Friday, August 1, 2025

Males’s Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Mountain climbing Pant Assessment| CleverHiker


Backside Line

The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible pant is a budget-friendly selection for hikers searching for versatility. Created from light-weight, quick-drying nylon, these pants excel in heat climate and are perfect for mountaineering, backpacking, and journey. The zip-off legs convert them into shorts, providing comfort for altering situations, and the UPF 50 material offers glorious solar safety. The Silver Ridge is a longtime favourite and continues to be one in all our finest mountaineering pants.

With a practical design, the Silver Ridge Convertible Pants characteristic six pockets, together with a zippered thigh pocket for preserving smaller objects safe.  The partial elastic waistband and gusseted crotch improve mobility and luxury for spending our days out on the path. Nevertheless, the match and sturdiness of those pants go away extra to be desired. These are a few of the baggiest pants we’ve examined notably by means of the decrease legs. The skinny materials and mesh pockets go away us with considerations concerning the pants’ long-term sturdiness. Regardless of these shortcomings, the Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible pants are an inexpensive selection for fair-weather hikes and out of doors actions in summer time temperatures.

How We Examined

We examined the Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible on Alaskan trails, hikes, and peaks throughout the span of a number of months. Each pair of pants we check has been out in quite a lot of climate and we’re certain to take every pair out for as many miles on path as attainable throughout that point.

Fast Specs

Males’s Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible

Inexpensive & Breathable Convertible Mountain climbing Pants


CleverHiker Score:

72.3/100


Value:

$65


Weight:

11.9 oz.


Match:

Relaxed


Material:

Fundamental: 100% ripstop nylon, Mesh panels: 100% polyester (57% recycled)

Professionals

  • Inexpensive
  • Comes with removable belt
  • Skinny and breathable
  • Material feels mild

Cons

  • Static material
  • Not water-resistant
  • Much less sturdy than some

A closeup of a color coded zip on convertible hiking pants.
Colour coded zips assist establish corresponding pant legs. – Photograph Credit score: Miles Knotek (CleverHiker.com)

Consolation & Mobility

The Silver Ridge comes with a partial elastic waistband and an included belt. The waistband options elastic by means of the again and a much less stretchy materials within the entrance. The built-in belt is a superb characteristic to assist preserve the pants safe, however the massive plastic buckle can press into the abdomen uncomfortably once we bend over. A gusseted crotch is a superb design to assist make the pants extra cell. When in shorts mode, they’ve a ten-inch inseam for consolation and higher breathability.

The match of the Silver Ridge is massive and billowy. The pants legs have a big diameter, particularly under the knee. That is to make it straightforward to transform into shorts with out having to take away the footwear. Which means whereas in pants mode, they’re very dishevelled. These pants will possible match thicker legs higher.

A closeup of the belt on a pair of hiking pants.
An built-in belt helps preserve the pants safe. – Photograph Credit score: Miles Knotek (CleverHiker.com)

Breathability

Even in pants mode, the Silver Ridge is extraordinarily breathable. The skinny nylon materials made with Columbia’s Omni-Wick expertise pulls moisture to the material’s floor and evaporates shortly. These pants dry in a short time when moist and are a terrific selection for sporting on scorching summer time days.  If the pants aren’t breathable sufficient for you, simply convert them to shorts for additional air flow. The mix of breathable material and the power to transform into shorts makes the Silver Ridge one in all our greatest pants to put on for warm summer time days.

A man hikes along a frosty trail in early winter.
The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible is extraordinarily breathable. – Photograph Credit score: Miles Knotek (CleverHiker.com)

Climate Resistance

Whereas extraordinarily breathable, the Silver Ridge has little to supply for climate resistance. There isn’t a waterproof remedy or DWR coating to assist resist moisture. The skinny nylon materials shortly wets by means of even with just some drops of water. Nevertheless, the skinny material dries shortly once they do change into soaked. These should not our first option to put on on a wet hike, however in case you do get caught within the rain, they may dry shortly on the transfer.

A man hikes down a lightly snowy trail in a blue jacket and green pants.
The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible has mild climate resistance and is finest fitted to sunny days. – Photograph Credit score: Miles Knotek (CleverHiker.com)

Sturdiness

Upon first sporting the Silver Ridge, it’s instantly evident that the nylon is extraordinarily skinny. This may increasingly enhance breathability and drying ties, but it surely leaves us with questions concerning the pants’ long-term sturdiness, notably across the pant cuffs. On our check hikes, we regularly stepped on the massive, buggy cuffs and scuffed them with our muddy footwear. Moreover, the skinny mesh pockets should not confidence-inspiring and go away us questioning their integrity. Though the pants have held up throughout our assessments, they may warrant keeping track of sooner or later for materials failures.

A man hikes in olive green hiking pants.
The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible is cell and cozy for lengthy hikes. – Photograph Credit score: Miles Knotek (CleverHiker.com)

Options

With six cargo pockets, there’s loads of room to hold important objects in your subsequent hike. Nevertheless, the pockets are awkwardly small and tight. The zippered pocket on the left thigh is simply too small to suit a mobile phone, and the precise velcro flap pocket is massive sufficient that strolling with it loaded is floppy and awkward. The zip-offs have color-coordinated zips to assist preserve the respective legs matched up. Nevertheless, the decrease legs lack a vertical zip making it troublesome to transform into brief mode whereas nonetheless sporting footwear. The Silver Ridge has plenty of the traditional options present in cargo pants, however we really feel like they might use some trendy updates to make them extra sensible. Regardless of this, they’re nonetheless a backcountry-ready pair of pants for individuals who just like the traditional practicality of cargo pants.

A man puts an item in a velcro cargo pocket on a pair of pants.
The massive pockets are nice for preserving necessities shut. – Photograph Credit score: Miles Knotek (CleverHiker.com)

Ought to You Purchase the Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pant?

When you’re somebody who loves affordability and dependability, then the Silver Ridge is the pair of pants for you. Fast-drying, breathable, and convertible, this pant is a superb possibility for summer time adventures. Nevertheless, Columbia has additionally favored  perform over trend. These pants are very dishevelled and never the most effective match for thinner legs. Although its look and match aren’t for everybody, the Silver Ridge is a long-time favourite for its versatility and performance. When you’re making an attempt to get the most effective bang on your buck, the Silver Ridge is a reliable selection that provides nice worth.

A waist down shot of a person hiking off trail.
The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible is cell sufficient for off path adventures. – Photograph Credit score: Miles Knotek (CleverHiker.com)

What Different Mountain climbing Pants Ought to You Think about?

Take a look at our full gear information for the lineup of finest mountaineering pants.

REI Sahara Convertible Assessment – One other nice convertible pant, the Sahara provides related efficiency however with barely totally different options.

Rab Incline Gentle Assessment – If convertible pants aren’t your model, however you continue to need a extremely breathable pant, the Incline Gentle is a superb full-length possibility that also has nice air flow.

Mammut Runbold Assessment – Slimmer than the Silver Ridge, the Runbold is extremely versatile and a greater match for skinnier legs.

A man walks down a snowy trail in hiking pants.
The zip-off size is at a cushty size in each pants and shorts mode. – Photograph Credit score: Miles Knotek (CleverHiker.com)

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