soft, comfortabe and durable
great pants. Good fit, true to size and very comfortable. Much better than the 100% nylon pants.

Excellent travel pants... versatile and durable
I've owned several pairs of Columbia travel pants, and these continue the tradition of great practicality and versatility. Good quality workmanship too. The pants are well-made with a fit that's not too tight or too loose. They're made of very lightweight but durable fabric that isn't too hot and also dries fast after washing. A great combination for travel. With pickpockets in foreign countries, I only buy travel pants that have a zippered front pocket, and this one is in a convenient location right above the right leg cargo pocket. Right rear pocket is zippered too. They pack light and small and can be worn in a wide variety of situations. Because they use lightweight material, they pack small and light. Great choice if you can only carry a few pair of pants. If you want convertible pants, I recommend the Columbia Silver Ridge series for all the same reasons.

I prefer these pants
I bought Columbia Vertical Ridge Fossil pants and the Patagonia Continental pants Henna Brown in size 34 waist and 32 length. I am 190 lbs, thin arms and legs. The fabric is finer and lighter on the Columbia. The fit is slightly looser, the length is a little longer, even after washing, but there are more wrinkles on the Columbia. I have worn them in a variety of locations including work where I sit and stand repeatedly. The cuffs come up higher on the Patagonia, but, they are both comfortable. The fabrics are both attractive, the construction precise, they are not glossy like some nylon fabrics. The Patagonia are more wrinkle resistant, but I prefer the Columbia design. The Patagonia Continental pants are brown and have an externally sewn on pocket design that reminds me of the excesses of the 70's K Mart polyester culture. I will be ordering several more of the Vertical Ridge pants.