Columbia Silver Ridge Utility Pants vs Tag Safari Zambezi Convertible Pants

Buy the Columbia Silver Ridge Utility Pants for hot-weather hiking and travel where you want light, quick-drying, sun-blocking fabric and a trim fit. Buy the Zambezi Convertible Zip-Off Safari Pants if you want one pair that becomes shorts and carries a knife or tool in a dedicated pocket. The Columbia is the more technical hiking pant; the Zambezi is the more versatile field and safari pant. Owners of both praise comfort, but the cotton Zambezi is heavier and slower to dry than the recycled polyester Columbia.

• Choose the Columbia Silver Ridge Utility Pants if you hike in heat and want UPF 50, light quick-drying fabric and stretch with a gusseted crotch.
• Choose the Zambezi Convertible Zip-Off Safari Pants if you want zip-off shorts, a covered utility pocket for a knife or multitool, and a rugged cotton look.