When you are traveling, it always a good idea to keep the amount of clothes you bring along to a minimum. This often means that your clothing needs to pull double- or triple-duty. The more versatile a piece of clothing is, the less you have to bring of that item.

One of the most versatile pants I have run across are the Ex Officio Amphi Pants. They have many uses, some of which include:

• Air travel wear
• Walking, hiking, backpacking, trekking wear
• Adventure travel wear
• Hot and cool weather outdoor activity wear
• Around town wear
• At your work wear
• Casual get-together's wear

Other than for formal occasions, or cold weather, the Amphi Pants can be used just about anytime and anywhere. But this is not all, here are some other good reasons to consider these pants:

• The Amphi Pants are made of a very lightweight, 100% nylon fabric with Teflon coating. The texture of the surface is similar to peach fuzz, and is very soft. This combination results in pants that are lightweight and very packable, breathable, moisture-wicking, fast-drying, stain-resistant, and wrinkle-resistant.
  
   
• The pants are cool-looking, well-designed, and durably constructed. The fit is loose and comfortable, but not baggy.
  
   
• The Amphi Pants (men's) come with a built-in mesh brief. In other words, you don't need to wear underwear with them. But you can if you want. The women's version, as you might guess, do not come with the built-in brief.
  
   
• The pants have a built-in belt, elastic waistband, and four pockets. There are two pockets upfront. The right-hand front pocket has a smaller, inner pocket, with a Velcro closure, to keep you from looking valuables. There is only one rear pocket, on the right side that has a flap that has a Velcro closure. On the left, front leg is a cargo pocket with a zipper and Velcro closure.
  
   
• The bottom of the legs include an adjustment to make them tighter or looser so that they fit well around your boots or shoes. This helps to keep stuff from getting into your footwear.

When I first felt these pants, I was surprised to find out how thin they are. I couldn't imagine that the fabric would be very durable. But I was wrong. Not only are the pants tougher than you would expect, the thinness of the fabric contributes a lot to its light weight and comfort.

Using the Amphi Pants in the Real World

I have used my two pair of Amphi Pants under all of the conditions I have described above, and they have served me well. In cooler weather, they can be worn with a base layer for extra warmth, perhaps down to about 30 degrees or so. Below than temp, I generally prefer to wear a soft shell pant.

In warmer temps, the pants do a good job of moving moisture off your skin so that it can quickly evaporate, helping to keep you cool. They are comfortable up to about 85-90 degrees or so, although, if practical, I wear shorts when the temps break 70 degrees. You can wear them if the temps are above 90 degrees, but like any pant in very hot weather, they will be warmer than shorts.

You can easily wear the pants multiple days without having to wash them, and odor build-up is not much of an issue. Wrinkling is also not much of a problem, unless you let them dry in a wad. When traveling, the pants are easy to wash and let hang dry. They dry very quickly.

Recommendation

If you are looking for a swell, all-around pair of pants that can be used for many different uses, then you will want to consider the Amphi pants.

Product Notes

Amphi pants are available for both men and women in a variety of sizes and colors. The men's pants can be purchased with either a 32" or 34" inseam, and they are also available in a convertible version (pants can be converted into shorts). The MSRP is $59.00. If you are a man, but don't like the idea of a built-in mesh brief, the Ex Officio Explorer pants are a good alternative. Amphi pants can be washed and dried in your washer and dryer.