Great pants but with the usual problem

By Jan Higa Ranked #276 - Women's Hiking Pants June 10, 2009

The biggest complaint I have with these pants and pretty much any brand of hiking pants for women are the teeny tiny useless pockets on the thigh. The only pants that I have found lately that have half decent pockets are the cargo pants from North Face and Rei makes a version that has zippers. Show me one pair of pants with these useless pockets on ANY brand made for men.

Fit and function are the two most important things I look for when shopping for outdoor gear. I don't care how cute my butt looks in my hiking pants. If they are a little loose, that's okay. I don't want tight clothing when I'm hiking. I'm short and muscular. It's hard to find pants that are a little roomier in the thigh area. I wear a petite size which was still a bit long but I'm so short I've had to alter most of my pants. The cargo pants made by North face are a bit roomier in the thighs but ride low in the waist. These pants seem to be just right on me as I have a short torso. They fit just below the belly button.

North Face is one of the only outdoor clothing companies that make pants in petite sizes and thankfully, depending on the model, they tend to run on the roomier side. I'm an outdoor photographer so I like clothing with pockets that are functional. The pockets on the thigh need to be longer and wider. I can barely get my hand in them. You can barely fit a small wallet with a few cards and cash in these pockets. In order to remedy that, North face could locate the convertible zippers slightly farther down the thigh closer to the knee.

On the positive side, these pants dry very quickly. I find myself having to kneel or lie down when out in the field. They are not waterproof but they do tend to stay fairly dry even when it's lightly raining. I wouldn't recommend wearing these on cold rainy days, the material is light so they are much more suited for warmer weather. All in all, a great pant but because of the pockets, I only give them 4 stars.

View Details: The North Face Paramount Porter Convertible Pant - Women's

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