Acquiring gear seems forever fraught with the potential for buyer’s remorse, but one purchase I made a couple years back continues to satisfy: Columbia’s entry-level nylon hiking pants. I’ve logged what must be over a thousand miles in these guys — they have no bells or whistles (no belts or mesh undies, which just annoy me), they’ve got tons of pockets, they wash clean no matter how much cow crap I stumble through.

They just do their job, in other words (though I admit I almost never zip the leg bottoms off.) Melissa keeps wondering when they’ll wear out. So do I. But they keep hanging in there.

Goes to show you don’t have to buy Patagonia or Ex Officio’s top-of-the-line model to get durable, quality stuff.

Have to admit, though, that I’ve seen other pants that seem promising. If you like yours, please share with the rest of us.