Hiking pants are an important piece of hiking gear but one that men often take for granted. They have to be highly breathable, durable, quick-drying, easy to vent when you get too hot, but warm when the temperature drops. Fit, freedom of movement, and pockets are also key factors. What about hiking pants that are insect resistant or provide a high degree of sun protection? All of these are important variables when choosing the best hiking pants.
However, no one pant will suit everyone’s body type. Some hikers prefer a slimmer fit that reduces extra fabric while others feel more comfortable and airy with a looser fit. Particular features to look for include articulated knees and a gusseted crotch, lots of pockets, and venting options such as roll-up legs or convertible pants. With these variables in mind, here are the top 10 men’s hiking pants we recommend.
1. KUHL Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants
KUHL Renegade Convertible Pants have a soft, cotton-like feel, but are made with a nylon/spandex fabric blend that’s abrasion-resistant, water-repellent (DWR-coated), and fast-drying. The convertible pants’ zippers don’t have a flap over them, for a less bulky, more streamlined design, while ankle zips make it easier to get the lower pant legs on and off without messing with your footwear. Additional features: UPF 50 sun protection, dual cargo pockets, mesh pocket bags, and a gusseted crotch.
REI’s Sahara Convertible Hiking Pants are made of a lightweight, quick-drying stretch nylon fabric with a water-repellent (DWR) finish and UPF 50+ rating. A full elastic back waistband allows you to move freely and comfortably while the front has a zipper fly and button closure. Color-coded thigh zippers help you determine the right leg from the left leg when converting the shorts back to pants. Vertical zippers from the bottom hem to mid-thigh allow for more ventilation and also let you remove pant legs without removing your shoes or boots – a hiking must-have! Plus they’re loaded with pockets for essentials, including front-hand pockets, back pockets, and a zippered cargo pocket making them perfect for hikes or travel.
Columbia’s Silver Ridge Convertible Hiking Pants are versatile summer hiking pants designed with hot days in mind. Their wicking, quick-drying fabric offers UPF 50 sun protection, and the legs zip off to convert into shorts with a 10-inch inseam. Their fit features a partial elastic waist, an adjustable outer waistband, and a gusseted crotch that makes it easier to clamber up and over the trail’s obstacles. Pockets include a zippered security pocket on the left leg. A good value, they boast the most affordable price on this list before any sales or discounts.
KUHL’s Renegade Rock Pants are great multisport pants, equally at home on the trail or at the crag. They’re made with a lightweight soft-shell fabric that provides durability and a cotton-like feel with a UPF 50 rating to shield against harmful UV rays. A microsuede-lined waistband provides comfort while articulated knees offer freedom of mobility for hikes, scrambling, and climbs. The cuffs can cinch tight to provide a secure fit and keep out trail debris. The fit is tapered.
Arc’teryx’s Gamma Pants are great for hikers and backpackers thanks to their durability, protection from the elements, and movement-supporting stretch. They’re made with a soft-shell fabric that resists wind and water and is stretchy for freedom of movement. These pants include an adjustable low-profile webbing waistbelt that fits comfortably under a harness or pack and a front fly with a snap closure. They also include 2 secure-zip hand pockets; 1 easy-access secure-zip thigh pocket that sits below a climbing harness. These Gamma Pants were formerly called “Gamma LT” and have been updated with a revised regular fit and straight legs.
prAna Stretch Zion II Hiking Pants get rave reviews for comfort, fit, and durability, with an abrasion-resistant nylon/spandex blend designed to stretch when you scramble and climb. The quick-drying fabric also features a water-repellent (DWR) finish and UPF 50+ sun protection. For heat relief, the pants have a ventilated inseam gusset and roll-up cuffs held with snaps. Other handy features include an adjustable waistband and a dual-entry cargo pocket. If you have the original Zion pants, the biggest change in this version is a switch to recycled fabric.
Patagonia’s Quandary Pants are versatile hiking pants made a built stretch (94% nylon / 6% spandex) with 50+ UPF sun protection. They have handwarmer pockets, two back pockets, one right coin pocket, and one right-thigh zippered pocket. They sit on the waist with a regular rise; not too loose and not too tight in the seat and thighs with a straight cut from knee to ankle. The gusseted crotch allows for a full range of motion and they have metal button closure with zip fly.
The North Face’s Paramount Pro Convertible Pants are lightweight synthetic pants with enhanced moisture management, anti-odor control, and increased abrasion resistance for extra durability. They have a slim fit with a buried belt that’s comfortable when worn with a backpack or under a climbing harness. They have a zippered fly with snap closure and zip-off legs that let you convert pants to shorts with an 8 in. inseam. The pants have three zippered pockets: two side hand pockets and one on the rear. Drawcords at the leg openings offer additional adjustability.
RailRiders Eco-Mesh Pants are lightweight nylon pants with zippered mesh side vents for ventilation instead of zip-off convertible legs. They’re designed for use in very hot desert conditions and are pretreated with Insect Shield to prevent mosquito and tick bites. Constructed out of two-ply, 3-oz Duralite nylon fabric, they are fast drying with a UPF rating of 30. The fit is enhanced by elastic side panels at the waist, and sports two on-seam front pockets, and 2 zippered back pockets. A lightweight webbing belt is included. Read our review.
Fjallraven Vidda Pro Ventilated Pants are designed for rugged hiking, mountaineering, and hunting. They are made from Fjallraven’s G-1000 fabric: a 65% polyester/35% cotton mix that the company recommends treating with Greenland Wax to reach the level of water- and weather-proofing you want. They have extra reinforcement on the rear and knees and generous ventilation openings from the hips to the knees to help you stay cool. There are pockets galore, including 2 hand pockets and 2 large leg pockets with buttoned flaps including one with an inside mesh pocket to stash your trail essentials; a knife pocket on the leg, and an axe loop at the waist. Need durable pants while you perform trail maintenance? Here you go.
Consider these variables when buying hiking pants.
Weight & breathability
For summer hiking, you want a breathable, lightweight fabric that will help you stay cool. You may want three-season pants, or ones you can layer for winter, but if you plan on hiking at the height of summer, buy for that. Overheating will make you miserable, or worse. Most hiking pants are fully synthetic, which helps them dry out quickly when you sweat. Some also incorporate mesh panels and/or pockets to help airflow.
Long pants, convertible pants, or roll-ups
Your choice will depend on both your comfort preferences and the type of hiking you’ll be doing. If it’s going to be hot, and you are backpacking with just one pair of pants, convertible pants will give you the most options for day and night. But if you know you will not want shorts, because of sun exposure, bugs, or terrain that will beat up your legs, convertible pants are unnecessary and will add bulk. In other words, consider your terrain and habits when you choose. If you do choose convertible pants, test the zippers and look for ankle zips, too, which let you take the lower legs on and off without removing your shoes. An alternative to fully convertible pants, roll-up legs–typically held up with a snap or button–can provide extra ventilation on a hot day.
Pockets and Extra Features
Extra features can make a good pair of pants into a great pair of pants. Secure, well-designed pockets give you easy access to essentials like your phone or map without rummaging through your pack. Well-placed waistbands won’t chafe under your pack’s hip belt. Reinforced pant cuffs can help prevent fraying.
Stretch
You’ll also want to look for stretch, especially if you’ll be hiking in scrambly terrain. If you have to get your legs up and over obstacles, you’re going to want to give in the fabric. Most of the pants listed here blend nylon with spandex or elastane to provide that stretch, but the ratios differ. Typically, the higher the spandex or elastane content, the more flexible the fabric. A cotton blend can also offer good mobility, as with the Mountain Hardwear AP Pants and the Fjallraven Vidda Pros on our list.
Durability
Aside from the durability of the fabric itself–which you learn through gear reviews along with trial and error–features that increase durability include reinforced seams as well as reinforced knee and rear panels. Heavier fabrics, or those with a tighter weave, may be more durable, but that also needs to be balanced against breathability in the summer months.
Sun protection
All clothing will provide some protection from direct sun, but some fabrics provide more than others. Many manufacturers have started listing UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) ratings on their clothes. This tells you how much of the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate the material. For example, if a garment’s UPF rating is 50, that means 1/50, or 2 percent, of the sun’s UV rays, reach your skin through the cloth. UPF 20 means that 1/20, or 4 percent, of the sun’s rays, get through. The higher the rating, the better the protection. Fabric type, weave, dyes and added chemical treatments can all affect UPF.
Insect protection
Fabric treated with insect repellents such as Permethrin can help keep the biting critters away. This can be especially helpful in high tick season. Few of the pants on our list this year are treated with repellent, but it is not a hard process to do on your own. (Permethrin is known to be dangerous to cats, so if you treat clothing at home, be careful with the chemical. Once you have finished treatment, however, the clothes are safe.) See here and here for info on treating clothes yourself.
Water protection
Durable water repellent (DWR) coating is common in hiking pants, as you’ll notice in our top ten list. It won’t make the pants waterproof, but it will help them shed water, and delay, if not prevent a soaking. That said, the coating wears off with wear, tear, and washing, so you’ll eventually need to refresh or re-apply it, which you can do safely at home with the right products.
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