The North Face Paramount Peak Convertible Pant - Women's Review

Features
For those of you who prefer convertible pants with many different wear options, the North Face Paramount Peak pants are a wonderful option. They can serve as long pants, the bottoms roll up and button into capri-style pants, or the pants zip off at the knee to become shorts. Especially for long distance hikers who try to simplify what they carry, the multiple uses of these pants make them very desirable. They also allow for other types of modularity such as unzipping a gap at the knees to create a vent while not removing all of the lower pant leg.

These pants also have some complimentary features to make the modularity easier to use. The zippers have different colors on each leg, so that it is quick and easy to decide which pant leg zips on to which corresponding leg. The Paramount Peak pants also have extra elastic bands on the back waist of the pants where you can tuck the lower legs once you have zipped them off, in case you want to keep them handy rather than stuff them in your pack.

Though useful, zip-off pants are not going to win any fashion awards this year. The addition of all the convertible features adds a lot of weight, making them the heaviest pants in this review. Also, all the convertible features can be a huge hassle. For instance, the main downside to the zip-offs, is that only small footed people (roughly women's size 6) can remove the bottom of the legs while still wearing shoes. The rest of us will either need to decide what mode to wear the pants in for the whole day in the morning, or plan on removing boots during an extended water break.

Comfort & Fit
Some users have complained that the zippers can cause chafing on the legs, and prefer regular hiking pants without this features such as the OR Reverie. There is a zipper flap covering the zipper so that it does not rub directly on your legs, but the flap can become uncomfortable when hiking long distances depending on how the pants fit over your thigh. The zippers also make the pants fit some women strangely. Thighs are usually the problem area for women's pants, and the zippers exaggerate this fit problem. Some women fit very well in these pants, and others do not.

The drawstring closure on the waist doesn't keep the pants up very well. The pants stretch a little while wearing day after day, and the drawstring is very hard to tie as well as being too loose to help to tighten the pants very much. The design could be improved if the women's version had the same clip belt feature that the men's version of these pants have, or had an integrated belt such as the OR Reverie pants.

Movement
Convertible pants are more restrictive around the thigh, where the zipper is located, and not as stretchy or as comfortable as pants like the Patagonia Rock Guide.

Sweat Wicking/Breatheability
The nylon pants dries quickly and breathes fairly well.

Wind/Water/Sun Resistance
These pants are are very durable, stand up to hard use over prolonged periods of time, and are wind resistant – important features for a hiking pant. They are rated to 30 UPF to provide extra protection against sun and the nylon fabric has a DWR water resistant coating that keeps them from getting soaked too easily, allowing them to stand up to a light sprinkling.


Best Application
These convertible pants are best suited to long distance hiking and backpacking when every item carried should have multiple purposes. These pants essentially provide three different layers in one, which ultimately saves weight even though the pants themselves are heavier than other, simpler pants options.

Personal Stories (Advice from an AT Hiker)
We polled an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, who wore the Paramount Peak Convertible Pants for the entire 2000+ mile hike and loved them the whole way. The pants were durable, holding up well to hard use every day for almost six months. In the hot and humid weather on the East Coast, she used all three modes of the convertible pants and felt that they were the perfect option for such a long distance hike.

Value
At $65, the Paramount Peak pants offer the most wear options for the least money. For shorts, long pants, and capris, this is an excellent price. The durability of the fabric means they will last a long time, making this purchase an investment that is well worth it.

Other Versions
The North Face Paramount Peak Convertible Pants - Men's