Let's not over-complicate things: We're talking about pants here. Pants. Not a backpack. Not hiking shoes. Not a sleeping bag. Pants.

And while a poor choice can make you slightly uncomfortable on the trail, most of the top products from reputable brands will perform reasonably well.

The only way you can mess this up is if you buy capris or something off-the-charts like that.

Therefore, we're not going to write a 2,000-word review on pants. If you want that, and would like to hear all about how the nylon fabric dries quickly, and the water repellent finish wicks water, and this pair weighs two ounces less than that pair, there are plenty of other sites that do that.

But if you're tired of reading several-thousand-word articles you found on Google that just give you a rundown of all the things you could buy and don't actually answer the question of what you should buy, we've got your back.

Keep it simple:

We recommend the North Face Men's Sprag 5-Pocket Pants as you can see above. They're light, quick-drying (with a DWR water resistant finish so they can serve as light rain pants), and not incredibly expensive. Plus they'll look good on the trail and around town so you can use them as travel pants as well. Dual purpose. Doesn't need to be more complicated than that. Go buy them and then you can get back to focusing on practice. Or pants. Whatever.

Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible - Probably the best value hiking pants on the market. They're convertible pants with zip-off leggings and are ideal for hikers who don't care that much about what they're wearing, but want something that isn't terribly expensive and will hold-up well. UPF 50+ sun protection and they're a cargo pant so have cargo pockets for extra storage.

Prana Stretch Zion Pants or Brion Pants - The Brion pants are slightly less expensive and generally less recommended. Stretch Zion pants are the way to go.

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants - Very highly-rated on all the backpacking review sites, but honestly I can't tell what all the fuss is about. Sounds like people trying to sell you something to me, but feel free to decide for yourself.

Patagonia Quandary - Not a bad choice actually if you like these better than the North Face. Can't go wrong here.

Arc'teryx Gamma LT or Lefroy - Arc'teryx is solid all around and always a good choice, but generally more expensive than other brands so tread lightly. The Gamma LTs are moisture wicking and ideal for just about anything from trekking to mountaineering to bouldering. They're probably the best hiking pants money can buy right now, so if you want to get the best and don't care about the dollars, go with these. They also make good climbing pants.

Fjallraven Vidda Pro - So I have to admit, these look like awesome pants and if you're dying to have them, I would say just go get them. But the material is very heavy (which could weigh you down a bit on the trail), they're made out of cotton (which is generally frowned upon in the hiking community due to water retention), and they're slightly expensive. There are probably better alternatives at this price point, but you have to admit they do look rugged.

Marmot Arch Rock - Fairly straight-forward, well-made stretch pants with breathability and a Durable Water-Resistant (DWR) finish, so sheds light moisture and dries quickly.

Mountain Hardwear AP or Chockstone - The AP men's pants are 75% cotton, so if that's an issue for you, look elsewhere. The Chockstone are fully-synthetic softshell pants with straight legs and zippered pockets. Both seem well-made. Mountain Hardwear is known for producing very functional products, so should be good to go.

Kuhl Renegade - Kuhl may have gone New Coke on these and improved something that didn't need to be improved. Historically a very popular hiking pant, but a lot of negative reviews about the new arrivals so beware.