You’re absolutely correct.

I know the comment is almost a year old, but I live in South America. It’s HOT, and sometimes it is hot and dry. Cotton won’t kill you here even if you got shot with cotton bullets. I camp wearing cotton shirts, pants, jackets, all the time. So, yes: cold places, freezing temps, sure, cotton kills. Here? No way, I love it and won’t wear synthetic stuff that’s not as confortable.

Well, that’s generally good advice, but there are caveats that need to be considered. First — and related to this review — these pants are not 100% cotton, and that makes a big difference. Blends are often a good compromise to maximize the benefits of cotton while minimizing the side effects. These pants don’t soak up moisture and dry quickly, so they worked really well in the water sports I participated in during my test. So, to answer your question, these pants shouldn’t be dismissed off-hand because cotton is one of the ingredients. You need to take in the whole picture.

Now, second: why does “cotton kill”? It’s a bad insulator, takes a long time to dry, doesn’t wick well, and absorbs moisture like a sponge. For cold and/or wet climates, that is a combination marked for disaster (say, hypothermia? Yes.). However, think about that combination in dry, arid climates? Cotton is actually a _really_ good choice. In the arid southwest United States where I most often camp (and in many areas on the world), cotton is a lifesaver.

To your point, I probably should have written a little more about the impact the fabric blend has on these pants, but your comment provided a good opportunity to add this addendum. I hope this helps! As always, make good choices for your climate, pack style, and skill level.

Nuff said?