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Patagonia Quandary - Women's Review

Good for moderate day hikes but not an ideal backcountry hiking pant
Patagonia Quandary - Women's
Photo: Patagonia
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Price:  $80 List | Check Price at REI
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Lightweight, soft material
Cons:  Double inseams chafe and are uncomfortable, not water resistant
Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Cam McKenzie Ring ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 9, 2019
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54
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#14 of 15
  • Comfort and Mobility - 35% 4
  • Venting And Breathability - 20% 8
  • Weather Resistance - 15% 6
  • Features - 15% 6
  • Versatility - 15% 4

Our Verdict

The women's Patagonia Quandary received mostly average scores across the board, except for in the comfort category, because the double inseams chafed against our inner thighs all day. This fact made them one of the least comfortable pairs in the review, which is too bad because otherwise, they are a solid pair of hiking pants. The material is lightweight and relatively breathable, and they can roll-up and snap into place on hot days. They aren't very water-resistant and take a while to dry, so we don't recommend these as a backpacking option. These pants are best for shorter hikes close to home and while rock climbing.

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award  Best Buy Award 
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Pros Lightweight, soft materialAll-day comfort, versatile, breathable, wind-resistantMobile, wide range of fit options, shed water easily, excellent pocketsIncredibly light, soft with endless stretch, breathable, DWR finishLightweight, easy to move in, breathable
Cons Double inseams chafe and are uncomfortable, not water resistantCan be long, snug in the thighs, tie at the ankle isn’t the bestButton doesn’t appear to be durable, limited color optionsNot the most flattering, low rise can be uncomfortableMaterial pills, front pockets are small, sizing is off
Bottom Line Good for moderate day hikes but not an ideal backcountry hiking pantWith their endless mobility, comfortable details, and technical chops, these pants are up for any adventureA great bargain for a convertible hiking pant the does it allIncredibly soft, flowy, and stretchy, these pants are comfortable, except for the low rise, which can make the crotch feel tightA lightweight, breathable, and weather resistant pair of pants that perform adequately to get you out on the trails without spending a ton
Rating Categories Patagonia Quandary... Outdoor Research Fe... REI Co-op Sahara Co... Mountain Hardwear D... Columbia Saturday T...
Comfort And Mobility (35%)
4.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
5.0
Venting And Breathability (20%)
8.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
Weather Resistance (15%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
8.0
Features (15%)
6.0
7.0
9.0
6.0
4.0
Versatility (15%)
4.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
Specs Patagonia Quandary... Outdoor Research Fe... REI Co-op Sahara Co... Mountain Hardwear D... Columbia Saturday T...
Measured Weight, Size Regular (oz) 9.0 oz 9.5 oz 9.6 oz 4.10 oz 9.2 oz
Size options and versions 0 to 22, Short, Regular 0 to 14 0 to 22w, Petitie, Regular, Plus, Tall XS - XL 2 to 24w Short, Regular, Plus, Long
Fabric 94% nylon, 6% spandex 86% ripstop, 14% spandex 90D stretch woven ripstop Nylon 94% Nylon, 6% Elastane Omni-Shield Summiteer Lite 96% Nylon, 4% Elastane
Fabric Features Quick-dry Quick dry Ultralight Omni-Shield advanced repellency
DWR Finish? Yes No Yes Yes No
UPF? UPF 50+ UPF 50+ UPF 50+ No rating UPF 50
Pockets 2 hand, 1 side (zip), 2 back (1 zip) 2 hip, 2 back, 1 cargo 2 hand, 2 back, 2 cargo 2 side, 1 rear, 1 zippered thigh 2 hand, 1 side (zip), 2 back (Velcro)
Zip-Off or Roll-Up? Roll-up Roll-up Zip-off Roll-up Roll-up
Integrated Belt? Yes, internal drawcord Yes Yes No No
Fit Features Gussetted crotch, 2 inseam lengths Gusseted crotch, articulated knees, drawstring at waist, stretch fabric Gusseted crotch, mid rise, convert to shorts Three inseam length options, elastic waist, stretch fabric Gusseted crotch, mid rise, straight leg, convertible to capris
Social or Environmental Certifications Partially recycled nylon

Our Analysis and Test Results

But The Patagonia Quandary is made with 94% nylon (62% recycled) and 6% spandex. It has a DWR finish and has a 50+ UPF rating for sun protection. The Quandary comes in Short and Regular inseams (but not Long) and sizes 0-14. We did find that they fit true to size. But, the material stretches out a lot during the day, so even if they are tight on you to start, they won't stay that way for long.

Performance Comparison


We were excited by the double inseam option at first as we thought...
We were excited by the double inseam option at first as we thought it might make the pants more mobile, but instead, all we noticed was them rubbing against our inner thighs.
Photo: Cam McKenzie Ring

Comfort & Mobility


We were initially intrigued by the double inseam design on the Quandary pants and were hopeful that it would make them a highly mobile pair. Instead, it just rubbed us the wrong way — literally! Some of the convertible pants in this review irritated us from the zipper for shorts conversion rubbing against our thighs, but in no other pants did we notice the inseams as much as we did on this pair.

Something about these inseams rubbed us the wrong way! Maybe because...
Something about these inseams rubbed us the wrong way! Maybe because there are two of them, or because they stand out from the flat material.
Photo: Cam McKenzie Ring

Maybe it's because there are two of them and one rubs in a spot where we don't usually have an inseam. Maybe it's because the material is so thin that the inseams stick out more. We don't know for sure. But we do know that every time we put these on, we noticed it, and we couldn't wait to take them off again.

We didn't want to knock this pair for something that could be just one lady's issue, so we passed them around to a few girlfriends, and they all reported the same thing. If that doesn't bother you, this pair is quite mobile, and we wore them while rock climbing with no issues or impingements.

These weren't the lightest or most breathable pair, but they came...
These weren't the lightest or most breathable pair, but they came close! They worked well for warm spring days that start of cool in the morning but heat up quickly.
Photo: Cam McKenzie Ring

Venting and Breathability


The material is on the lighter side and feels reasonably breathable. We didn't overheat in 75-degree weather, and rolling up the legs helps them vent even more.

You can roll up the bottom of these pants and secure them at a crop...
You can roll up the bottom of these pants and secure them at a crop length.
Photo: Cam McKenzie Ring

Versatility


This model can convert to a crop with a tab and a snap. The shortening system works well, and the inner tab never bothered us or got in the way. It also has a fairly neutral look to it, so it could easily double as travel pants.

The DWR coating didn't work on this pant very well or for very long...
The DWR coating didn't work on this pant very well or for very long. It can repel a light drizzle, but that's about it.
Photo: Cam McKenzie Ring

Weather Resistance


The Quandary has a DWR finish, and while water does bead up a little, it quickly soaks into the fabric. Note that we tested their weather resistance after we had worn and washed them at least half a dozen times, so the DWR may have worn off in the wash. If you plan to wash your pants a lot, you'll want to get some special wash to renew that DWR coating.

They are on the lighter side, thickness wise, and didn't do much to block the wind, but they do have a UPF 50+ rating.

The elastic drawstring is too thin and stretchy to be effective.
The elastic drawstring is too thin and stretchy to be effective.
Photo: Cam McKenzie Ring

Features


There are just a few basic features on the Quandary. The hand pockets are on the small side and don't even fit our hands into them well. The zippered side pocket is nice and large, though, and can accommodate a smartphone. There are two flat pockets on the behind, one of which has a zipper. We think the internal drawstring is a bit of a joke. It's a thin and stretchy piece of elastic that doesn't tighten the pants very effectively, which is unfortunate because the Quandary pants tend to sag and stretch out during the day, and we were hoping for a better way to keep them up. Luckily there are belt loops, though that is usually not our favorite option for tightening our hiking pants if we're wearing it under a hip belt.

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

Value


The Quandary retails at a standard rate for a pair of hiking pants these days. They don't convert to shorts or capris, making them less versatile than the two-for-one options (though not everyone likes that look or style). There are a handful of pants that score better than the Quandary while costing the same (or less!).

We don't have any durability concerns during our testing, nor did we find any common issues when looking through other online reviews. Overall this seems like a well-made option that should hold up to the rigors of the trail.

Conclusion


Should they fit you well and you don't notice the inseams chaffing, the Patagonia Quandary is a good pair of hiking pants. The material is a nice weight, thick enough to hold up to some wear and tear but light enough to breathable.

— Cam McKenzie Ring