How useful are capris for travel? They are shorter than regular pants, so the would weigh less, but pants cover your entire leg. Is it better just to go with pants?

Pants vs. capris....

What are your thoughts?

If it's not too cold I always wear what I prefer to call breeches. They are cooler, breathe better, and I find easier to walk in. If it gets cold or the mosquitoes come out, I slip a pair of very light wind pants over them to protect my lower legs and ankles.

I guess I'd much rather wear pants. The weight difference would be minor. Even without the weight difference, I'd really prefer to have the bug protection. You can always roll up your cuffs. I prefer to doing this over convertible pants.

Are capris more comfortable for you? If so, go for it.

I like shorts and wear pants when the weather dictates it. So for me capris would be an in between. Also pants are good for some protection in deserts. I am too mean for bugs to bother me :)

My wife likes to hike in capris. I also find it interesting that some guys are interested in kilts, but I rarely see women wearing them.

So wear what feels best for you.

I am a long pants only hiker. If only trail hiking, shorts or capris would be fine if you will wear sunblock on your lower legs. If you are hiking offtrail then your lower legs might be all scratched up or worse.

Capris=low gaiters in many areas to keep junk out of shoes. If you are traveling though and not hiking they are quite nice though!

Whichever you like better- capris aren't as cool but provide better sun protection.

Women have the option of zip-off capri/pants. REI has some nice models.

Men's zip-offs always seem to have "Magnum PI" style shorts with about 5" inseams. I'd prefer about 12".

Jim, look for the European clothing brands. Knickerbockers are quite popular in Europe and many companies offer zip-offs capri-style, or longer-leg short pants style. Some even have both shorts and capris (two sets of zippers on each leg). Also Marmot and Columbia both offer a good selection of zip-off capris and longer leg shorts.

But can you guys wear something called "Manpris" with dignity? Lol!

This style of pants is very old, going back thousands of years. I'm not a white American male and have no hang ups about such clothing. (I don't mind wearing bright colors, either. I often wear cadmium yellow and on occasion pink, and I think I do look good in them!) I just love using many of the colorful old names of such clothing and think that "knickerbockers", "breeches", "plus-fours", "britches", "breeks", and most especially "galligaskins" are wonderful names. "Capris" were originally specifically designed for women by the fashion designer Sonja de Lennart in 1948 and became known as "Capris" because it was popular to wear them on the island of Capri back then. These were definitely men's pants for most of history and there's nothing "unmanly" about them, whatever that means! In the recent movie by Spielberg, "Tin Tiin", Tin Tin wear Plus-Fours.



Galligaskins

Edited by butuki on 02/02/2012 18:03:12 MST.

I prefer to wear capri's. I have a pair of them from REI where they are sold under the suitably manly title of "mountain shorts." I like them because it keeps the sun off the tops of my legs, especially when I am sitting down. I seem to get too hot in pants.

I have a pair of MH "3/4 pants" whatever

I want to like them, but...

Cooler than pants/ warmer than shorts (duh) So at night you're chilly, heat of the day you're hot.

Bug are like, "thanks for narrowing it down for me. I'll take, hmmm... side of the ankle."

For the hat trick- mine are stretch-woven -still need rain/wind pants. Can get hot in mid summer.


On the Positive side:

Uhhh.... The front pockets of mine are awesome! Best front pockets ever IMO. They are parallel with the waist line, and have wide openings. Its like two tool belt pockets.

Amy, sorry for turning the focus of the thread away from your question. In answer, I mainly use capris for almost all my traveling, unless it's very cold. For town wear and relaxing and walking about, they're prefect.

For you guys out there that want to try it check out Prana's Nemisis Knickers. I got a pair a year or two ago for shoulder season golfing pants (hate long pants while golfing) and realized They had all the comfort of shorts and almost as much protection as pants. I carry a pair of gators for the rough and thick stuff and so far I couldn't be happier.

Miguel,

Those pants look really cool and the baggy to help ventilate. But buddy, you really need to reconsider your hiking footwear :)

Those pants look really cool and the baggy to help ventilate. But buddy, you really need to reconsider your hiking footwear :)

What, you don't like my red lightning bolts? (and my pasty white tummy?). I'm hurt, Nick. Deeply forked through! :-)

(just for the record... that isn't me!)

Edited by butuki on 02/03/2012 10:13:58 MST.

Hey, the shoes are cool. Zero drop, integrated gaiters. They're probably comfortable. :)

There, Nick, I'm vilified. Barefoot boots! And the torso is bare, so lots of good vitamin D!

Why choose? REI occasionally sells a few long hiking pants that are convertible to capris. They allow you to have the best of both.

I was going to include "that probably isn't a picture of you" in the original post.

But all of this shows us that all the great new designs in gear and clothing are often not really that new.