9 Best Hiking Pants Of 2021

An amazing and adventurous journey like hiking and trekking could turn into a disastrous one if hiking gear is not up to the mark. Weather-appropriate clothing is one essential part of that hiking gear. It can either make or break your hiking trip. So choosing the best hiking pants must be a very high priority. It could be one of the overwhelming and daunting tasks when it comes to variety in the best hiking pants. So, to save you from this hassle, we are here with a detailed guide to the 9 best pants for hiking. Till the end of this article, you will be able to choose the best hiking pants for yourself that would prove delightful for your hiking trip.

What To Consider To Find Your Best Hiking Pants?

Material

A few points are important for most people when it comes to hiking pants. One of the main differences in the material. Typically, hiking pants are made of a nylon blend, and most of the options here have at least a small amount of built-in stretch via elastane (spandex). Generally speaking, the higher the percentage of elastane the stretchier the pants will be.

Water And Wind Resistance

To start this segment, I should start by saying that no hiking pants will be 100% waterproof. Or if it would be, it would be really uncomfortable to wear in summer, because those types of hiking pants are not breathable on a downside. So you will want to always find a compromise here. Depending on the model, a lot of hiking pants provide decent results here. In fact, we have been able to hike in the rain for 1-2 hours without a problem with most of the models on this list.

Wearing Comfort, Fit, And Pockets

Hiking pants in a perfect world would be neither too cold nor too hot, with great water and wind protection, an extremely comfortable fit, extremely breathable, and with a lot of pockets for important items. Unfortunately, such hiking pants don’t exist (just yet). If you are anything like me you are especially focused on how comfortable the hiking pants are to wear for multiple hours. In the list of the best hiking pants below, I have included a review of how the overall wearing comfort is in my option. Also, considered in the are things like how many pockets a hiking pant has, the weight etc.

What Are The 9 Best Hiking Pants of 2021?

Best Hiking Pants Overall

  Outdoor Research Ferrosi ($79.95)

• Fabric Materials: 86% nylon, 14% spandex
• Measured Weight: 10 oz.
• Water Resistance: DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish
• Pros: Breathable, lightweight, versatile, durable
• Cons: Poor wind protection, heavy/bulky
• Price: $80
• Overall Wearing Comfort: ★★★★★

The Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants are great especially for minimal hiking due to being so much lightweight. The presence of 14$ spandex gives them a soft hand feeling and makes them extremely stretchy and breathable which come in handy for any kind of movement. These pants are so comfortable, I even kept them on for sleeping on one occasion. Moreover, spandex fabric gives them good dyeability and makes them resistant to perspiration. Additionally they are available at a very reasonable price, considering what you get for it. Although they are not suitable for windy conditions, their overall features make them the most breathable and comfortable pair of paints.

Best Hiking Pants For Alpine Usage

   Arc’teryx Gamma LT Pant ($189)

• Fabric Materials: 88% nylon, 12% elastane
• Measured Weight: 11.8 oz.
• Water Resistance: DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish
• Pros: Comfortable, versatile, wind protection, breathable, zippered pockets, lightweight and durable. Best for alpine usage.
• Cons: Expensive, can be too warm for summer
• Price: $189
• Overall Wearing Comfort: ★★★★★

When it comes to extreme weather resistance like wind resistance and water resister, no other pants can beat Arc’teryx Gamma LT Pants. So, they are perfectly made for hiking and trekking in places where you face wet weather. As they are tightly woven, venting and breathability is a weak point here which means they are not suitable for extremely hot weather, but excellent for alpine usage. Although venting can be a small issue here, their elastic cord at the ankle to roll up and secure comes in handy when the temperature rises. You won’t be disappointed if you spend this slightly high price on these durable and comfortable pants. We have been wearing them for days straight and they still looked new.

Best Budget Hiking Pants

 Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible ($45)

• Fabric Materials: 57% recycled polyester, 43% polyester mesh, 100% nylon Silver Ridge ripstop
• Measured Weight: 10.8 oz.
• Water Resistance: No
• Pros: lightweight, breathable, articulated knees, good for multi-sports
• Cons: No stretchy, Too tight on the quads,
• Price: $60

If you are tight on budget and looking for inexpensive entry-level hiking pants then Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants are your first go-to option in this list. They prioritize looks over the performance of the pants but being lightweight, they are highly breathable. Due to 100% nylon, they feel restrictive and hence offer limited mobility. So, they are good for walks and mild hikes. Due to no water resistance, they get wet easily if you encounter a rain shower. Due to their lightweight, they dry fast and easily. Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible pants offer 2 front mesh-lined pockets, 2 rear mesh-lined pockets, and 2 cargo pockets on both sides. If you can afford a high budget then this, we suggest you go for other hiking pants models.

Other Best Hiking Pants

Royal Robbins Alpine Road ($85)

• Fabric Materials: 66% nylon, 31% polyester, 3% spandex
• Measured Weight: 13.8 oz.
• Water Resistance: DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish
• Pros: Stretchable, durable and comfortable
• Cons: Not lightweight pants, baggy
• Price: $85
• Overall Wearing Comfort: ★★★★★

When it comes to pants that can be used as formal pants as well as hiking pants, no other hiking pants can compete with the grace Royal Robbins Alpine Road Pants offer. They are highly durable and weather-resistant due to the thick, wind, and water-resistant materials that are used to make them. As they are thick, they are not suitable for hot weather. As nylon, polyester, and spandex make them a little bit still, they are not ideal for rock climbing but the articulated knees they offer, help in mobility. These pants come with mesh-lined front and side pockets which can be used for ventilation. As compared to other hiking pants, they dry up easily and quickly as their thick nature does not let water seep in. Overall they make a great pair of pants to hike in cold weather.

Prana Stretch Zion ($88.95)

• Fabric Materials: 97% polyester, 3% spandex
• Measured Weight: 13.3 oz.
• Water Resistance: DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish
• Pros: Comfortable, versatile, strong pocket game, leg roll-up snaps
• Cons: Poor breathability in hot weather
• Price: $88.95
• Overall Wearing Comfort: ★★★★☆

Prana Stretch Zion Pants are comfortable pair of hiking pants. You don’t feel constrained in them when sitting for longer hours. Their thick materials make them durable but at the same time create the problem of ventilation and breathability. However, these pants have other ways for ventilation like front pockets partially mesh-lined, crotch with three holes on each side of the inner thigh and snap buttons to hold the cuffs up. They also provide UPD 50m sun protection from UV rays but when it comes to DWR finish, they don’t offer too much water resistance which means these pants become too heavy due to their weight and water if you are stuck in a storm or rain. So, if you are looking for pants that are purely water resistance, we suggest you look elsewhere.

Arc’teryx Lefroy

• Fabric Materials: 86% nylon, 14% elastane
• Measured Weight: 9.6 oz.
• Water Resistance: No
• Pros: Lightweight, durable, breathability, zippered thigh pocket, comfortable
• Cons: Expensive, no back pockets
• Price: $119
• Overall Wearing Comfort: ★★★★☆

If you are looking for lightweight hiking pants that prioritize style over comfort then Arc’teryx Lefroy Pants is your go-to option. When it comes to breathability, they also beat the other best-hiking pants on the list too. But due to their tight and restrictive nature, they could be uncomfortable and thus not suitable for climbing. As far as water resistance is concerned, they don’t offer a DWR finish which means you can get wet if you are caught up in rain or thunder. They do offer 5 low-profile pockets, two fronts partially mesh-lined, to rear with protective security flaps, and a thigh zippered.

Patagonia Quandary

• Fabric Materials: 95% recycled nylon, 5% spandex
• Measured Weight: 10 oz.
• Water Resistance: DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish
• Pros: Very lightweight and comfortable, multi-functional, good fit (not baggy)
• Cons: Not convertible pants, no articulated knees, very thin drawstring
• Price: $79

Due to the simple style comfortability, Patagonia Quandary Pants satisfy casual as well as hiking needs. Although they don’t have a built-in belt, their DWR finish and UPF 50 sun protection save you from rain and intense sun rays at high altitudes. These features make them the best fit for day hikes and backpacking adventurous trips. Spandex and recycled nylon also make them stretchy and durable.

Mountain Hardwear Chockstone/2

• Fabric Materials: 88% nylon, 12% elastane
• Measured Weight: 10.4 oz.
• Water Resistance: DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish
• Pros: Durability, lightweight, comfortable, zippered pockets
• Cons: Expensive, shallow pockets
• Price: $120
• Overall Wearing Comfort: ★★★★★

Mountain Hardwear Chockstone/2 Pants are super stretchable and elastic due to the presence of 12% elastane which makes them perfect for activities like hiking and trekking. Their front and rear pockets are mesh-lined which means they can be used for ventilation when unzipped. They also offer an elastic cord at the ankle to roll up and secure to serve the purpose of ventilation. Their UPF 50 sun protection saves you from harmful UV rays. Their DWR finish makes them water-resistant but they also take more time to dry. Overall they are a good fit for casual as well as trekking and hiking purposes.

That is it for today’s article, I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments below! Bet back to all the best hiking equipment posts with the button below!