Best Hiking Pants For Women Hikers

By Diane Spicer

The best hiking pants for women hikers are the ones that stand up (get it?) to your outdoor adventures.

And I mean, ALL of your outdoor adventures.

The ones where you:

• slide down a slippery slope,
  
• scramble through thick brush, 
• butt glissade down a long snow patch,
  
• face plant in the mud,
  
• flail your way across jagged rocks.

Cotton was king, once upon a time

When I first started hiking, I wore cotton jeans.

But I have a good excuse, because that was 50+ years ago (no comments, please). Cotton and wool were the only choices for hiking clothing back in the day.

Just for the record, those wool pants made me itch like crazy.

And they were WAY too big (my dad's hunting pants). There wasn't a belt big enough to keep them where they belonged!

Just say no to cotton

In today's hiking world, there's no excuse to wear cotton on a hike, unless it's high summer and you're confident that the "weather weasels" (forecasters) are 100% accurate in their blue skies prediction.

And you'd be hard pressed to find some itchy wool hiking pants! Soft Merino wool and wool blends are the way to get dressed for a hike now.

So you're wondering, what are the best pants to wear hiking?

It took me decades to find them.

But I'm going to tell you right up front what they are, before I go through the features that I rely upon.

If you want the best womens hiking pants for tough trail conditions, as in really tough, buy a pair of RailRiders.

At the end of this page is the story of how I happened upon that brand.

But you probably don't need that type of overbuilt pants.

Instead, keep reading...

Best hiking pants options for female hikers

If you're a trail fashionista, you might run away from the idea of "convertible" pants.

These are the kind with zip-off lower legs, allowing you to convert full length pants to shorts.

They have all sorts of zippers and pockets, and usually an adjustable or elasticized waist band.

Color options are limited, along the lines of what you might see on Mother Nature's palette.

But I wear these on many hikes throughout the seasons, and they perform well.

For example, a pair of REI Co-op's Sahara women's hiking pants are in my gear closet. They are available in waist sizes 0 - 26W, and three lengths.

• Read my review here

Need another choice? Take a look at these pants, the Trailmade pants, also available in sizes 0 - 26W, in petite, regular and tall lengths.

 And if you're a petite hiker (i.e. short legged), they've got you covered, too (just less fabric).

Another option for women's pants

Another great choice for the
best hiking pants for women

Here's a company that may be new to you: Zorali.

There are good reasons why I think you should take a look  at their recycled Venture pants:

• These pants have everything a pair of hiking pants needs, including water resistant finish, durable 100% recycled nylon which dries fast, 8 pockets, and a relaxed fit to accommodate all your movements during a hike
  
• They're made by an ethical Australian company: B Corp certification, Climate Neutral certification, and a member of 1% for the Planet. Read more here.

Need technical hiking pants,
with all the bells and whistles?

Read my review of GOREWEAR pants here.

These pants are suitable for cool, windy conditions when you don't expect buckets of precipitation. 

They have features that make them a pleasure to wear!

Plus size and petite best hiking pants recommendations

Plus size hiking clothes that fit right are hard to find, but these recommendations for hiking pants might get you onto the trail in comfort.

And here are some petite hiking pants tips for you.

• Read a review of some versatile convertible pants in three lengths here.

Best wishes for success

Here's wishing you a successful quest for the best hiking pants for women!

And just in case, here's some info on hiking shorts.

Because sometimes it just feels great to show a little skin on the trail.

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