REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Roomy
Easy to move
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks useful pockets
Heavy
Take a long time to dry
Waistband stretches quickly
The North Face Paramount Convertible - Women's Review
A very stretchy and mobile pant that falls behind the top contenders in multiple metrics
Credit: The North Face
RELATED: Best Hiking Pants for Women
Our Verdict
The long-time staple in The North Face lineup, the Paramount Convertible Pants underwent a significant redesign this go-around. We were excited to see this long-standing fan-favorite get a makeover; however, the newest iteration leaves us wondering what happened. The new design is baggy, heavy, and bulky without any of the great features of the previous models. The water resistance capability also leaves a bit to be desired. Up against some stiff competition this year, these pants fell short of our expectations. We don't think these pants are a great idea for your next backpacking trip since their fit gives out quickly and they take quite a while to dry. If you're planning simple day hikes in varied climate conditions, The North Face Paramounts are average pants compared to other models we tested.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The North Face Paramount Convertible Pant is now made of a 90% polyester and 10% spandex, with “FlashDry” technology that's supposed to help them dry faster (we found this to be far from the truth).
Performance Comparison
The Paramount is a heavier pair of hiking pants with a baggy fit.
Credit: Meg Atteberry
Comfort & Mobility
Out of the bag, these pants feel heavy for hiking pants. Weighing 11.2 ounces, they are some of the heavier pants we tested. The Paramounts feel secure, but all that weight tends to create a sag in these pants, and we found that the waistbelt stretched a full size bigger and needed a belt after two miles of hiking.
The pants themselves fit quite comfortably with a soft material blend that maintains durability. The fit is one of the baggiest that we tested, which is mostly a personal preference, but we didn't find them that flattering.
Fashion aside, these pants are extremely mobile, faithful to the Paramount reputation. At first, we were nervous that the baggy, substantial nature of these pants would hinder us over technical terrain, but we experienced zero issues scrambling over sandstone with a loaded backpack while wearing the Paramount.
There were no mobility issues to report scrambling over boulders with the Paramount.
Credit: John Luebbers
Versatility
Despite the fit and mobility issues, these pants still maintain decent versatility, since you can opt to wear it as long pants, cropped, or Bermuda shorts. Although, much to our disappointment, they fell short a few places here. First, the roll-up option doesn't stay rolled up, since the button is only on one side of the pant. It is removable though, which we liked if you don't care about capri mode.
As shorts, they are much longer than previous models of the Paramounts. We also appreciate the color-coded zippers and the baggier fit when making the conversion between pants and shorts. Unlike other convertible models we tested, we don't have the same tightness around our thighs.
The Paramount converts into shorts mode, where they extend further down the leg than some other convertible models.
Credit: Meg Atteberry
Breathability
These pants are heavier than many of the pants we tested, but they are still surprisingly breathable. Since they are baggier, it's easy to layer underneath with a base layer should you need extra protection on a chilly day.
The Paramount pants are stretchy. Pulling them over footwear is a breeze.
Credit: Meg Atteberry
Durability
Overall, these pants feel durable and well-made. The material resists abrasions and didn't pill in our testing. However, some of the stitching looked a bit lesser in quality than other pairs in the review. The front closure on the pants seems very sturdy, with a re-enforced gasket to prevent ripping.
Our biggest complaint is their consistency of fit - or lack thereof. These pants quickly stretch out. With no drawstring or built-in belt (which we feel is a significant oversite), we needed to bring a belt. This arrangement isn't ideal on longer trips as a belt can clash with the hip belt of a backpack.
Weather Resistance
The North Face ditched the DWR coating in favor of their FlashDry technology, which we did not find very effective. Water doesn't bead up on the surface, and when these pants got wet, they stayed wet. It took a surprising amount of time for these pants to dry, and we aren't too confident they will perform well in rainy weather. There are far better choices for water resistance in hiking pants.
Features
The biggest let down of the updated Paramount lies in the features. They seem to have all but disappeared, however, there are a few things we liked. The convertible zippers are color-coded, which makes putting the pants back together as simple as matching.
The Paramount no longer has any side pockets. Due to small hand pockets, this meant that there wasn't a secure spot for our tester's phone.
Credit: Meg Atteberry
Although the hand pockets are larger than some, they still can't handle a modern cell phone. The newest Paramounts also did away with the cargo pocket. We couldn't fit a smartphone securely anywhere in these pants, which was something we disliked.
There's also a small zippered security pocket inside the right-hand pocket for keeping small items safe, although we can't hold anything other than a car key or lip balm. The zippered security pocket mostly just ends up adding weight to these pants.
We aren't quite sure what the point of this small, zippered pocket is. It could hold little else aside from a car key.
Credit: Meg Atteberry
Lastly, the Paramount lacks a drawstring or built-in belt, which means that you have to provide your own as the pants inevitably stretched quickly, which is a letdown since previous models didn't require a belt.
The Paramount only has one snap per leg for capri mode. They rarely stayed up during our testing and would slouch to the side.
Credit: Meg Atteberry
Value
Due to the lack of features, downgrade in material, and weight, we feel that these pants ring up a bit steep compared to others. Simply put, the Paramount doesn't offer the value that they used to.
Conclusion
We are disappointed to see The North Face Paramount Convertible change so much for the worse with its latest update. What used to be a great pair of pants is now closer to just average. While the baggy nature of these pants may not suit everyone, they might be fine for you, and they are an okay choice for the average day hike.
—
Meg Atteberry
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