The trouser I wear most on UK trails is not the most technical option I own. It does not have the most pockets, the heaviest-duty construction or the most impressive waterproofing rating. What it has is four-way stretch, a comfortable fit and a weight so low that it genuinely does not register on a long day out.
The North Face Men's Exploration Convertible Pants have been on regular rotation since I bought them. On the Jurassic Coast. On training walks in the New Forest. On shorter routes around Dorset where I want to move comfortably and not think about what I am wearing. They are the hiking trouser that disappears on your legs and lets you think about the walk instead.
Who the Exploration Convertible is for
This trouser is for: three-season UK day hikers who want a lightweight, stretchy, comfortable trouser that performs on trail and does not look conspicuously like hiking kit. People who like The North Face fit across their range. Anyone who wants the option of converting to shorts without buying two separate garments. Hikers who do mixed terrain: paths, stiles, scrambles, coastal walks, woodland routes.
This trouser is not for: hikers who need maximum pocket storage (look at RevolutionRace), people wanting a highly durable construction for off-path use in vegetation (Fjallraven Keb or RevolutionRace), or anyone who needs proper waterproofing as their primary layer (look at the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Pants for that).
The stretch: the feature that actually matters
The four-way stretch fabric is the reason these trousers perform better than their spec sheet suggests. UK trails ask specific things of your legs that most casual trousers do not accommodate: climbing over stiles, scrambling up steep chalk descents on the Jurassic Coast, stepping across stream crossings, taking a long stride up a steep bank.
A rigid trouser fights these movements. The Exploration Convertible moves with them. The stretch is not dramatic, it is just always there when you need it, and the cumulative effect over a long day is noticeably less leg fatigue than wearing something that resists your natural movement.
This is the detail that converts people who try hiking-specific trousers for the first time. Not the waterproofing, not the pockets, not the DWR. The stretch.
The convertible design: honest assessment
The zip-off design allows the lower leg section to be removed, converting the trouser into shorts. I own these. I have used the zip-off function approximately twice. This is not a complaint.
The reasons most UK hikers do not use the convertible function regularly are mundane and real: you cannot be bothered mid-walk, the protection that full-length trousers provide against nettles, brambles and the persistent wind off the coast is worth more than the cooling benefit of shorts, and British legs do not want to be exposed to a May morning on an exposed Dorset clifftop.
The one situation where the convertible design genuinely earns its place: you can remove the lower leg without taking your boots off. That is not true of all convertible designs and it makes an enormous practical difference if you do want to convert mid-walk. No sitting down, no struggling with boot laces, no stopping for more than thirty seconds.
DWR and weather resistance in UK conditions
The Exploration Convertible has a DWR treatment on the outer fabric. It sheds light rain and morning dew from vegetation, causing water to bead and roll off rather than soaking in. In UK spring and summer conditions this handles the majority of what you encounter on trail.
It is not waterproofing. In sustained heavy rain these trousers will eventually get wet. The answer is the same as for any DWR-treated hiking trouser: carry a waterproof overtrouser in your pack and pull it on when conditions turn seriously wet. My Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Pants go on over these in proper rain.
The DWR treatment degrades over time and with washing. Tumble drying on a low heat after washing reactivates the coating. When it eventually degrades significantly, Grangers or Nikwax reproofing spray restores performance.
Fit, comfort and all-day wearability
The fit is regular through the hip and thigh with a straight leg cut. Not baggy, not slim-fit, not restrictive. Comfortable for active hiking without excess fabric that could cause chafing over a long day.
The waistband is comfortable without a belt and I have worn these for full-day training walks without any waistband discomfort. Internal belt loops allow a belt to be added if preferred.
The pockets are practical: two hand pockets with zip closure and a zip security pocket on the thigh. Not seven pockets, but enough for the things you actually need access to on a walk. Phone, snacks, keys. Everything else goes in the Osprey Talon 33.
The North Face Exploration Regular Tapered: the non-convertible version
The Tapered version is the Exploration trouser without the zip-off lower leg. Slightly lighter, slightly cleaner in appearance, and the one that crosses over into everyday life most successfully. I wear these to the shops, to watch the kids at sport and on casual days out as much as on trail.
The quick-drying performance is genuinely notable. In UK spring conditions, wet sections dry off quickly enough that an hour after a rain shower you would not know. That crossover between trail performance and everyday wearability is what makes these earn their place beyond hiking-specific use. They are still breathable and do not cause sweating, which is a lower bar than it sounds for trousers that also handle light rain.
Who is this for: Hikers who are certain they will not use the zip-off function and want a slightly lighter, cleaner-looking trouser that also works in everyday life.
Should you buy the Tapered over the Convertible? If you are confident you will never convert to shorts, yes. At around £65 it is marginally cheaper and the tapered fit looks more like a normal trouser. If there is any chance you might want the option, pay the small premium for the Convertible.
Buy The North Face Exploration Regular Tapered on AmazonHow they compare to the Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II
The Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II is around £30. The Exploration Convertible is around £70.
The Kiwi Pro II is a capable hiking trouser at a budget price. It is lighter than you would expect, dries quickly and covers the basics of what a hiking trouser needs to do. It is the pair I get muddy without caring.
The Exploration Convertible is noticeably better in every technical dimension: better stretch, better fit, better construction quality and a DWR treatment that performs more consistently. You feel the difference on a long day, particularly in the stretch.
For someone getting into hiking and buying their first dedicated hiking trouser, the Kiwi Pro II at £30 is the right starting point. For someone ready to invest in something they will wear for several years on serious routes, the Exploration Convertible justifies the extra £40.
Buy Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II on AmazonReasons to buy and reasons to look elsewhere
- Four-way stretch: moves with you rather than against you on demanding terrain
- Lightweight and packable: does not add meaningfully to your load
- Boot-off-free convertible: zip off the lower leg without removing boots
- DWR treatment handles UK three-season conditions well
- TNF fit is consistent and reliable across the range
- Comfortable enough to wear beyond hiking
Reasons to look elsewhere: Limited pocket count compared to RevolutionRace options. Not waterproof in sustained rain. Not as durable as Fjallraven Keb for rough off-path terrain. If you need more than three pockets or genuine waterproofing in one garment, look at other options in the best hiking trousers guide.
Should you buy the North Face Exploration Convertible?
Yes, for most UK day hikers. The stretch, the weight and the comfortable fit make these the trouser I reach for most and the one I would recommend to anyone who hikes regularly on UK trails and wants something that performs without being conspicuous about it.
If you are certain about never converting to shorts, buy the Regular Tapered instead and save a little money. If you want maximum durability and pocket storage, look at the RevolutionRace options. If you are just starting out and want to try hiking-specific trousers without the investment, the Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II is the lower-risk starting point.
How to get the best from your hiking trousers
Pair with a waterproof overtrouser. No DWR-treated hiking trouser is a substitute for a proper waterproof layer in sustained rain. Carry the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Pants or similar in your pack and pull them on when conditions turn seriously wet.
Layer underneath in cold conditions. Icebreaker merino wool base layer leggings under the Exploration Convertible, combined with Darn Tough merino socks and Salomon X Ultra 360 GTX boots, covers everything from a mild autumn day to Pen y Fan in January.
Reactivate the DWR. After washing, tumble dry on a low heat. The heat reactivates the DWR coating that washing gradually strips. Do this before assuming the waterproofing has failed.
Size for movement, not appearance. Hiking trousers should be comfortable when stepping up onto a high stile with a full stride. If they feel tight at the hip when you test this in a shop, size up.