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After hiking boots, your pants take the brunt of the abuse on the trail. From protecting you while scrambling through dew-soaked brush and thorny shrubs to surviving boulder-top rest breaks and bathroom squats, your bottoms need to do a whole lot more than simply keep you presentable. These five are the best of the market, with breathability, durability, and comfort at the forefront.
Best Hiking Pants at a Glance
Best Overall
Mission Workshop Stahl LT
$178 at Mission Workshop
Weight: 4.4 oz
Sizes: 29–38
Pros and Cons
⊕ Versatile
⊕ Stretchy and soft
⊕ Durable
⊕ Made in the USA
⊗ Expensive
The price tag for this pair of shorts might make you choke on your gorp. But after wearing the Stahl LT for absolutely everything—from hiking and backpacking to paddleboarding, camping, mountain biking, and backyard grilling—our tester estimated that its cost-per-wear quickly leveled out the investment and even streamlined his clothing drawer. That versatility comes from four-way stretch nylon (with 14 percent spandex) that’s elastic, quick-drying, durable, lightweight, and soft next to skin. “The fabric is stretchy enough that I never felt my stride constricted, and even better, it stayed in place and saved my skin during dicey moves like sliding over rough fallen logs,” said our tester based in Jackson, Wyoming.
A gusseted inseam allows for full range of motion when striding on-trail or high-stepping up ledges. Five pockets (including zippered storage on the thigh) secure a smartphone or wallet, and one includes a tab that’s perfect for clipping a pocket knife. The stateside manufacturing process makes these shorts more expensive than the competition (at least for now), but it’s worth it, in our opinion, for a quiver-killer pair that’ll last years.
Best Ultralight Pants
Outdoor Vitals Skyline Trail Joggers
$90 at Outdoor Vitals
Weight: 6.5 oz
Sizes: S–3XL, tall M–XL
Pros and Cons
⊕ Extremely breathable
⊕ Stretchy and comfortable
⊕ Small packed size
⊗ Not very durable
“Ultralight and ultracomfy,” declared our California-based tester after hiking and trail-running in these pants near Truckee. The thin, stretch-woven polyester felt airy and protected us from the sun (UPF 50-plus) during cloudless treks in the Northern Sierras. (Although the wispy fabric isn’t durable enough for off-trail bushwhacking.) Multiple ventilation panels below the waist and at the crotch and outer leg seams vented sweat in temperatures above 80 degrees.
During drizzly conditions in the High Sierra south of Truckee, the PFAS-free DWR prevented rain from soaking through. As a backup layer for windy passes, these pants add hardly any weight and pack down to the size of a grapefruit. The elastic waistband with a drawstring felt comfortable beneath a backpack, and the stretchy fabric and articulated knee seams allowed for full leg movement when our tester donned them for post-hike yoga sessions.
Jeans-style hand pockets and a zippered rear pocket look casual enough for around-town wear, but our tester wished for adjustable ankle elastic (it’s a snug fit). For on-trail hikers who want ultralight coverage for midsummer conditions, these pants are tops.
Best Value Shorts
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Shorts 7”
$79 at Backcountry $79 at Outdoor Research
Weight: 13.8 oz
Sizes: S–3XL
Pros and Cons
⊕ Stretchy
⊕ Abrasion-resistant
⊗ Rough waistband
Basic in the best way, the pull-on Ferrosi Shorts forgo a zippered fly for a simple elasticized waistband with an integrated belt. But the fabric cuts no corners for performance or sustainability: Bluesign-approved nylon (46 percent recycled) is blended with 14 percent spandex for stretch. That elasticity as well as an extra panel of fabric between the waist and glutes creates a pleasingly unconfined feel while hiking, setting up a tent, and filtering water.
“The waistband is the only zone that feels rigid,” said our Maine tester, who blamed the accordioned fabric for irritating his skin after hours of wear in steamy conditions. While it’s merely adequate at moving sweat, the mostly-nylon fabric dries quickly after a soaking: No trace of wetness remained five minutes after dunking the hem in a stream crossing. Two mesh-backed hand pockets, two rear pockets, and a zippered thigh pocket are well-positioned for comfort and practicality. Bonus: With UPF 50-plus, sun protection is excellent.
Best Ultralight Shorts
Smartwool Men’s Active Lined 7” Short
$88 at REI $88 at Smartwool
Weight: 7.5 oz
Sizes: S–XXL
Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent breathability
⊕ Comfortable waistband
⊗ Limited pockets
⊗ Not durable
For hot weather and high-output activities, the Smartwool Active Lined short offered salvation to our sweatiest testers. Cut loose for better air circulation, it combines a merino blend liner (wool with 47 percent Tencel) with a stretch-woven polyester (and 14 percent elastane) outer short. “I love the breathability and wicking of the fabric,” reported one tester after wearing it with a child-carrying backpack in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
Though the wool content slows dry times compared to all-synthetic fabrics, “it never feels cold, clingy or clammy” said our tester, who also praised the wool’s stink-fighting properties. He issued further props for the materials’ unrestrictive feel and the comfortable waist: a broad, smooth elastic band with a built-in drawcord for adjustability. “It kept the shorts in place while running and also paired well with a hip belt,” he said. Drop-in hand pockets on the side seams can each fit a credit card holder while a zippered pouch is just big enough for a FOB. As with many pieces of tissue-thin polyester apparel, durability suffers in favor of weight savings and next-to-skin softness, making this option best for hikers who plan to stay on-trail.
Most Durable Pants
Mammut Hiking V Pants
$89 at CampSaver $89 at Mammut
Weight: 9 oz
Sizes: 28–40
Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent durability
⊕ Good freedom of movement
⊗ Runs big
“The comfort and flexibility of these pants is in a different league than most other hiking pants,” declared our seasoned apparel tester after summiting New Hampshire’s rugged Mt. Jackson. Granite, tree roots, and berry thickets couldn’t snag this recycled nylon fabric, which looks new even after a session of chopping and hauling firewood. Thanks to 15 percent elastane and four-way stretch, the Hiking V felt unconfining while lunging down root-laced rock slabs. That freedom of movement, combined with the fabric’s dense weave—which guards against abrasion and provides UPF 50-plus sun protection—distinguishes this pant from the pack.
Breathability is adequate: It’s tolerable in summer temperatures, but still weightier than many ultralight options. Water-repellancy is excellent, thanks to a PFC-free DWR finish that causes rain to bead off the surface. Three zippered pockets at the side seams and back secure car keys and a smartphone. Some downsides: The waist runs big, the length is long (a boon for taller hikers), and the sticky-feeling logo on the thigh had an annoying habit of grabbing our tester’s arm as he walked. But for hikers who need durable pants with all-day comfort, the Hiking V fits the bill.
Other Hiking Pants We Tested
Patagonia Quandary Pant ($99)
Comparable in lightweight durability to the Hiking V, this option offers a greater range of sizes (including a short length) but less stretch, making it feel more confining.
Astral Kinisi Hemp Shorts ($79)
A wear-everywhere favorite like the Stahl LT, this short earned props for comfort, durability, and breathability. But because its recycled polyester is blended with 53 percent hemp, it’s slow to dry and not ideal for wet or cool weather.
Outdoor Vitals Satu Adventure Pant ($150)
Styled like your favorite jeans but made of stretch-woven, water-repellant synthetic fabric, this pant weighs more than the Hiking V or Skyline Jogger but offers greater versatility for travel and everyday wear.
Pants to Avoid
Mountain Khakis Ridgeline Hybrid Pants ($120)
We liked that the Ridgeline Hybrids paired casual styling with performance fabric (92 percent nylon with Spandex), but they didn’t fit a single tester who tried them on.
Vuori Technical Climber Pant ($158)
Testers loved this pant for indoor workouts at the climbing gym and yoga studio, but found that the lusciously soft fabric is easily abraded by trailside brush and rock, and minimal pocket storage proved impractical for jaunts that strayed beyond the locker or car.
How to Choose Hiking Pants and Shorts
Good hiking pants and shorts are breathable, comfortable, and allow a wide range of movement. In general, look for synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon that wick moisture and dry quickly. Cotton and hemp blends can boost comfort and durability, but take longer to dry and aren’t the best choice for wet or cold conditions.
Reinforced stitching and fabrics are key for avoiding blowouts, especially if you also plan on using your pants for mountaineering, climbing, or skiing. Small details can make or break your favorite hiking attire, so look for pants with well-placed pockets and zippers for easy access to gear while you’re on the move.
How We Test
- Number of testers: 13
- Number of products tested: 31
- Number of miles: 400-plus
- Hottest Temperature: 110 degrees F
We recruited a testing team that represents a wide range of outdoor recreationalists. Some live in the muggy mountains of the mid-Atlantic and New England states; others hike and explore Alaskan wilds; still more reside in the high and dry climates of the Rocky Mountains and California Sierra. Testers included a range of genders and body types, with vocations that include trail-builder, firefighter, team lead for Search and Rescue, school nurse (and badass paddler), and full-time parent. All are hikers, but their in-field testing also includes trail running, disc golfing, hunting, fishing, rafting, and backpacking with kids.
Meet Our Lead Testers
Kelly Bastone is our hiking apparel category manager. Recently relocated from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to Yarmouth, Maine, she spends her post-deadline time hunting for woodland mushrooms. Other testers include Bruce Etter, a two-time AT thru hiker who works and hikes in New Hampshire’s White Mountains; Filip “Fil” Grgic, a trail crew lead in Truckee, California; and Marc Manko, a climber and hunter Boise, Idaho.
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