What To Look For
The ideal pair of hiking pants will keep you cool as you exert yourself on the trails, yet break the wind before it chills you, all while maintaining a comfortable body temperature throughout your hike. The best hiking pants will have enough pockets for you to organize any safety or personal gear you want to keep easily accessible, and will have a zippered detachment for converting them from pants to shorts if you want.
Common Pitfalls
Some of the less-expensive hiking pant manufacturers tend to use poorly-crafted zippers for the fly of their pants. Test out your zipper before you hit the trails to avoid any embarrassing foibles. Lighter fabrics, particularly 100 percent cotton or cotton blends, can easily get ripped on branches or rocks. The best hiking pants are made with 100 percent nylon fabric.
Where To Buy
Local and regional retailers such as REI and Dick's Sporting Goods sell some of the best hiking pants. If you can't get to a physical store, you can order them online with the links found in the Resources below. Visit a store first before placing an online order so that you can test out the fit of a few different brands and find a pair that is appropriate to the types of trails you will be taking on. For less adventurous hikes, you can save yourself a few dollars and purchase a pair from your nearest Wal-Mart.
Cost
The pricing of hiking pants can vary greatly based upon the quality of the fabric, the assortment of pockets found on the pants, and if they can be converted from pants to shorts. Starting at around $30, hiking pants can range up to $150, but the best pair for most hikes will cost you $45 to $80.
Comparison Shopping
Choose the best hiking pants for you based on how strenuous a trail you will be taking on and the climate you will be hiking in. Hiking pants with double-stitched seams handle rugged, repeated wear far better than their single-stitched counterparts, so double-stitching will be your best bet. The climate you intend to hike in should determine the color of the pants that your choose: dark colors are best for keeping you warm in cooler temperatures, while tans and khakis are ideal for warmer hikes.
Insider Tips
For avid hikers, it is worth the money to invest in hiking pants that will get you through a variety of trails, seasons and climates. Keep in mind that nylon fabrics dry quickly, so avoid tumbling them in a clothes dryer for too long or on a high-heat setting. Also, even though hiking pants come complete with a collection of useful pockets, try to not fill them with items that are heavy enough to decrease your enjoyment of the great outdoors.
References
- "Backpacker's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Hiking and Backpacking (Start-Up Sports Series)"; Doug Werner; 1999
- "The Backpacker's Handbook"; Chris Townsend; 2004
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