Below are our favorite hiking pants of 2022. 
Past versions were on the normal to baggy end of the spectrum, but REI went in the other direction here with a regular fit and a flared bottom (making it prone to swishing on the trail). The Co-ops biggest seller is the Sahara, which is an attractively priced convertible pant at $80 but has its fair share of shortcomings, which is why its included so far down this list. Shorts are cheaper (typically about $10 to $20 less than a comparable pant), and offer better freedom of movement and ventilation. If youre the type that likes to carry a number of gadgets in your pockets or will be using the pants for travel, the Renegade offers a ton of storage options. In general, the shorts versions have a similar fit, fabric blend, and pocket layout as their full-length counterparts. All in all, weve been pleasantly surprised with the performance and comfort of these pants, and the generous storage layout is the cherry on top. For a hiking pant that can be worn every day and excels at travel (we brought ours to Patagonia), its a nice option.See the Men's Kuhl Silencr. This pant is made from Fjallravens tough G-1000 material that is 35% cotton, which is heavier than most other options on this list, and we all know that it doesnt exactly shine in terms of water resistance (for waterproofing, Fjallraven recommends applying their environmentally friendly beeswax for added protection). See the Men's Columbia Royce Peak II See the Women's Columbia Saturday Trail. Kuhl makes a dizzying array of hiking pant models, and there are more quality options aside from the popular Renegade Convertible above. Materials: 94% nylon, 6% elastaneWeight: 9.9 oz.Belt included: YesWhat we like: Premium build, great fit, and highly breathable.What we dont: Pricey for a lightweight hiking pant. Hiking pants will typically offer a few of good storage options in the form of a cargo pocket or two. Additionally, the pant no longer includes an integrated belt, which is a feature that we really appreciate. But the design of this pant is so streamlined and clean that its easy to wear around town. Materials: 96% nylon, 4% spandexBelt included: NoWhat we like: Available in a wide range of sizes; easy-to-remove legs.What we dont: Strange fit and no integrated belt. Billed as a lightweight hiking and travel pant, the Patagonia Quandary balances performance and casual needs. But for fall, winter, and spring hiking in nasty or off-trail conditions, the Cirque can be your bomber hiking pant. The good news for those that want to pick up a pair of hiking shorts is that many of our favorite pants are offered in this style. All in all, the Gamma LT isnt an all-around pant like our top picks, but for alpine adventures when you need a step up in toughness and weather protection without adding much weight, its a terrific option.See the Men's Arc'teryx Gamma LT See the Women's Arc'teryx Gamma LT. Materials: 100% nylon, NanoPro waterproof membraneWeight: 8.1 oz.Belt included: NoWhat we like: Waterproof and includes zippered pockets at a good price.What we dont: Great for storms, but not breathable enough for all-day and active use. Now for the bad news: We think the latest Stretch Zion II is less competitive than the original. A surprise inclusion on this list, the Columbia Royce Peak II offers great cool and even cold-weather performance at a very good price. Many trekking pants from technical brands like Arcteryx are heavy and almost shell-like in feel (like the Gamma LT above).
Two wonderful design features to look out for in your hiking pant search are articulated knees and gussets built into the crotch of the pants. That said, for hitting the backcountry, its as good as it gets on the market currently. The thin fabric makes the Terra Pack one of the lightest on our list, but it also surprised us with its versatility. Most hikers head straight for a lightweight nylon pant, which is the makeup of many of our choices above, but we can tell you firsthand that a burlier softshell is underrated. The thoughtful mix of materials and solid construction make the Renegade impressively toughours still look like new after extensive useand the generous amount of stretch is a nice upgrade from another popular (but since-discontinued) Kuhl hiking pant weve tested, the Liberator Convertible.
One item that didnt hold up was the button fastener at the bottom of the leg, which fell off just six days into the trip. If you're heading out on an overnight backpacking trip or the weather is iffy, pants are the obvious choice. In the end, the Gammas value (or lack thereof) pushes it slightly down our rankings, but we still think its a fantastic all-around option.See the Men's Arc'teryx Gamma Quick Dry. And our Fjallraven Vidda Pros look so unique that we always jump on an opportunity to wear them. It just makes for a more comfortable wear. With two large, drop-in style side pockets along with four standard pockets on the front and back, the storage options are plentiful, but none allow you to securely stow your electronics or wallet. Importantly, they retained a lot of what made the pant popular in the first place: Theres plenty of stretch in the construction, the built-in belt is helpful for dialing in fit, and you get ample pockets for hiking and travel. We still dont love the Vidda Pro Ventilated for hikers and backpackers covering a lot of ground, but for off-trail jaunts (think fishing and hunting) or extra warmth and protection around camp, its an interesting option. Taken together, the Sahara certainly arent the worst hiking pants out there, but we prefer the convertible options from Columbia and Kuhl above. We particularly like its low-profile styling that does a decent job of disguising the zippers. In temperatures topping 80 degrees Fahrenheit, they kept us nearly as comfortable as the premium Arcteryx Gamma Quick Dry above. Outside of that durability hiccup, we think the Terra Pack is a well-rounded yet impressively ultralight option.See the Montane Terra Pack.
And if youre like us, you bring a single pair of pants and clean it along the way. That said, due to this categorys noteworthy variation in styles, weve also created a unique round-up of the best womens hiking pants. One of our favorites comes with the prAna Stretch Zion IIits low-profile, small adjuster is made out of webbing and resembles a shortened belt. Materials: 86% polyester, 14% spandexWeight: 11.1 oz.Belt included: NoWhat we like: Very stretchy build with zippered storage.What we dont: Thick fabric is too hot for summer-time temps. Materials: 95% nylon, 5% spandexWeight: 1 lb. The softshell fabric is noticeably burlier yet still supremely comfortable, and weve worn multiple generations of this line start to finish on long trail days. But the very tangible benefits can be enjoyed by just about everyone, so we highly recommend stretching the budget and choosing pants that include both. It doesnt hurt to have The North Face name behind them, and the Paramount Trail does come in about $30 cheaper than the Kuhl Renegade Convertible above. are great options. Finally, the 31-inch inseam is a polarizing choice: Most pants either offer a standard 32-inch inseam or a 30-inch option, so this in-between length may not work for some folks. And thicker pants like the Arc'teryx Gamma LT, REI Co-op Activator 3.0, and Outdoor Research Cirque are great for the alpine, shoulder seasons, and even light winter use. The momentum in hiking footwear is moving away from bulky boots toward lightweight shoes and even trail runners that are faster and more comfortable.
For a more relaxed fit, the Kuhl Renegade strike us as a good balance of a bit of extra space without swishing around like a pair of old windbreakers. Without intending to open a new can of worms, certain types of cold-weather hiking and bushwhacking beckons a more serious pant than the options above. Dialing in the fit can often be a difficult thing, so those that fall in between sizes (like yours truly) really appreciate a waistband with a little adjustability. Its worth noting that weve included the Vidda Pro Ventilated version here. The Marmot PreCip Ecofrom the same line as the popular rain jacket with the same namecan be worn over your hiking pants when the rain hits or even over a pair of long underwear if you expect it to continue all day. One feature missing on the Royce Peak II, and particularly for this style of pant, is a drawcord cinch along the bottom of the legs to better seal out the elements. This was a letdown as we appreciated the ability to taper the bottom hem and secure it above our boots. Its no wonder many pants that made our best of list have a convertible model. In particular, outdoor clothing brands like Kuhl and Patagonia (depending on the model) tend to cross over well as everyday pants. Keep in mind that you probably wont want to wear the PreCip as your primary hiking pant for extended periods of time. Despite being reasonably well built for the price, the materials feel relatively thin and dont provide as much weather protection as some of the pricier options on this list. In the end, there are still a fair amount of positives with the updated model, but it has lost its status as our favorite hiking option.See the Men's prAna Stretch Zion II See the Women's prAna Halle II. We also found that the metal fastener on the integrated belt can cause some discomfort underneath the hipbelt of a pack, although this likely wont be a problem for everyone. In addition, the zippers certainly arent the smoothest we tested, and the cheaper materials wont hold up as well as the more premium designs here. For $5 to $10 less than the competition, the Marmot has a full suite of features like articulated knees, a gusseted crotch, and a hand-sized zippered closure along the right pant leg. If you have an allegiance to The North Face, give the Paramount Trail a look. For most three-season backpacking trips, you can spend significantly less and be just as pleased with the performance. The softshell material is tough, comfortable, and resists the elements well including a DWR finish. The final option is convertible pants, which give you the ability to swap between styles, although they come with a fair number of downsides (we cover those in detail in the convertible pant section above). Materials: 96% nylon, 4% elastaneWeight: 13.1 oz.Belt included: NoWhat we like: Great price for a softshell hiking pantWhat we dont: Can be too hot for summer use. A gusset is a patch of diamond shaped fabric that runs along the inner thigh of the pants, replacing a standard seam. For casual hiking and even summer backpacking, the Columbia Silver Ridge is a great value in a hiking pant.
The Ferrosi in particular is a very viable competitor with similar breathability and a little more stretchalthough it doesnt have a belt like the Gamma and is undeniably less premium-feelingand the Silver Ridge will cost you less than half as much. Both are positive changes in our opinion and make the pant more versatile. Beyond temperature considerations, thickness often correlates with durability and tear resistance. Further, Patagonia leads the charge in sustainable measures, and the Quandarys nylon is 65% recycled, and the fabric is bluesign-approved, which means the pants are sourced from and made with sustainable materials. But if youre like us, a simpler design like the single side pocket you get with the prAna Stretch Zion II or Halle II is plenty. The fit of the Renegades is a little baggy for our tastes, but those that like a relaxed cut should find them perfectly suitable. The company always seems to pay attention to the small details, and the Quick Dry is no exception.
Other favorites include the Outdoor Research Ferrosi and Kuhl's durable Renegade.
The Ferrosi takes our top hiking pants spot for 2022, but we do have a couple nitpicks with the design. And as a result, we often prefer to keep our hiking pants on rather than swapping out for a rain pant (like the Marmot PreCip Eco) even in a rain shower.
For truly wet weather, however, it might be worth opting for a fully waterproof model like the Marmot PreCip Eco, which is a rain pant that will keep you dry but lacks breathability for extended treks. Materials: 100% nylonWeight: 15 oz.Belt included: YesWhat we like: Durable and includes a belt.What we dont: Lower-quality materials and build. Its worth noting that the Ferrosi was recently updated, with highlights including a bump in sustainabilitythe fabric is now bluesign-approved and 46% recycledbut the winning formula has gone largely unchanged for years, which is a good thing. Materials: 86% nylon, 14% spandexWeight: 10.7 oz.Belt included: NoWhat we like: Stretchy, breathable, and tough.What we dont: Doesnt come with a built-in belt; not as around-town-friendly as some. But if the sizing is good for youit was spot-on for our testerand you like the security of zippered storage, the stretchy and comfortable Altvia has plenty of appeal.See the Men's Patagonia Altvia Trail. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we know a thing or two about rain.
From the models we've worn, we think prAna's Stretch Zion are one of the best. You do lose some ankle support when carrying a heavy pack or traversing rocky trails See the Men's Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo, See the Men's Fjallraven Vidda Pro Ventilated, See the Women's Outdoor Research Cirque II, The North Face Paramount Trail Convertible ($69). Thats why we were so excited with the new Gamma Quick Dry, which is one of the companys lightest pants at around 10 ounces and built for warm conditions. Materials: 100% polyesterWeight: 14.4 oz.Belt included: NoWhat we like: Great crossover design for hiking and daily use.What we dont: None of the pockets have closures; does not come in a women's version. From our list, pants like the Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo and Arc'teryx Gamma Quick Dry excel in hot temperatures with their thin, breathable fabrics. The biggest downside with running shorts is that you give up some durability with their thin polyester constructions. Starting with the stretch, this slim-fitting pant includes a healthy dose of spandex (14%) for excellent mobility and all-around comfort. On paper, theres a whole lot to like about prAnas latest effort. Choosing full-length pants give you better protection from the sun and help keep dirt and rocks from getting into your shoes.
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