Pants – recommend

You definitely need a pair of hot crotch grabbin leather pants from Harley Davidson. Or you could get some cordura chaps.

I am on a Cabela's kick tonight, I guess. The chaps are a good idea and they either come with a belt or you add your own. I will leave it to you for the research.

There are always ripstop BDU pants… But they are a bit heavy.

The Exoficio Amphib pants might work. I have beaten a pair up at least 3 days a week for the last 5+ years.

I can make a recommendation but let me first ask a question. Why does lighter = better for you when it comes to pants? Is it that they will spend a considerable period of time in your pack? Or are you worried about comfort/breathability?

Russell – what I meant to say by light is that I have a pair of TNF convertible that are tough as nails, shed water and dry super fast. I love them – but they weigh 24 ounces. I usually have the legs zipped on. I would like to have something that just does not weigh so much. I kinda think that if its on me or in the pack that it still weighs the same- I might be wrong about that, though. When I hike these are the only pants/shorts I take. Maybe I just can't do better???

I used to wear zip-off pants but I had poor luck with durability on several different brands of zip-off pants so I went for a manufacturer with a reputation for bombproof products. After a lot of research I settled on Rail Riders Weatherpants.

I also found that I rarely needed pants that worked as pants and shorts in the same trip. When I need pants for colder weather hiking or any hike that requires off-trail, bushwhacking, etc, I wear pants. If the weather is likely to be hot and I don't need full leg protection I wear running shorts.

As for your criteria- the Weatherpants weigh about 13 ounces, removable belt included. They are tough as nails; I feel confident saying that they will handle anything you can throw at them. They are cut very generously and give an unrestricted range of motion. The pants seem to be slow to wet out and do dry quickly.