REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Pant Review

REI Co-op's Sahara line is a popular collection designed for warm-weather hiking and backpacking adventures. Their Sahara Convertible Pant is a versatile addition, offering UV protection in a quick-dry material that can be easily converted into shorts via low-profile zippers. I've always liked the idea of convertible pants, but have found that they fit my body well either as pants or as shorts, but rarely both. But when I tried the Sahara Convertible, I was immediately impressed that it managed to do both without looking too dorky. I’ve worn them in a variety of weather conditions, including hot, exposed hikes in the Canadian Rockies and the misty, rainy Vancouver Islands. The Sahara did relatively well in both conditions. It will maintain a place in my hiking pant lineup, and I’ll continue to wear them in warmer weather. To see how it compares to the competition, check out our articles on the best women's hiking pants and the best hiking pants.

Table of Contents

• Weather Protection
• Breathability and Ventilation
• Features
• Comfort
• Weight and Packability
• Fit and Sizing
• Build Quality and Durability
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

Weather Protection

As their desert name implies, the Sahara Convertible Pants are designed for warm-to-hot, dry weather, and are made with UPF 50+ fabric for high levels of sun protection. I can confidently say they shielded me from the hot sun, and despite being fairly thin, my skin did not burn or tan through the material. I can’t say that sun exposure is a problem I’ve had with any pants (regardless of their UPF rating), but there is some comfort in knowing the sun’s strong rays will not penetrate. 
 

The nylon/spandex fabric comes with a PFAS-free durable water repellent (DWR) treatment. When it rained, the moisture initially beaded on the surface, although it didn’t take long for the material to wet out. However, the pants dried quickly when given the opportunity. The Sahara Pants do a nice job fending off wind and drafts, which was particularly noticeable during a hike on Tent Ridge in the Kananaskis wilderness. I would prefer the cuffs had a drawstring to fully stop drafts, but the fabric does a good job breaking the wind, and I didn't feel any drafts through the vertical or horizontal leg zippers.
 

Breathability and Ventilation

The REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Pants can be converted into shorts when the temperature rises—the ultimate way to increase breathability and ventilation. The zippers are color-coded, which helps with re-assembly, but they are tiny and difficult to reattach, especially with cold fingers. As pants, you can open the vertical zippers on the bottom of each leg, which I did when the temps increased on a warm ridge hike. Though this allowed for ventilation, the flapping legs were cumbersome and annoying, so I opted to fully unzip and remove them. The same flaps allow for easy removal over boots or shoes. The fabric itself is fairly thin, though I didn't find it especially breathable. That said, it wicks well, and I didn't become clammy or sweaty even in exposed sun in the Canadian Rockies.
 

Features

The key feature of the Sahara Convertible Pants is that they can be worn as shorts and feature side zippers down the bottom of each leg for ventilation and easy removal. Additionally, they have 6 pockets, including front hand pockets and two cargo pockets large enough to hold a bulky iPhone. One of the cargo pockets features a zipper for added security. The Sahara Convertible also has two back pockets, which I have never used. They seem unnecessary, and I'm not sure most people will use them. Otherwise, the Sahara Convertible features a simple design, complete with a standard zipper-and-button fly and an internal drawstring for a customizable fit. There are also belt loops, but the pants don't come with a belt.
 

Comfort

With 4% spandex, the Sahara Convertible Pants have a bit of stretch, although it's not very noticeable, especially when compared to options like the Arc’teryx Gamma Pant, which has 12% elastane, or the Outdoor Research Ferrosi, with 14% elastane. The Sahara's fit is quite baggy though, so despite their lack of stretch, I didn't feel movement restriction when wearing them as either shorts or pants, even when climbing steep slopes. The Sahara’s waist has an elastic back and is otherwise tightened with a drawstring. I’m personally not a fan of internal drawstrings because the laces get pressed into my stomach if I’m wearing a pack. Against the skin, the nylon/spandex blend is comfortable and wicks sweat reasonably well, and thankfully, I never felt the zippers against my skin. Those who prefer a more stretchy fit could opt for the Sahara Stretch Convertible, which features 12% spandex. However, the model is being discontinued, and sizing may be limited. 
 

Weight and Packability

The Sahara fabric is light, but the pants themselves feel somewhat bulky. This is largely due to the volume of zippers: vertical on the bottom half, horizontal for detaching the pant legs, and one thigh-pocket zipper. My women’s size 4 weighs 11.9 ounces on my scale, which is slightly more than my more robust Arc’teryx Gamma pants. Patagonia’s Quandary Jogger has a similar fabric feel and weighs 8.8 ounces on my scale, though they are not convertible. Overall, the Sahara Convertible feels heavy for such thin material, but considering that it takes the place of both pants and shorts, it could still reduce pack weight. 
 

Fit and Sizing

REI offers the women’s Sahara Convertible in a whopping 32 different sizes. Sizes 0-16 are available in regular, petite, and tall inseams, which range from 28 inches to 34 inches for the pants and 6.75 inches to 8.5 inches for the shorts. They also offer them in extended sizes from 18 to 26. I went for my usual size 4 with a regular inseam, and found they fit larger than my Arc'teryx Gamma Pant and Patagonia Quandary Joggers in a size 4, though the inseam length is perfect for my 5’7” frame.
 

The waist of the Sahara can be cinched in with the drawstring, which I find I need to do to maintain a secure fit. When I tighten the drawstring, the waist puckers slightly at the front, which isn’t uncomfortable, but it does look a bit odd. Overall, my advice would be to size down, or at least try them on before committing to a size. It's also worth noting that the Sahara can become more baggy with wear, so keep that in mind when choosing a size. In the end, I prefer fully elasticized waists like the Patagonia Quandary Jogger or a durable pair of hiking leggings, but the zippered fly with a drawstring has its place. 
 

Build Quality and Durability

As noted, the convertible zipper on the Sahara Convertible is small and finicky, but my bigger concern is that it doesn’t always track correctly. I’d be hesitant to trust the zippers if these were my only pants for a backpacking adventure. After extended testing, mine are still working, but I am a bit surprised by the issues I'm already seeing in the zipper. The fabric also stretches significantly between washes and becomes quite baggy, and the DWR finish has already weakened, but all seams are holding up, and I’m not seeing any signs of wear on the fabric. The reinforced cuff at the back is a nice touch, as that can be a weak point of pants when they rub against hiking boots. Perhaps my concerns are unwarranted, and I'll follow up after additional testing if anything changes.
 

Other Versions of the REI Sahara Convertible

I tested the women’s version of the Sahara Convertible Pants, and they are also available in a men's version for the same price, with the same material blend. The men's has a similarly wide range of waist sizes with 5 inseam lengths to choose from. REI also makes a kid's Sahara Convertible Pant with the same zip-off features and a 23-inch pant inseam, available in XXS to XL. The Sahara Stretch Convertible boosts the spandex from 4% to 12%, though this model may be on its way out. The "stretch" version also lacks cargo pockets and features a single zipped thigh pocket, which is lost when worn as shorts.
 

What We Like

• Great price for a set that replaces a pair of pants and a pair of shorts.
• Available in a wide range of sizes for men and women.
• The pants dry quickly, and the UPF 50 material was protective in the desert sun and the alpine.
   

What We Don’t

• Although they look okay as both pants and shorts on the trail, we aren't super keen to wear them around town.
• The small zippers don't inspire much confidence in their longevity.
• The zippers make these somewhat bulky to pack and carry.
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

REI Co-op's Sahara Convertible Pants are versatile and reasonably priced at $90, but they can be bulky to carry and don't have a lot of stretch. The Outdoor Research Ferrosi Convertible Pants offer additional stretch with 14% elastane, and the cuffs can be cinched, two features I appreciate. They are also lighter, thanks to fewer pockets and the lack of a vertical leg zipper. The lack of lower-leg zippers does make them more difficult to remove, so it comes down to whether you put packability over convenience. I do think the Ferrosi looks more stylish, but you'll pay $20 more, and it comes in far fewer sizes
 

Next up is the Columbia Leslie Falls Convertible, which comes in cheaper than the Sahara Convertible and has a similar amount of stretch in the material. The fit can be somewhat large as well, the sizing is limited, and the slight taper through the legs is less forgiving for putting on and taking off. Columbia uses their protective Omni-Shield Repellency material, which we've found has superior water resistance than that of the REI Sahara. Lastly, there's the Kuhl Freeflex Zip-Off, which costs the most in our comparisons but is arguably the most stylish of the bunch and features a sleeker build than the other three. Part of this is due to the pared-down design, which features just two thigh pockets, but the looser fit and forgiving elastic/drawstring waistband bridge the gap between town-ready pants and zip-off hiking attire.
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