Best Women’s Hiking Pants

I get it. Everything is baggy. Nothing actually fits like it’s supposed to. These all look like boy’s pants. There are only 2 options for women hiking pants. You can’t enjoy the outdoors and look feminine. That’s CRAZY! Or if you do, you have to choose the pink and purple clothes with butterflies on them!

^These were the reasons I always just wore leggings when going outdoors. I could never find form-fitting and functional outdoor hiking pants for women. It wasn’t until the last few years that I finally started diving into the options again. It seems as though the industry has been finally improving and more women are starting to design women’s outdoor clothes. I still feel as though we have a long way to go but these pants I have found are awesome!

Some things to keep in mind when buying women’s hiking pants:

Water-repellent: A thin coating is added to fabrics to keep water from entering into the pants. This helps with stream crossings too!

Abrasion-resistance: Since you’ll most likely be walking past brush or scrambling up rocks, an abrasion-resistant fabric, such as nylon, will be important to withstand rubbing or friction and resist tears which will extend the life of your pants.

Moisture-wicking: Draws moisture away from your body to keep you cool and dry. Moisture will be pushed to the surface of the fabric providing you comfort during sweaty days.

UPF (ultraviolet protection factor): Fabric that protects your skin from the sun by blocking radiation!

These are the best women’s hiking pants I have found:

1. Patagonia Quandary

Price: $79.00

Material: 95% Nylon (65% recycled), 5% spandex

Pockets: 

• Two drop-in pockets on the front
• Two drop-in pockets on the back
• one zippered cargo on the right leg

Fit/Style: 

• Mid-rise with a slim fit
• Roll up and snap at the knees 
• 30’ or 32’ inseam available

Extra Features:

• UPF 50+
• Water Repellent
• Belt loop
• Hidden drawcord
• Inseam gusset

Why I like these pants: I love these pants due to their slim fit and stretchy material. They’re incredibly lightweight and comfortable enough for every adventure whether it be climbing, scrambling up a 14er, or a week-long backpacking trip. The hidden drawcord keeps them secure and gives a comfortable tight fit even as they stretch a bit after multiple wears (ex. multi-day backpacking trips). I wear these pants as everyday pants as well they’re so comfortable!

2. Arc’teryx Oriel Leggings

Price: $89.00

Material: 71% Nylon, 29% Elastane

Pockets: 

• Two cargo pockets (harness friendly)

Fit/Style:

• High rise
• 28” inseam
• Length hits at my ankle (5’8)

Extra Features:

• Abrasion-resistant Nylon
• Quick dry
• Moisture-wicking
• Super durable
• Passes the bend test 

Why I like these pants: The entire point of wearing leggings (to me) is to be as close to being pantless as possible. After writing this entire article, believe it or not, I actually hate pants! Thankfully these leggings have a super high elastane content so they’re incredibly stretchy, do not limit mobility at all, do not ride up or down, hug the body and definitely achieve that feeling of being free. I would also have full confidence wearing these in rugged terrain where I’m rubbing up against rocks or brush. These are some of the most durable leggings I’ve ever owned. The only complaint I could make about these is the funky stitching. Some people may love it. It definitely makes the leggings ‘different’ as Arc’teryx achieves with a lot of their items, but it’s not a deal-breaker.

3. PrAna Halle Straight Pants

Price: $89.00

Material: 97% Nylon, 3% Elastane

Pockets: 

• Two drop-in pockets on the front
• Two drop-in pockets on the back
• One zippered cargo on the right leg

Fit/Style:

• Mid-rise with a straight leg
• Roll up and snap at the knees 
• 30’ or 32’ inseam available

Extra Features:

• UPF 50+
• Water repellent
• Belt loop
• Hidden drawcord

Why I like these pants: I’ve always been a huge PrAna fan. They continuously make quality clothes for everyday wear and hiking. This was the first brand I found that made flattering women’s outdoor clothes! I own a few colors and they’ve lasted years, including my two-week trek through the Himalayas in Nepal and a two-month overland trip across Africa. They definitely stretch after multiple wears which is pretty normal for pants but the hidden drawstring is nice to have! My only complaint is that the cargo pocket is not big enough for my iPhone 8 and the two drop-in pockets in the front are also not very deep making them pretty useless AKA another design flaw in women’s clothes. Who doesn’t want functional pockets?!

4. Columbia Saturday Trail Pants

Price: $60.00

Material: 96% Nylon, 4% Elastane

Pockets: 

• Two front drop-in pockets
• Two back velcro pockets
• One small zippered cargo pocket on the right leg

Fit/Style:

• Mid-rise with a straight leg
• 29.5’ (short) or 32’ (regular) or 34.5’ (long) inseam available
• Roll up and snap at the knees 
• Also available in a convertible pant (click here to shop)
• Runs small, size up 1-2!

Extra Features:

• 50+ UPF
• Roll-up legs
• Water-resistant
• Knee gussets

Why I like these pants: I’ve always had good luck finding good quality AND affordable outdoor gear from Columbia. (Check out the affordable hiking boots from them) These pants are SO flattering, lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. I wear these just as everyday pants as well. I typically wear a size 0 in pants but that size was not available so I purchased a size 2. While the size 2 works, a 4 would be way more comfortable. The crotch area can be a little snug. I love that there are multiple inseam options as I like to have long pants. I opted for the 34.5’ inseam at 5’8 and love them!

5. Arc’teryx Palisade

Price: $169.00

Material: 94% Nylon, 6% Spandex

Pockets: 

• Two zippered front pockets
• Two zippered cargo pocket

Fit/Style:

• Mid-rise with a slim fit
• 31” or 34” inseam
• Locking hip belt with s-clip

Extra Features:

• 50+ UPF
• Moisture-wicking
• Quick-drying
• Abrasion-resistant

Why I like these pants: These pants put up a real good fight against brush and rocks and they’re super lightweight and quick-drying (as in minutes). I love the deep zippered cargo pants that are actually functional and can fit my iPhone! Arc’teryx really puts in the effort when designing clothes for those that are going on some technical adventures and it shows. I personally like these pants for wearing around town as well.

6. PrAna Transform 7/8 Legging

Price: $75.00

Material: 88% Nylon / 12% Elastane

Pockets: 

• One key pocket

Fit/Style:

• High rise with a slim fit
• Ankle length
• Color I purchased

Extra Features:

• Squat proof
• Breathable
• Super stretchy
• Moisture-wicking

Why I like these pants: These leggings are perfect for the trial. They form so well to my body without restricting movement. They’re definitely thick enough to pass the squat test but they’re also light enough to stay breathable. I’ve worn these on multi-day treks and they don’t stretch out like normal pants which makes them so comfortable. They’ve also been through the wash maaaany times and still look brand new! I own multiple colors in these leggings for a reason.

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