REI sent me a pair of Endeavor Convertible pants, $100, from their spring 2011 line a few weeks ago to review. I’d never worn convertible pants before as they’re usually not my style, but these ones were different.
Made of double-weave polester/spandex, the Endevour’s are sleek, not baggy and/or dorky. Turn them into shorts and the connecting zippers are hidden from view. When they’re worn as shorts, they look like a nice pair of shorts, not converta-shorts. The lower legs of the pants zip two different ways, and you can even take them off without taking your shoes off. The pocket zippers are all bonded to the pants, so they’re low-profile. Plus the knee and ankle areas are reinforced.
To really test these out, I took them to the crags, ice/mixed climbing and to the gym. I didn’t really take them off for about two weeks.
When wiggling up chimneys at the local crags, I could hear the lower-leg zippers grind against the rock. However, the zippers are covered by material so they didn’t get damaged. I was very pleased with the Endevour’s stretchyness, especially when throwing my legs up over the top of a boulder and pressing out mantles. They never once hindered my quick movements on or off the rock. They also blocked the cold wind. They also provide “UPF +50 sun protection.”
A few days ago I took them up to Rocky Mountain National Park. My partners were dressed in Gore-Tex bibs and I was in the Endevour’s and long underwear. We hiked through snow for an hour to reach the crags. Sometimes the snow would reach thigh level. Once there, we climbed steep mixed routes and some ice. We stayed out all day and hiked back to the car in the fading light. Admittedly I was not as warm as my partners, but was not especially cold or wet since the pants are hydrophobic. I never shivered or became especially uncomfortable despite being at a cold crag and in the shade all day. The pants fit well over my ice boots and performed well overall.
I became rather attached to the Endevours over the last few weeks. They fit in well at the crags or in social situations. I didn’t feel too-techy since the zippers are all tucked away, and I liked how they shed moisture and moved well with my body. One of my cragging friends sums it up best: “REI’s clothes have gotten better, but they also seem more expensive.” REI also makes a non-convertible version of the Endevour, $79.50. Look for them in stores in spring 2011 or at rei.com.
