Wind-resistant and quick-drying, these pants are up for adventures in almost any condition. A midrise waist ensures the pants can fit underneath a backpack’s waist straps or a climbing harness, and an internal drawcord lets you dial in the fit. The pant legs can be adjusted with cinching cuffs, which can be nice for hot summer days, creek crossings, and high steps on a rock face.
Our testers wore Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants ($99) hiking on steep switchbacks in the Eastern Sierra, California, put them to the test rock climbing on granite crags, and were impressed by their stretchiness and mobility.
While their lightness is a bonus for warm hiking days, the fabric itself isn’t the most durable in our lineup of the best hiking pants. We loved the comfort and stretch of the nylon, but they are definitely not the pants to bring on your next canyoneering adventure or offwidth climbing endeavors — basically anywhere where you’re bound to be scraping your body against rough surfaces.
This fabric, however, is made with 50+ UPF sun protection as well as a DWR finish, making the Ferrosis at home in hot, sunny weather while also providing moderate protection during surprise showers. The 90D ripstop nylon is also made with 46% recycled material, which is something that earns points in all of the products we review.
Still undecided? Read on to learn even more details about these popular hiking pants.
In short: The Ferrosi pants from Outdoor Research earn so many points in our book, from their stretchy, mobile materials, midrise waist, and lightweight feel that will make you feel comfortable hiking up steep switchbacks or on your next rock-climbing adventure.
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Weight
9.5 oz. -
Fabric
86% nylon, 14% spandex, DWR finish (46% recycled materials) -
Inseam
31″
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Lightweight and stretchy -
UPF 50 sun protection -
Mid-rise waist for harness and backpack compatibility
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Light material means pockets can get bulky -
Not as durable as some thicker pants in our lineup
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants Review
Materials
Made from 46% Bluesign-approved recycled nylon and 14% spandex, the Ferrosis are not only stretchy, but they’re also more environmentally friendly to boot. This sun-protective fabric is also rated to 50+ UPF, keeping your skin safe from harmful UV rays, which can penetrate through fabric, especially at higher elevations.
The nylon is also 90-denier, stretch-woven ripstop, which gives it some durability characteristics as well. Though, our testers thought that the fabric overall was too thin and light to really be very durable in the long run.
Another thing that irks our testers about the fabric of these pants is that it is so thin that you can see the outline of the front pockets. While this might not bother some, we think it is a strange design choice by Outdoor Research, especially since if you put anything remotely bulky in your pockets like a phone or keys, it’s going to be very obvious.
All in all, though, the lightness and stretchiness of these pants translate really well to on-the-trail comfort and mobility.
Pant Length & Versatility
The Ferrosis have a standard, straight leg style and an inseam choice of 29, 31, and 34 inches for ladies of different heights. These pants fall below the ankle, but can be easily adjusted with drawcord-adjustable cuffs. Our lead tester, Miya Tsudome, tends to prefer pants that fall at or above the ankle for style and function, so appreciates the adjustability of the Ferrosis. The cinched mechanism can loosen over time, however, causing you to have to stop and adjust the pants again if you want the cuffs to stay up, which can be annoying.
With a midrise waist and internal drawcord, these pants can fit comfortably under a backpack’s waist straps or a climbing harness belt, making them a versatile pick for a variety of activities.
Mobility
With the aforementioned soft and stretchy fabric, the Ferrosis are some of the most mobile pants in our lineup that aren’t leggings. This can be attributed to their 14% spandex construction and regular fit that is neither too tight nor too loose to allow for freedom of movement.
Articulated knees also allow your legs to bend without the pants pulling tight. The midrise of these pants also helps with mobility, keeping the waist higher and in place more than a low-rise cut.
Features
While these pants are overally simple in their design, they do sport a few features worth mentioning. In addition to the two sizeable front pockets, the Ferrosis also have a large thigh pocket on one pant leg, large enough to fit a phone, which won’t get as sweaty while hiking as when it is held in the front pocket.
Our lead tester also likes to put her phone in this side pocket while climbing, so it doesn’t get in the way of her movement as much while remaining secure in its zippered enclosure. The seat of these hiking pants also have two pockets, one zippered and one open.
The adjustable waist and adjustable cuffs are nice features to dial in your preferred fit and look, and the UPF and DWR protection are also nice touches, making the Ferrosis a good value.
Conclusion
While these might not be the most durable pants we’ve ever tested, they are some of the most light and comfortable. If you tend to stick to the trail, and don’t plan on shimmying down canyons and climbing chimneys, their durability probably won’t be an issue.
A few welcome features let you dial in your fit, and their fabric will also protect you from sun and light rain. In the end, Ferrosis from Outdoor Research are a great all-around hiking pant for your three-season adventures.
