Please sign in to post.

Convertible pants?

My wife and I will be on Rick's Village Italy tour in early October and I'm working on my packing list. I'm wondering if nylon convertible pants would be a good idea. We hope to hike some of the Cinque Terre trails and may have an opportunity to swim depending on the weather. The pants would be in lieu of shorts and a swim suit. Good idea or too tacky?

Posted by
23177 posts

Personally, I do think they are tacky looking. But hey, that is just a personally opinion. I carry a pair of shorts that double as a swim suit. But the usual posting will come along - Wear what you want. Who cares if you look tacky?

PS I might add that we try to dress a notch or two better than the average tourists. We cannot blend in easily but we don't obviously stand out either. When the pickpocketer is surveying the crowd looking for a mark, I hope we create a question mark in his mind so that moves to someone else who looks to be an easier mark. Does it work? Have no idea.

Posted by
154 posts

They will make you stand out as a tourist but just going to see the sights or potentially not speaking fluent Italian will do the same thing. I always recommend people dress for comfort and conveniences,so with that said I take two pairs of REI's pants with the zip-off legs. I don't usually wear them at home but I enjoy having them when I travel.

Posted by
13800 posts

I did the Village Italy tour in early Oct this last Fall. There were several men on the trip who wore either convertible pants or shorts on some of the days. The guide would let them know ahead of time if we were going to a church site that would need them to have on long pants. It was warm enough the day we were in Cinque Terre that people could swim if they wanted altho the weather turned cool as we headed for our last night in Lake Orta.

The plus thing about the pants is that they will dry fast if you plan to sink wash.

Posted by
506 posts

I think everyone gave their opinion on the convertible pants, and I feel the same that they are not very attractive for Europe, which I feel is a little more formal than California. But the other thing that even friends that keep saying they are taking nylon type pants because they dry fast. It is much more humid in Italy and I don't know if I would feel very comfortable in nylon in that climate.

Posted by
23177 posts

I don't Lew was inquiring about nylon pants. I would agree that nylon can be hot but many of the synthetic blends especially those with a small amount of cotton are very comfortable and quick drying.

Posted by
325 posts

I'll repeat the objection to those pants, I won't be seen in them at home or while travelling. But I appreciate the quick dry issue, and have some non-convertible pants of the same material. I have no illusion that I don't still scream "TOURIST" but my own (questionable) fashion sense is appeased. Does anyone actually "convert" these pants in public? I also carry a pair of qwuick drying shorts that can double as a swim suit, they take very little packing space/weight.

Posted by
13800 posts

@Archimedes, yes of course people convert them (altho I am sure the comment was really rhetorical). In Orta San Giulio last Fall there was a whole pack of hikers who had zipped off the legs and had them folded up around their ankles under their socks. I had never seen that look before as most people out west would take the whole zipped off part off. I guess it was easier than taking their boots off.

Posted by
325 posts

I guess it was a bit rhetorical. I was thinking that converting them to/from shorts is a rather conspicuous spectacle that I would rather avoid. Perhaps the hikers you saw found a new use for the recently shed legs of the pants - gaiters.

Posted by
4406 posts

"Nylon is very comfortable in warm humid weather."

Wha?!?

If you like spending time in a steam bath with your legs wrapped in plastic food wrap...then yes.

Of course, you can always halfway unzip your legs in order to get some air circulation ;-)

You might not want to wear them exclusively, but for those days when you might want both pants and shorts (hiking opportunity, hot 'church days', etc.) then they'd be fine. They're so lightweight and practical it would be easy to bring them along.

I would advise you to not bring the style with the short shorts, though.

(And here is where I commence my rant on boys/men being able to wear something like convertible shorts on the off-chance they come across a swimming opportunity. You get to have fun, while The Women Folk sit and stand around, uncomfortably hot, holding your crap belongings while you have fun and cool off. I'll save the 'going topless/taking your shirt off' spiel for another time. Speaking of, it's less than 60 days to the 2015 Tour de France. Ya know, one of the sports where the guys get to partially undress when they get hot. So endeth the rant.)

Lew, have a fabulous time! I'm planning on taking this tour next spring (my first), and I'm looking forward to it.

Posted by
7977 posts

These pants in addition to making one look like a goober are quite uncomfortable; nylon in hot humid weather is like wearing a plastic bag. As a woman, I wear a skirt or linen pants in hot weather traveling which looks a lot more appropriate IMHO in cities. My husband wears long dark light weight cotton pants in the city and shorts in the countryside.

One of the more risible sights I observed in Florence was an American tourist in giant zip leg cargo pants stuffed to the gills, with a cargo vest similarly stuffed and one of those billed hats with the long khaki shoulder skirt -- he was getting more photos by amused tourists than the Duomo off in the distance.

Posted by
4406 posts

Luckily there are risible outfits to take the heat off of those more concern about their own.

Lew, as long as you avoid the Sunday Afternoons, you should be fine.

Posted by
382 posts

I'm certainly no 'beau brummel' but did purchase two pair of convertible pants (one REI brand, the other ExOfficio) for our three week European sojourn this summer. They dry overnight, allowing me to pack less stuff. They'll allow me to be comfortable (worn as shorts) while traveling on Rick's bus between cities; then convert easily into trousers for walking tours and informal lunches upon arrival. We're heading to Cinque Terre after our 14-day BOE itinerary ends in Rome, and I imagine they'll be more than fine for the low key atmosphere in those villages -- serving as hiking trail apparel (shorts) during the day then 'extended' for a casual/enoteca dinner in the evening, without having to double-back to the hotel to otherwise change. I'm also bringing 'regular' slacks/khakis to wear in more formal locales (Paris, Venice, Rome); but convertible pants, so long as they are neutral in color, should blend-in easily and not scream tacky in places like Murren and CT. With all due respect to some of the other posts seen on this thread, I doubt people are taking notes on your apparel. Enjoy your holiday.

Posted by
103 posts

Thanks for all the comments. You fellow travelers are full of good advice, shared with good humor. In my case, the decision to take convertible pants will like come down to whether my dear wife, who is willing to be seen with me in public on most occasions, will allow it.

Posted by
7977 posts

I own convertible pants which I have used on hikes in Colorado and such where they fit in fine. They are goofy looking on grownups in the city. But ultimately 'what do you care what others think?' And if you are on a Steve's tour you will be in good company on the clothing front.

Posted by
8293 posts

Am I to understand that the people on Rick Steves tours do not dress well? That does it. I won't join one of his tours.

Posted by
360 posts

I wear them and I don't really care what others think of me (everyone thinks they don't look like a tourist, but you do in some way). People might not like my pants, but I might think their shirt or shoes are tacky -- to each their own. Otherwise, I can't really fit both shorts and pants into a carry-on for three weeks -- I just don't have the room and I don't care for skirts.

Posted by
4406 posts

I'm with Norma - I was planning on a RST next year, but now? Nope.

And now I know ALL I need to know about Becky. For shame, Becky.

Posted by
1880 posts

If you are asking if they are tacky, then you already know the answer. YES......they are tacky.

We are in Italy right now. My husband is wearing jeans, and I packed a pair of shorts for the beach, and he brought a swimsuit this time because we are close to the sea.

I'd never let my husband wear zip off pants, not at home, not when traveling.

Posted by
867 posts

If I am picturing the right thing, I think they are rather comfy pants that also look pretty good. My husband owns a pair from North Face, and I found them actually rather (dare I say it) sexy on him. Maybe he has the body to pull them off, but if you buy well made ones, they are like any typical pants that happen to zip off above the knees (and yes, people actually do zip off and on). And, you cannot really tell they are convertibles when one is walking around in them. I wonder what other people are picturing or have they seen anyone really with them on.

I say go for it. Also, all the manufacturers insist that the nylon keeps one cool, although I have no personal experience with that. They are light weight, dry quickly, are comfortable, function well for what you have described, and in my opinion do not look "tacky", so I say go for it. Have a second pair of pants that are not "convertible". And, have fun!

Posted by
7737 posts

Context is everything. You're going to be wearing them on a hiking trail, for pete's sake, not to the opera in Milan. Go for it. They're practical.

Posted by
216 posts

Amen, frater.

If it saves you packing more, allows you to unzip (your lower legs) with abandon and your wife is okay with it (happy wife, etc.) then just do it. As will be obvious, you will get some non-verbal "likes" and some non-verbal "disses". As the kids (used to) say "whatevs".

It's not like RS doesn't look like a tourist everywhere he goes. His slurry greens and tans scream "washed in hotel lavatories," "don't show dirt" and "consummate tourist/traveller/temporary European (whatevs)!” He's doing something right, right?

Posted by
1 posts

Well, to all the goofballs who talk about zip off pants, here is first hand experience instead of fashion sniping.
I have worn them for weeks at a time hiking, canoeing and traveling.
Granted they are not the best fashion statement.
However, I have always worn microfiber, which breathes, is lightweight, comfortable and has all of the great qualities of travelability.
Forget the nylon comments of the negative thinkers and go for it if you don't mind a little nerdability, as they're very comfortable.

Posted by
7737 posts

I'm in Rome now (Testaccio neighborhood) and the weather is fairly warm. (Getting up to 86 today.) I'm seeing lots of men in shorts of varying styles and lengths, but all down to at least just above the knee, and several below the knee. This is especially true of younger guys, but I've been struck by the number of men who are 40+ and in shorts. I've also discovered that someone had the idea to combine skinny jeans with cargo pants, leading to the phenomenon of skinny cargo pants. Turns out those are pretty popular as well. I can tell that almost all these guys are Italian because of where I'm running into them in Testaccio, such as in the local pasticceria that seems to be close to 100% frequented by the neighbors and because I can hear them speaking in Italian.

Posted by
1825 posts

Along with your Columbia convertable pants make sure you have some Tivos, a Tilly hat and carry your blue book, you'll fit in just fine.

Posted by
792 posts

Looking at Google Street View, in almost ALL of the major tourist sites I see a LOT of shorts and white tennis shoes. I guess all the local Italians are hiding. Not.

Posted by
5697 posts

Here's the problem -- the Google Street View photos don't come with labels that say "local" or "tourist" to identify who is wearing the shorts and sneakers.

Posted by
792 posts

correct ...which means, wear what makes you comfortable. My guess Italians don't give a flip what you wear as long as you are respectful and polite. That goes for any country visited.

Posted by
551 posts

Lots of good info and some questionable so I'll be brief. After taking cotton dockers and a pair of cotton shorts on my last trip to France (Normandy and Provence) in September 2013 I decided to try something new for my first ever solo trip to Europe this September, three weeks into Rome and out of Paris. I had bought a pair of these zip off pants a few years ago and wore them twice, mainly because they were not comfortable and partly because I didn't like the look once I had them on. For some reason they looked really nice at the store, possibly because they were on sale 50% off. I learned why later. Anyway, for my trip in September (all four of our family trips were in September) on a whim I bought a pair of moisture wicking quick dry nylon cargo pants (non-zipper) from a company I saw on television called the Duluth Trading Company. Having never bought clothing online before I was certain that I would be returning them, but was surprised to find that the fit was perfect and they were very comfortable. Two weeks ago I had a short trip to California and decided to preview the pants on it. In addition to all the what I believe are pickpocket-proof pockets they were a dream to wear on the plane. I liked them so much that when I returned home I purchased a pair of cargo shorts in a different color and a pair of their regular pants in the same fabric, both of which fit as did the cargo pants. I now have Ricky's "two pairs of pants and one pair of shorts" for my trip and the nylon fabric is very lightweight, which helps when I'm using the convertible back pack. In the end, wear what makes YOU feel comfortable. Whatever it is, wear it to your nearby mall and walk around for a few hours, going in and out of a few shops, and measure the reaction of those who see you. After that you can change or stay the same.

Posted by
792 posts

Normandy and Provence ...big temp difference there at that time of the year. I was actually in Brittany ...close enough. Brittany folks really set themselves apart from the rest of France. Not a single toll road there. Very proud people. I stayed in Dinan. I've seen those Duluth commercials. You have perked my interest in their clothing

Posted by
93 posts

I bought two pairs of capris travex pants to take on Village Italy Tour in September. I wore one pair the other day at home when it was mid 80s . I dint find them too hot... I didn't think they looked too bad either..hmmm now I am wondering if they look goofy... Any thoughts on the capris?

Sue

Posted by
551 posts

Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. It's what you think and how they feel. What do you think the odds are that you will run into anyone in Italy that you will ever see again. I would bet you that everyone on your tour is going through the same concerns. If you watch the Rick Steves tour video you will see every imaginable combination of clothing, none of which looks out of place. Afterward. go have a great time and stop worrying about what someone might think about anything. It's YOUR trip.

Posted by
500 posts

I love how a thread about convertible pants has such a life on this board. Keep it going!

Sandra, you're hilarious BTW

Posted by
792 posts

I think if I sew little Italian flags on the sleeves of my Hawaiian shirt, I can get away with wearing plaid shorts and white Converse's ...blend right in. Convertible Pants ... do they come in Plaid?