What To Look For
If you're buying special pants for hiking, odds are that you're planning to log a lot of trail miles. So look for pants that are comfortable from the moment you put them on. Walk around the store or at least up and down the aisle in the dressing room. Sit down, stand back up, squat and kneel; do everything you can do to simulate the feel of hiking and make sure that the pants don't bind or chafe anywhere on your body.
Common Pitfalls
Once you're on the trail, you're in an uncontrolled environment. One of the worst mistakes you can make is purchasing pants that aren't suited to the conditions you're likely to encounter. Breathable pants are ideal in all conditions; be wary of hiking in impermeable rain pants, which will cause you to sweat, then keep that sweat against your skin. You can find both breathable and waterproof, or at least water-resistant, hiking pants for use in wet or snowy conditions. Stay away from cotton pants unless you're traveling in a hot, dry climate.
Where To Buy
You can purchase specialized hiking pants at any major outdoor gear retailer and most sporting goods stores, such as REI, Cabela's, Sierra Trading Post and The Sports Authority. If you live near an outlet for a major outdoor clothing label such as Patagonia, you have a good chance of snagging quality hiking pants for a very low price.
Cost
Depending on how durable they are, technical hiking pants can cost anywhere from $30 onward; $60 to $100 is a typical price range. Heavy-duty pants, suited more to mountaineering than hiking, may cost more than $100. The more features the pants have, like UPF sun-blocking ratings, bug-repellent coating and vent zippers, they more they'll cost.
Insider Tips
Pay special attention to where your backpack's waist belt falls. If it happens to land on or just above the buckle or waistband of your pants, you may have problems with your waist belt pulling your other layers up away from your pants or pressing the pants closure uncomfortably in against your waist.
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