About.com Rating

Mountain Hardwear bills the Yuma hiking pant as their most popular hiking pant, and now that I've worn them for a while, I understand why. High points are the chamois-lined, conical waist and the comfortable-yet-flattering fit that allows unrestricted range of motion.

Note: I tested the convertible version which is available exclusively through REI. Non-convertible versions, which are identical except for the lack of leg zips, are available through other retailers.

The Yuma is a women's only pant, but the Mountain Hardwear Mesa is a comparable option for men.

Pros

• Comfortable
• Excellent fit
• Great freedom of movement
• Chamois-lined waist
• DWR coating
• Good-looking

Cons

• Relatively small cargo pockets
• Loud (just like any other nylon pants)

Function and Movement

Mountain Hardwear's Yuma pants offer unbeatable ease of movement. You can easily lift your leg over your head (if you're flexible enough), so they're perfect for the high-stepping movements needed when scrambling in rough terrain, or squatting on your heels without worrying about busting a seam. Even with all that room to move, the Yumas don't look baggy at all -- win!

The Yuma also comes with a DWR coating which is, like all DWR coatings, great until it abrades away fairly quickly. You can refresh the coating with a wash-in treatment but since that would be a constant battle and reduce their breathability, I don't even bother. The pants are still crazy good, long after the DWR has abraded away.

Comfort and Fit

These pants actually have a waist, as opposed to just being a straight cylinder through the hips.

So if you struggle to find pants that fit your hips but won't gap at the waist, wear these. They also sit at or just below the natural waist, so you won't be mooning the hikers behind you when you bend over to tie your boots. (Speaking of hiking boots, here's how to make sure your footwear fits.)

The chamois lining around the waist really does help eliminate chafing from a pack's hip belt. Overall, the fit and comfort of these pants is just about perfect. They're a good choice for travel too, because if left on a hanger they'll dry completely overnight.