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Travel Himalaya Nepal
Clothing & Layers

Trousers & Shorts

Hot in the valley, freezing at the pass, same day.

About the links on this page.Some go to Amazon, and as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend: every card here also says who the item is not for, and a few things we think you should simply rent in Kathmandu or Pokhara instead, which earns us nothing.

prAna Stretch Zion Pant — One pair of trousers for the whole trek
Best overall

One pair of trousers for the whole trek

prAna Stretch Zion Pant

Stretch nylon, DWR finish, roll-up legs

Tough, stretchy and dry fast enough to wash in a bucket — they are not warm, so above 4,000 m you are wearing a base layer underneath.

Stretch enough for a high step onto a boulder

Dry overnight in a lodge

Presentable enough for Kathmandu at the end

No insulation at all

DWR wears off and needs re-proofing

Waist sizing runs large

Not for you if: Cold-weather trekking as your only leg layer. Add merino bottoms above 4,000 m.

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Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pant — Zip-off legs for treks that start hot and end coldBest value

Zip-off legs for treks that start hot and end cold

Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pant

The zip-off is genuinely useful when you leave a 25 °C valley and arrive somewhere freezing; the zips sit right where a pack hip-belt or a knee bends, and some people never stop noticing.

Check price on Amazon