Gear: Pants, Shorts, Whatever

Product name: REI Sahara convertible pants

Made by: REI

Web Site: www.rei.com

Are convertible pants the ultimate tourist wear? Or a versatile choice for smart travelers? It’s a debate that, in travel circles, can often take on chicken-or-the-egg proportions. Yet it needn’t be so hard. Both reputations derive from their popularity—and it’s well-earned.

Among the many brands I’ve tried, REI’s Sahara convertible pants stood out for their snug fit and a host of low-fuss but highly useful features, all handy for active travelers. Let’s start at the top and work our way down.

Beyond just a button, the waist is fitted with both elastic and a canvas strap with a buckle, allowing tightening and loosening as whim and big meals necessitate. Velcro-sealing back pockets present a modicum of resistance to both pickpockets and roll-in-the-sand induced losses. Each Velcro-equipped cargo pocket has its own uses, with the left offering a standard large pocket and a narrow one perfect for cell phones, and the right an encompassing zip which makes it a good location for loose change. There’s another small pocket along the waist which I still haven’t found a use for, but maybe you can. Heck, there might be a few pockets I haven’t found yet.

Other virtues: They’re lightweight in hot weather yet water resistant. They have a zip along the seam allows you to slip them on—or off—over your boots. They don’t hold dirt and they dry quickly after a hand-washing. They’ll neither weigh down your bag nor take up precious space. And let’s not forget they convert to shorts, saving you even more space. Perhaps most easily overlooked feature is the netting and punch holes sewn into the interior of the pockets, from which dirt and sand can drain.

No argument, convertible pants are not likely to help you pass for a local. Yet, with a camera round your neck, an overstuffed backpack weighing you down, your tongue tripping through an unfamiliar language, and the heat turning you into a sweaty mess, who are you fooling? At least wear some comfortable pants.