To achieve a trim aesthetic, Columbia opted to forgo the cargo pockets that are so common on hiking pants. In terms of features, everything about these pants is designed with simplicity and clean lines in mind. Our testers wore them on multiple sweltering, muddy hikes to explore the Incan ruins of Peru and were thankful that they dry in a flash. These nylon-elastane pants are so feathery that wearing them feels like wearing nothing at all-perfect for hot, humid weather, when you still want coverage and SPF 50+ protection without sweating uncontrollably. Pros: They’re lightweight, quick drying, and have an elastic waistband.Ĭons: The ultralight fabric abrades more readily. We loved the Ferrosi’s lightweight ripstop fabric and seven neutral color choices, but the 31-inch inseam came up short for our long-legged testers.īest Lightweight Pants (Courtesy Columbia) Columbia Featherweight Hike ($80) For this reason, the Guide Pro beat out our runner-up, the stylish Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants($80). Nearly everyone will be able to find a great fit. (Though we wish the pockets were deep enough to fit an iPhone.) If it weren’t for the prominent First Ascent logo on the thigh, which screams “outdoors only,” we’d give these a ten out of ten for aesthetics.īut these pants didn’t seize the top spot because of looks and performance alone: Eddie Bauer makes them in a crazy amount of sizes (0 to 24W) and inseam lengths (29 to 35 inches). The Guide Pro features laser-cut seams that lay flat against your leg for a more streamlined look. Hip and cargo pockets can drastically alter the fit or aesthetics of hiking pants while they’re useful for carrying such essentials as lip balm, money, or your phone, they can ruin a flattering, trim silhouette. It washed right out with a hotel-bathtub laundry session, and the pants were dry again soon after.Īnother thing the Guide Pro gets right is pockets. Case in point: one tester accidentally dumped an entire plate of hummus all over her lap in Jordan. They’re made from a stretchy nylon-spandex fabric that’s super lightweight, won’t turn frumpy after days of continual wear, and offers UPF 50+ sun protection.Ī durable water-repellent (DWR) treatment means they shed rain as well as dirt and slop. These do-everything pants are not only great for hiking but also for climbing, bike riding, lounging next to a campfire, and even wandering around town. Pros: They’re water- and dirt-resistant and come in many inseam lengths.Ĭons: The logo is prominent, and the color fades over time. We weathered storms and waded through knee-deep mud puddles in Patagonia, climbed through waterfalls in the Sierra Nevada, baked under the Jordanian sun, biked and hiked our way across the Mongolian steppe, and soaked up rainforest humidity in Peru.īest Do-It-All Pants (Courtesy Eddie Bauer) Eddie Bauer Guide Pro ($80) Among us were several gear writers, a photographer, an actor, and a couple professional guides. We ranged in age from 25 to 59 years old. Our testers were all avid hikers, running the gamut of body shapes and sizes-tall, petite, lean, muscular, curvy. How We Tested the Best Hiking Pants for Women In the process, we logged close to a thousand miles on trails spanning the globe from South America to Asia. Over three months, six women and I tested more than 30 pairs from 24 brands. So we set out to find the best hiking pants for women, for a variety of weather conditions and body types. Whether you are short or tall, petite or plus-size, you probably have a very specific list of criteria when you look for pants. This is especially true for women, since there are so many variables at play: leg length, hip width, thigh-muscle circumference, butt size. Some can even serve double duty as acceptable business-casual wear (at least in some offices). Hiking pants are an essential piece of any outdoor kit: they defend your legs against weather, UV rays, and many natural hazards.

Eddie bauer hiking pants