Well, this is kind of like an update to my previous post asking about pants that will fit me.

I ordered the REI Sahara pants and I'm sorely disappointed. The rise is still much too long for me. The pant legs are too volumous and baggy. Here are some pictures to illustrate:

I think this looks normal. When worn as long pants, the 28' inseam is perfect.



But this is how it actually looks on me. I hate this because the low hanging shorts are always rubbing and pulling at my thighs when I'm hiking uphill. It's restrictive. I think it also makes me look like I have shorter legs, and a shorter height overall. At 5'5" I can't afford to look any shorter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. When worn like this, the 28' inseam of the long pants is too long and floppy. :



In order to look normal to me, I have to wear it this high.:



Or I can twist up the waist band two times. Then I can't access the pockets.



This is how it usually rides. I also HATE the pockets because they ride on top/in front of my thighs. I like my pockets to hang on the sides of my legs. It's uncomfortable with stuff in them and with my hands in them on the Sahara.



BTW, the shirt is the Mountain Hardwear Excursion shirt in Small. Does it look too small on me? I LOVE it because I love the fabric and the tapered, slim fit. It's a bit short though. Can't tuck it in without it easily untucking in some places. So far, Mountain Hardwear is one of the few manufacturer I've found that makes this tapered fit. Any other manufacturers do this? I know that Montbell does as well. But they are all so expensive at $25 a shirt... on sale....

Ah, now I understand your concern better. When you mentioned the problem with finding convertible pants that fit I thought you meant that you couldn't find pants with a short enough inseam when worn as long pants. But you are more concerned with how low they hang when in "shorts" mode it sounds like.

Myself, I prefer long shorts. Mine look just like your pictures, the shorts hang to the knee, and that's how I like them.

How about buying a regular pair of pants that fit you, find a good tailor (sewer) who can convert them into what you are looking for. Maybe pay our wonderful pennys here to do some work. I have had her fix my pack in the past and did an exceptional job.

Agree with Herber -- it's more the design of the shorts -- and in this case, they actually look OK in the photos. Methinks OP simply prefers shorter shorts.

i think getting pants and converting them to... convertibles... is my only option as well. but getting cargo pants that fit well is a challenge in itself.

my biggest problems are:

long inseam: correctable with hemming

long rise: crotch to waist distance is too long on 100% of my shorts and pants. the average seems to be 12 or 11 inches. my distance is 9 inches.... i don't like having a baggy crotch area. this is why i wear compression shorts all the time and can't wear boxers as regular underwear.

overall length of shorts: i like shorter, less restrictive shorts

volume of pant legs: pant legs are always too big and appear billowy on me. I want skinnier pant legs. it's weird having slim fit shirts but big billowy pants on at the same time.

How do women's pants fit you? If the idea isn't too horrific to consider... They generally have a shorter waist to crotch distance, I think. (Hips might be too big, though.)

It would be theoretically possible to move the waistband (and pockets) down on a pair of pants, but that would be a lot of work and not cheap to have done.

Perhaps you could buy a pattern for pants, then have a seamster adjust it to your body. Then learn to sew, or have pants/shorts made for you by a friend or professional.

My convertible pants fit like you want them, but I want them longer (like yours are). In other words, I like long shorts, but mine are short. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I bought mine at Academy Sports for around $20. I think your shirt fits your perfect.

Would boy's pants work?

Also...realistically, do you need convertable pants? How about just wearing shorts? Personally, I don't like them. When they are pants, the zipper part iritates my legs when I am going up steep inclines. I prefer to roll my pant legs up if I get too hot. Otherwise, I just wear shorts. With the ticks here, I usually like to wear long pants, anyways.

This is an interesting post. I too am slender, and I have a difficult time finding clothing that fits. I'm normal height, but I have a short inseam (29-30"). I like cargo pants, but they fit like parachutes on me.

I'm afraid I don't have much to add, except that you should never go to Eddie Bauer in search of any outdoors clothing. Their retail stores don't carry anything approaching a slim size, tops or bottoms.

Try Mountain Hardwear and Patagonia, their shorts run tight. For me, Outdoor Research shorts are the perfect fit.

I'm ok with trying women's pants. The problem is that I live in Ohio, and the only real way to get quality outdoor clothing is to order from the web, which means lots of return shipping fees for things that don't fit. I also don't know how women's waist sizes translate to men's waist sizes. I'm a 32. I remember faintly that a women's 8 fit me at an REI once, but I took a look at this Cloudveil pant:

http://www.backcountry.com/store/CLV0282/Cloudveil-Cool-Convertible-Pant-Womens.html

and a 32 inch waist would be a size 12???

I'm not sure where to get a pattern for pants.

And yes, it is possible to move the waistband and side pockets down, but you would also have to move down the zipper and the cargo pockets as well. Too complicated.

I have no idea about boy's pants.

I've never ha problems with the zippered parts. But I guess I don't absolutely have to have convertibles. I just think that they are super convenient. I overheat easily, but somethings you just need long pants. Then in the middle of the hike I find myself really wanting shorts so that's when convertibles really come in handy. I could roll up the legs but then they look weird and I have trouble keeping the legs rolled up.

I think the best thing to do right now would be to get a pair of low rise pants that fit well and get someone to convert them to convertibles.

Heh, you have the same problem I have - but for different reasons. I'm not slim, but my butt and legs aren't that giant - Let's just say I have six pack abs, but they hide under a big pillow <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

but because of my belly, I wear my pants realtively low - you need a "low rise" pant so you
don't end up with a baggy crotch being a pain while hiking - I have the same issue. I've done
pretty good with these sportif convertibles that tend not to have an overly high rise - at least in the larger sizes - 'fraid I couldn't say about the smaller sizes.

Unfortunately it's probably just a matter of trying a bunch of different kinds till you find something that works.

http://thegreenpepper.com/

Green Pepper is one pattern company that has convertibles for you. I know there are a few other patterns out there...I just can't think of the names.

At 5'6, I feel your pain, though I don't mind longer shorts. I just measured my Ex Officio amphi's and my TNF and a pair of quest's and all of them are 19" or so on the outseam of the shorts.

So my recommendation is to find some jogging shorts or even a swim suit that you like and some high quality wind pants to wear when you need them. It will be about the same weight as zips. Though, if you are bushwhacking, all bets are off. I am a big fan of my ex-officios and my TNFs. The saharas are nice too. The quests suck.