okay, what are the bomber hiking pants?

REI Sahara convertible pants. Very versatile.

I own all 3 Im about to discuss..
Yes, go nylon. Absolute bomber are 5.11 tacticals in nylon 'canvas'. Heavy but you can slide down granite on your.. well, maybe not but they are tough. Cut more for 'heavy' people. For example you can put your fisted hands into the pockets while sitting down because the front is billowed.

Lighter and more versatile due to the zip offs are the REI Saharas; another vote for those. But they only last a few dozen class4/5(occasional climbing) days in my experience.

A compromise between the two (lighter than 5.11 but more durable than Saharas), also in nylon are The North Face Paramounts. Would be perfect but the cargo pockets are on the FRONT of the legs (cant imagine why) so anything in the pockets disturbs the forward motion of your legs with every step.

Gotta agree with Brett,

My 5.11 tactical nylon canvas pants are VERY tough and have lots of features. The price ($50.)and the featurea are great when compared to Rail Riders.

My REI Saharas are OK for the tropics. I used them in the Philippines two years ago and they were great for rainy and damp weather.

I will concede that the REI Sahara's probably aren't the best choice for high abrasion situations.

For less rigorous hiking, they've worked very well for me. They are relatively light, cool enough for summer use, and roomy enough to add a pair of silkweight Capilene's underneath for cooler weather.