Do I really need to buy hiking pants? Won’t my leggings do? What about cargo pants? They seem to be fit for the task. What are the best hiking pants for me? Is this too expensive? All these questions emerge once you start thinking of buying one of these. Don’t worry. You are not alone in this. Many people struggle to find true answers to these questions. That is precisely why we have prepared this FAQ review- to help you understand what hiking pants are, so as to know whether you should buy them or not.
DO WE REALLY NEED HIKING PANTS?
All beginner hikers might ask this question. Hiking shoes are a must, ok, but do we actually need hiking pants too? This is a most reasonable question. We are living in a consumer society where tons of money are being spent on making us buy more. So, how to know for sure whether we need something or not? The thing is to decide between wants and needs. Are hiking pants something we need or something we want? The answer depends on several matters:
- How often you hike
- Are your trails demanding
- Do you hike only when the weather is nice
If you hike 3 times a year, when the weather is comfortable and there are no rocks and cut slopes on the route, any type of comfortable pants will do. On the other hand, if you hike frequently and throughout the whole year, you do need a pair of pants you can trust.
WHAT MAKES HIKING PANTS DIFFERENT?
This question basically comes down to what makes hiking different from other sports. To start with, a hike takes time. Also, common sports are generally played on fields that are clean and where there is no danger from rocks and thorns cutting your skin. Just imagine sliding down rocky terrain in tennis shorts, or cotton leggings. Doesn’t sound nice, right? So, what makes hiking pants different from other sports pants is their purpose. As well as hiking boots, hiking pants are there to protect you. From rain, sun, rocks, thorns, and bugs. While doing so, the pants also must provide
- Comfort– no one wants to feel agitated while walking
- Functionality– basic function of this piece of equipment is protection, but there are also some extra useful features they offer. We will discuss these later in the text.
- Durability- hiking pants are not bought for “this season only”. They must last.
Can a piece of clothing do all this at the same time? Yes, it can. How is this possible? Well, manufacturers did a great job recognizing what hikers need. Options are extensive. In order to find your way around on the market, there are several qualities to consider.
BUYER'S GUIDE - WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN HIKING PANTS?
Material
When thinking of comfort in the context of materials, cotton would probably be the first choice of most people on the planet. However, cotton simply does not do the job in hiking. This is because you can easily get wet while hiking and cotton will simply not dry fast enough. That is why most hiking pants are completely synthetic. If you check a bit, you will see that most pants intended for this purpose are primarily made of nylon. Although this does not sound good, benefits of this material are many:
- Highly durable- initially used for army purposes in World War II
- Extremely breathable- wicks sweat, dries quickly
- Mildew resistant- lasts longer
- Soft on the skin- feels good
To add additional flexibility to these qualities, designers added spandex, to allow for more mobility. The main benefit of spandex in sportswear, in general, is its stretchability. It easily stretches 5 times its length and has extension-at-break higher than 200%. Fun fact is that that the name spandex is actually an anagram of “expands”. Enough said.
To sum up, ideal hiking pants would have high nylon and moderate/low spandex percentage.
Thickness
In the context of hiking, greater thickness means higher protection and longer durability. Also, thickness stands for seasonal use. This means that you might need thinner pants for hikes during summer and thicker for winter hikes. Lighter hiking pants for summer will protect you against UV rays and insects. Thicker pants, however, will provide more comfort during winter, particularly if you decide to wear base layer under the pants. To decide what is good for you, you have to try on the various pants and see how they feel. Keep in mind that comfort is the second most important quality of hiking pants, just after the level of protection they provide.
Extras
Here we are going to discuss some extra features hiking pants provide to make hiking more comfortable generally speaking.
First, we have zippers. Zippers mean convertible hiking pants. Those are the ones you can easily transform in hiking shorts. This is a very useful quality for summer hikes when temperatures are high and you prefer additional ventilation. Similar to these are so-called “roll-ups”. These offer the same function as the zips-offs but are slightly lighter. Both versions of hiking pants are very popular, particularly among hikers who hike throughout the year.
Pockets are a highly useful addition to hiking pants. They can be used to carry maps, gps devices or cell phones. Well secured pockets help you a great deal. They save you from going through your backpack every time you need something.
Adjustable waist is also a guarantee of long use. This is to say that you will not have to buy new pants if you gain or lose some weight.
Articulated knees are a quality of the best hiking pants. Articulated knee stands for additional fabric in the knee part of hiking pants, allowing for better stretch and improved range of motion.
ARE OTHER SPORTS PANTS GOOD FOR HIKING?
If you are in for sports generally, you probably already have a pair of sports pants or leggings in your wardrobe. You could be asking yourself – if I have ski pants/ compression pants/ leggings do I have to buy hiking pants too? As always, it depends on how long you are going to be on the trail, what weather is expected and how demanding your trail is. Wearing running leggings, for example, is becoming more and more popular among hikers. This is because running leggings are very comfortable and extremely stretchy. They are a proven companion in physical activities. However, there are some serious disadvantages of running tights. When used for hiking, they:
- tend to smell bad after longer use
- are often too short
- tear easily
- are not good for low temperatures
- do not have pockets
- might look better but will not do a better job
You get the point right? Similar disadvantages could be listed for all other sots of sports pants and shorts. The point is that you can try wearing anything you feel good in. But keep in mind that hiking pants are designed for hiking. No other pants are.
WHAT ARE THE BEST HIKING PANTS FOR MEN AND WOMEN?
This question is the hardest one. It is not because there is so much choice, but because it is always difficult to say that something is good at all times and for everyone. As always, it is up to you to decide what is best for you. However, if you want to narrow your search for perfect hiking pants, we recommend you read our review of the best hiking pants for women and men. The review is a result of extensive research and communication with experienced hikers. It could really help you make the right choice.
