Craghoppers have built an entire brand on active travel and versatile clothing, and the Nosilife Convertible pants fit perfectly into this philosophy promising protection from the sun and mosquitoes and offering a couple of travel-focussed surprises too.
The Nosilife selling point is that it negates the need for toxic repellant spray (at least, in this case, on the legs). And it works. At least against the relatively benign insects of Europe - we haven't tested it against the more exotic varieties!
The zip-off factor is also a clear winner for travellers, particularly in variable climates - the option to expose some flesh is often welcome. As is the option to cover it up again! The clever thing about these pants is the Craghoppers have got the zipper in exactly the right place - too high and too much leg is on show, too low and the seam can rub against the thigh/knee when hiking. Neither of those issues common to convertibles is a problem with the Nosilife version.
One of the nice surprises is the plethora of secure pockets - invaluable when travelling in some areas. In addition, Craghoppers include a removable waterproof pouch sized for a phone or similar, which is a really nice touch and shows they understand their audience.
The slight downside is these pants are never going to fit in at the bar; it's a factor that many brands are addressing, and adds hugely to the versatility of travel clothing. In this case however, it's on the move where these pants excel, and the price should leave you with enough change to buy a nice pair of smart pants.
