Women's Hiking Pants

Womens hiking pants that fit and move

Nearly all the womens hiking pants here are made from synthetic stretch fabric, since cotton soaks up water and stays heavy once you sweat or wade a creek. Nylon and polyester blends do the main work, and the share of elastane tells you how a pair will feel. The parachute cargo pants have just 5% elastane and a relaxed, flowing cut. The high waisted leggings go up to 25%, for a close fit that follows you over rocks. For layers on top, start with our hiking clothes.

Waist height matters as much as fabric. Most of the leggings sit high on a wide waistband that stays put on a climb instead of rolling down, and some add cargo pockets on the thigh or a zipped pocket for your phone. For more room through the hips and thighs, the high waisted thermal pants have straight legs. Looser cuts with deeper pockets also turn up among our cargo pants.

Pairs for hot, humid walks

On summer tracks, go light. The summer pants use a quick-drying micro-stretch fabric with a water-repellent finish, so light rain beads off, though they are water resistant rather than waterproof. The convertible and cargo hiking pants zip off at the knee, which helps when a cold start turns into a warm afternoon. Hiking leggings are the other way to go. They move with you on high steps, and one double-faced pair is made to stay opaque when you squat. Khaki and light grey make ticks and grass seeds easier to spot on your legs.

Fleece-lined pants for cold walks

For alpine walks and frosty mornings, choose a lined pair. The fleece lined softshell puts fleece against your legs under a wind-resistant outer, and the winter pants are cut for hiking and skiing, so they don't pull at the knees on a steep ascent. The cold weather pair has a lighter single-face fleece that holds warmth without overheating once you're moving. That is a lot of insulation for a mild coastal winter, so keep these for the high country and cold snaps.

Black and grey run through most styles, with khaki, green, purple, pink and light blue in several cuts. Sizes go from XS to 3XL depending on the pair, so check each listing before you settle on a colour. For a darker look in town or on the track, our black cargo pants sit well with the same tops.