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Prana Sage Convertible - Women's Review

A highly breathable pair for warm weather hiking
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Prana Sage Convertible - Women's Review
Credit: Prana
Price:  $89 List
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Manufacturer:   Prana
By Cam McKenzie Ring ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Jun 15, 2016
76
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort/Mobility - 30% 6.0
  • Versatility - 15% 8.0
  • Durability - 15% 8.0
  • Weather Resistance - 15% 8.0
  • Features/Conveniences - 15% 8.0
  • Breathability - 10% 10.0

Our Verdict

Prana no longer makes the Sage Convertible pant.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Breathable
Big cargo pockets
REASONS TO AVOID
Legs are tight around zipper impeding mobility and comfort
The Prana Sage Convertible are a versatile pair of hiking pants well-suited for hot weather hiking days. They breathe very well, and can be converted to both a crop and shorts. They weren't the most comfortable pair that we tested though, as the convertible zippers are tight against the thigh and impede mobility a bit. They are very water resistant, but not as quick to dry as our Editors' Choice winner, the Marmot Lobo's Convertible Pant - Women's, or the other convertible pair that we tested in this review, The North Face Paramount 2.0 Convertible Pant. But, if they fit you well and you don't anticipate too much precipitation on your trip, then they are a great option for either day hiking or backpacking.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Prana Sage Convertible pants are made of a 95% Nylon/5% Spandex blend with a DWR finish. They are available in three inseam lengths (Short 30", Regular 32", and Tall 36") and convert into a 24" crop and 10" short. The sizing runs from 0-16 and the color choices are Cargo Green, Coal and Dark Khaki.

Performance Comparison


prana sage convertible for women - these breathable hiking pants are great for warm weather days, but...
These breathable hiking pants are great for warm weather days, but weren't the most comfortable pair that we tested.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Comfort & Mobility


The material is on the soft side, but the ripstop nylon gives that swish, swish sound when you walk, which gets a bit annoying by the end of the day. The legs are cut fairly close, which is more flattering, but doesn't leave much room for the bulky convertible leg zipper. As such, we could constantly feel that area rubbing against our legs, (similar to the Marmot Lobo's but even worse), and when sitting down the pants felt very tight around our thighs. We even noticed it while scrambling around in the desert, and we did not have the same mobility in these pants as we did with the Prana Halle II - Women's. While this is more of an issue when sitting as opposed to hiking, you may find yourself driving some distance in your hiking pants to get to a trailhead, and you shouldn't have to be uncomfortable doing so. For a more comfortable pair, the Mountain Hardwear Dynama, our Top Pick for comfort, is hard to beat.

prana sage convertible for women - the tight legs felt constricting around the convertible zipper, and...
The tight legs felt constricting around the convertible zipper, and even though the material is stretchy that occasionally limited our mobility.
Credit: Norah Siller

We did appreciate the inner drawstring, which lets us get the right fit without needing a belt, and the double snap button closure never popped open on us like the Kuhl Splash Roll Up Pant - Women's did. The material itself is stretchy, but didn't stretch out over the course of a hike, which was nice. But of all the convertible pants that we tested, this was our least favorite for this category. If you are looking for a convertible pant that gives unrestricted movement in both the pant and short length, the The North Face Paramount 2.0 is a great option. Those shorts have only a 5" inseam, and never felt too tight or uncomfortable.

prana sage convertible for women - the inner drawstring is nice, letting us customize the fit and not...
The inner drawstring is nice, letting us customize the fit and not have to wear a bulky belt.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Versatility


With a variety of length options these pants are versatile for changing weather during the day. They also ranked highest for breathability, and are a good option for warm weather hikes and summer backpacking trips. While they are very water resistant, they are slow to dry, making them a second best choice for water sports.

prana sage convertible for women - this pair gives you three length options. we appreciated the crop...
This pair gives you three length options. We appreciated the crop length strap, as the pants quickly unrolled without it.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Breathability


As we mentioned above, the Prana Sage Convertible Pant ranked highest for breathability of all the pants in this review. The lightweight material vented well, and we never felt too sweaty on a hot day, even though the shorts on this model are fairly long (knee-length).

prana sage convertible for women - we didn't overheat or get too sweaty in this pair even on a hot day...
We didn't overheat or get too sweaty in this pair even on a hot day in the desert.
Credit: Norah Siller

Durability


These pants received a good scored for Durability. They held up well during our testing, and are constructed with ripstop Nylon. This is a specific weaving pattern that reinforces the material in regular intervals and ensures that if snags do occur, they won't spread. While we didn't experience any snags during testing (a testament to the smooth-faced Nylon), these pants should have a long life. The front snaps are well-secured and not too difficult to pull apart, unlike the Columbia Saturday Trail Stretch - Women's, putting less strain on the fabric. They also showed no signs of pilling, unlike the Saturday Trail or the Prana Halle.

Weather Resistance


These pants have excellent water resistance. The DWR (durable water repellent) finish made water bead up and roll right off the material, and it took a lot of spraying and rubbing to get them to saturate through. However, they were much slower to dry than the Marmot Lobo's and The North Face Paramount 2.0 pants. Both those pairs dried out completely in about 20 minutes in full sun, and the Sages took over twice that long. As a result, we'd be worried about getting them wet on a backpacking trip, particularly if they were your only pair of pants or if you were expecting drizzly weather for several days in row. Being so thin, they didn't offer much in the way of wind protection, nor do they have a UPF rating.

prana sage convertible for women - the dwr coating made water bead up as opposed to soaking through the...
The DWR coating made water bead up as opposed to soaking through the material. Unfortunately, they were slow to dry once wet.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Features


These pants are packed with features, from the inner drawstring to all the length options. The crop is secured with one strap and snap, which is welcomed, as the unstructured material does not stay rolled up on its own very well. The convertible zipper in easy to undo, and the pants will come off over hiking shoes, but not boots. We did prefer the color coded zippers on The North Face Paramount 2.0 pants though, as they made redoing the legs that much easier.

prana sage convertible for women - a main criteria for convertible pants to be useful - can we get them...
A main criteria for convertible pants to be useful - can we get them off over our shoes? This pair comes off easily over light hikers, but not full boots.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

This pair has a ton of pockets, including two deep side cargo pockets that hold just about anything, including your phone or camera and an energy bar. The back pockets are secured with a hidden button on either side of the flap, which takes some getting used to. And the front pockets are not that deep, which is a bit of a pet peeve of ours. It's nice to be able to walk with your hands in your pockets on cold mornings or just to give your arms a break, and both Prana models in this review don't really accommodate that.

The large side cargo pockets can hold a phone, camera, snacks, or...
The large side cargo pockets can hold a phone, camera, snacks, or other essentials.
The front pockets are not really deep enough to accommodate your...
The front pockets are not really deep enough to accommodate your full hand.

Best Applications


The Prana Sage Convertible pants are a great hiking pant for days that start out warm and plan on getting warmer. They're also a good option if you prefer longer Bermuda-length shorts over shorter ones.

prana sage convertible for women - we stayed cool on a hot day in the desert in these pants. they are...
We stayed cool on a hot day in the desert in these pants. They are well-suited to warm hiking days thanks to their great breathability.
Credit: Norah Siller

Value


These pants cost $89, making them the most expensive pair that we tested. They do offer a lot of versatility and durability though, so if they fit you well it might be worth the extra money.

Conclusion


The Prana Sage Convertible pant was not our favorite convertible pair, but they'd be our first choice on a very hot day. If you are looking for something for warm weather hiking, then these pants are a great option.

Cam McKenzie Ring