I'm assuming the original author bought some pants in the 3 years since this thread was started...
But, for future readers I would strongly recommend the Prana Stretch Zion Pant (and shorts).
http://www.prana.com/stretch-zion-pant.html
I've got 3 pairs of these pants and also two pairs of the shorts. They are made for rock climbing and the fabric is extremely durable, in fact my oldest pair is 3-4 years old and has been worn at least weekly (if not more) that entire time and still looks brand new. The only damage any have incurred is a rough area where I damaged the fabric trying to scrub off some paint, which was totally my fault. These pants are excellent for travel (in town and on the trail) because they are comfortable in a wide range of weather conditions, dry quickly, shed dirt, and they pack down small. I wear these to client meetings all the time and with a button down shirt they dress up very well, and I've taken them traveling and worn them for 3 weeks straight (yes they were washed a few times) with no issues at all.
I'm not usually this effusive about products, but this is one extremely versatile item of clothing I have been 100% happy with and highly recommend.
OurdoorGearLab.com ranked the convertible version as the top hiking pant they tested and the non-convertibles as a best buy. In general I dislike convertible pants because they tend to be more expensive, look too "tactical", and are heavier which is why I went with the non-convertibles.
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Hiking-Pants-Reviews
- Matt