10 Best Hiking Pants For Women
A good pair of hiking pants can elevate your hiking experience. However, finding the perfect pair of women’s hiking pants can be difficult with the multitude of options available in the market. That’s why we’ve assembled what we believe to be the top 10 women’s hiking pants, taking into account durability, weather resistance, comfort and fit, breathability, storage and aesthetics.
The list is in no particular order and features a variety of quality hiking pants at diverse price points.
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Prana Halle Pants ll
Fit: Regular
Fabric: 95% recycled nylon and 5% elastane
Water-resistant: Yes
Best use: Rock climbing, hiking and everyday wear
The Prana Halle Pants ll are versatile pants that look and feel great both on and off the trails. It’s built with articulated knees and elastane to enhance mobility and make it comfortable enough for long-term wear.
With a new environmentally friendly upgrade from the previous model, these pants now feature 95% recycled nylon and still deliver the same quality performance as the original. They also have six pockets: two front, two snap-close rear, one zippered side and a coin pocket.
Additionally, these pants are water-resistant with a DWR finish, have UPF 50+ sun protection, and are quick-drying while being breathable and lightweight, making them suitable for various climates and terrains.
KÃœHL Trekr Pant
Fit: Regular
Fabric: 57% polyester and 43% nylon
Water-resistant: Yes
Best use: Hiking, camping and everyday wear
The KÃœHL Trekr Pant are incredibly stretchy and comfortable hiking pants that can be worn daily for casual wear, camping, and hiking. These pants come in two styles: straight-leg or capris. If you want the best of both, the straight-leg pants have a cinch on the side to easily convert them into capris, allowing for versatility and added ventilation.
The Trekr pants have notable stretch, allowing you to move freely and with ease while also having considerable rebound, so they will always keep their shape. Other features to note are that they are mid-rise at the front and high-rise at the back, have an internal drawstring for a customizable fit and have six pockets: two front slash, two rear button snaps and two zippered sides.
While there is no DWR finish, the polyester and nylon fabrics make these pants somewhat water-resistant. Water repels off in light rain, though it will eventually saturate after repeated exposure. But do not let this deter you! They are quick-drying in case they get soaked and moisture-wicking to help pull moisture away from your skin. If you are looking for versatile hiking pants that are comfortable enough for everyday wear, these are for you!
Eddie Bauer ClimaTrail Zip-Off Pant
Fit: Relaxed
Fabric: 91% polyester and 9% spandex
Water-resistant: Yes
Best use: Hiking and rock climbing
The Eddie Bauer ClimaTrail Zip-Off Pant are all-year-round pants that can easily be converted to shorts with zip-off legs and have an impressive four-way stretch for enhanced mobility and comfort.
These pants feature five pockets: two front, two rear and one coin pocket. In addition, they have a built-in belt and elastic waistband to create the perfect fit.
The fabric is slightly heavier than other Eddie Bauer hiking pants, making them wearable and durable all year round. The zip-off legs allow you to turn your pants into shorts on the go to cool off in warmer temperatures. They have UPF 50+ for sun protection and feature a StoremRepel DWR finish to repel water. These durable pants can withstand the friction of rock climbing and outback hikes.
The North Face Aphrodite 2.0
Fit: Regular
Fabric: 95% nylon and 5% elastane
Water-resistant: No
Best use: Hiking, camping and everyday use
The North Face Aphrodite 2.0 are budget-friendly hiking pants. These pants are great for light outdoor activities, groomed trails, and everyday comfort because they are soft, comfortable and withstand quite well in outdoor terrains.
They feature moisture-managing, quick-drying and abrasion-resistant material to help increase their comfort and durability on the trails. However, there is no DWR finish nor sun protection, making these pants not ideal for inclement weather.
There is a drawstring at the waistband and leg openings when you need to adjust the fit. These pants also have three pockets: two front and one zippered at the right pocket. While these may not be the most versatile, they are a good option for people seeking incredibly breathable, lightweight and comfortable pants at a decent price point.
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pant
Fit: Regular
Fabric: 86% ripstop nylon and 14% spandex
Water-resistant: Yes
Best use: Rock climbing, mountaineering, alpine climbing and hiking
The Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants are tough pants constructed to withstand rock climbing, alpine climates and rugged conditions.
They are the ultimate pants for intense outdoor adventures as they are wind and water-resistant, have UPF 50+ sun protection, are incredibly breathable and have articulated knees for enhanced mobility. Not to mention, they are abrasion-resistant, making them durable enough for rock climbing and scrambling.
Other notable features are drawcords at the leg openings to create a tapered leg and have five pockets: two front, two rear and one zippered side. These pants are an excellent choice for rugged outdoor adventures that need pants with extra durability without weighing them down.
Arc’teryx Gamma LT Pants
Fit: Slim
Fabric: 88% nylon and 12% elastane
Water-resistant: Yes
Best use: Rock climbing, hiking and backcountry
The Arc’teryx Gamma LT Pants are a superb option for people seeking out pants that allow for a full range of movement while also being weather-resistant and lightweight.
These soft-shell pants are wind, water and abrasion-resistant, with quick-drying stretch fabrics. Though these pants are form-fitting, they have incredible stretch and mobility. They feature articulated knees, a gusseted crotch, a built-in adjustable waistbelt, drawstrings at the leg openings, and three pockets, two zippered fronts and one side.
If you are looking for durable and flexible pants to help you tackle various weather increments, terrains and outdoor activities, these pants are for you!
REI Co-op Sahara Convertible
Fit: Regular
Fabric: 94% nylon and 6% spandex
Water-resistant: Yes
Best use: Hiking, travel and everyday use
The REI Co-op Sahara Convertible is a terrific option for convertible hiking pants at a reasonable price. While other convertible pants may come at a steep price tag, these do the trick while being affordable.
These are great for on-the-go versatility as they easily convert into shorts with a zip-off design. They have UPF 50+ sun protection and a DWR finish to repel water. These pants are incredibly universal and great for longer hikes and adventures.
As for extra features, there are six pockets: two front, two rear and two cargo sides. All the pockets have mesh to add better breathability and ventilation. They also have great stretch and a gusseted crotch for extra comfort and mobility.
Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tight
Fit: Tight
Fabric: 82% nylon and 18% elastane
Water-resistant: No
Best use: Hiking, camping and rock climbing
The Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tight is one of the most durable tights built to withstand rigours adventures. They are built to withstand challenging terrains with reinforcements on the knees and rear to provide added protection and withstand moisture if you are kneeling or sitting.
These pants do not have a DWR finish, making them not resistant to water. If it rains, you will get wet. On a positive note, they are moisture-wicking and quick-drying if you get wet. They also have excellent pocket storage, side leg pockets big enough for a phone or map, a zipped waist for smaller items like credit cards, and a zippered pocket on the side. Additionally, they are notably breathable, adjustable with an internal drawstring at the waist and provide incredible stretch, so you will never feel restricted movements.
These pants are an excellent choice for people who want to upgrade their leggings to a more durable, high-functioning pair made with the trails in mind, as they have the style and fit of tights with the resistance quality of hiking pants.
Eddie Bauer Trail Adventure High-Rise 7/8 Leggings
Fit: Tight
Fabric: 88% polyester and 12% spandex
Water-resistant: No
Best use: Hiking, running, and everyday wear
The Eddie Bauer Trail Adventure High-Rise 7/8 Leggings are excellent outdoor tights with a gusseted inseam to allow for ultimate mobility for all your adventures.
They are lightweight, high-rise and form-fitting with great stretch and no limits on mobility and have a drawcord at the waist to adjust the perfect fit. As for pockets, there are three: two top-entry sides and one zippered side pocket for added security.
While these may not be water-resistant, they do, however, feature moisture-wicking, which helps pants stay saturated by moving sweat to the pant’s outer layer, then quickly drying. They also have UPF 50+ sun protection and odour control technologies to keep your pants fresh.
KÃœHL Freeflex Roll-Up Pant
Fit: Relaxed
Fabric: 50% polyester and 50% stretch polyester
Water-resistant: Yes
Best use: Hiking, camping, and everyday wear
The KÃœHL Freeflex Roll-Up Pant is perfect for people who want hiking pants that are also great for day-to-day wear and feature more pockets than the KÃœHL Trekr pants. They are comfortable and flexible enough for casual wear yet durable for trails and outdoor activities. Just like the Trekr pants, they not only have impeccable stretch, but they also have great rebounds to maintain their shape over time.
The Freeflex Roll-Up pants feature a lightweight fabric with a DWR finish to repel rain and are moisture-wicking and quick-drying to keep you cool and dry all day long. Additionally, they provide sun protection with UPF 50+. They have great storage with eight pockets: two front and two rear, two security within the rear pockets, and two cargo sides.
As their name suggests, these pants can be rolled up into capris and secured with a snap, which is great for changing terrains and weather, ventilation and a versatile aesthetic.
