My only real complaint is that they do shrink--mine did by quite a bit. Without that, I would give these pants a straight five stars. But the design is still better than anything else on the market. Other makers could learn a lot by studying these.