The Greatest Mountain climbing Pants for Girls in 2024

Discovering the appropriate pair of ladies’s pants for outside actions is a notoriously tough job. Too stretchy, not stretchy sufficient, high-waisted, low-waisted, cinched ankles or roll-ups, it’s not simple to wade via all of the choices.

After researching dozens of the perfect girls’s mountaineering pants available on the market at this time, we selected 16 fashions from fashionable manufacturers to check. Our lead tester, Miya Tsudome, tried every of them personally, taking them on native hikes in southern California, on uncovered trails and thru prickly desert vegetation, and on mountain switchbacks with river crossings and bug publicity. 

Throughout testing, we thought of consolation, sturdiness, and freedom of motion. We additionally checked out worth, type, and intelligent options. Having particular metrics allowed us to objectively examine totally different fashions of pants to see the place they excelled and fell brief. After a number of months of researching the most recent pants and placing them to the take a look at, we narrowed down the perfect choices for various makes use of, in classes equivalent to versatility, sturdiness, and price range. 

Fortunately, we’re seeing an increasing listing of mountaineering pants for ladies. And whereas there isn’t a single mountaineering pant to go well with each lady, we’ve damaged the listing into helpful classes that will help you discover the perfect match.

Don’t neglect to take a look at our purchaser’s information and incessantly requested questions for useful ideas, and take a look at our comparability chart to assist steer your decision-making.

Editor’s Word: We refreshed this text on April 13, 2024, figuring out a brand new finest total choose, the Outside Analysis Ferrossi Pant. We’ve additionally added two new merchandise– the REI Co-op Trailmade Pants, a brand new budget-friendly choice, and the Outside Afro + REI Co-op Path Pants, a collaboration celebrating inclusion in outside recreation.

The Greatest Mountain climbing Pants for Girls in 2024

Girls’s Mountain climbing Pants Comparability Chart

How We Examined Girls’s Mountain climbing Pants

Right here at GearJunkie, we’re devoted athletes, outside hobbyists, and all-around journey aficionados. In different phrases, we do all of it, and we all know what it’s prefer to need your clothes to have the ability to sustain.

We’ve been reviewing mountaineering pants for this information since July 2020, and every year we fastidiously analysis the perfect mountaineering pants available on the market to overview. On this newest iteration, our testers spent over a 12 months researching which fashions to check, and put these mountaineering pants via the wringer. From rocky trails within the Pacific Northwest, to the desert sagebrush and alpine mountains of Bishop, Calif., we ensured that every pair was worn over a number of miles in various terrain and situations to see how they measured as much as each other. 

Contributor Rebecca Ross is a mountaineering and backpacking fanatic. She’s hiked everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, typically mixed with climbing targets. An American Alpine Membership grant recipient, she’s no stranger to worldwide climbing expeditions.

Our different tester and editor, Miya Tsudome, can also be an avid mountaineering fanatic and former information for the Yosemite Mountain College, and might typically be discovered going deep into the Excessive Sierra mountains in her yard of Bishop, Calif. She’s used and destroyed loads of pants bushwhacking her solution to distant crags and shimmying up granite chimneys.

Assessing every of those pants with goal metrics equivalent to materials, versatility, mobility, weatherproofing, and extra options, Miya and Rebecca had been in a position to write an knowledgeable purchaser’s information filled with helpful info. Their mixed expertise and data — plus their total instinct on what an awesome pair of mountaineering pants ought to feel and appear like — will hopefully show you how to discover the perfect pair in your subsequent journey.

Purchaser’s Information: Easy methods to Select the Greatest Mountain climbing Pants

This information focuses on the perfect mountaineering pants available on the market that boast sturdiness over the long term. Try our information to the perfect leggings if you’d like extra recommendations for activewear to match all of your adventures. Additionally, for those who’re searching for male-specific fashions, try our information on the Greatest Mountain climbing Pants for males.

Materials

Do you intend to hike solely in heat summer season months or do you intend to hike all 12 months spherical in fluctuating climate? Do you want quite a lot of stretch in your pants or are you searching for one thing extra waterproof and sturdy? These questions are necessary to bear in mind when selecting mountaineering pants, which are available in all varieties of supplies as of late. 

Most all mountaineering pants are made from a mix of artificial supplies. In our lineup, nylon, polyester, and spandex (elastane) are closely featured. This ensures they’ve qualities that make them breathable or weather-resistant, in addition to stretchy to maintain you comfy on the path.

Pants made primarily of polyester, just like the Kuhl Freeflex Rollup Pants and Fjallraven Keb Curved Trousers, are sometimes extra breathable with excessive moisture-wicking talents and medium stretch. 

Pants which might be primarily made from nylon, just like the Patagonia Quandary Pants, Prana Halle Mountain climbing Pants, Columbia Saturday Path Pant, and Coalatree Trailhead Pants are harder than pants made primarily of polyester, making them the higher alternative if sturdiness is of concern.

Lastly, pants with a better stage of elastane, just like the Coalatree Trailhead Pants, or naturally, any leggings just like the Athleta Headlands Cargo Tights, will present extra stretch.

Selecting what kind of material will finest fit your wants is in the end a matter of private choice and luxury, in addition to contemplating for those who want sturdiness or breathability based mostly on the kind of mountaineering you’ll be doing. In case you are searching for much more breathability, you would possibly wish to select pants which might be made with further air flow options like on the Fjallraven Keb Curved Trousers. These heavy-duty mountaineering pants have aspect vents on every pant leg for once you want some further assist cooling down. 

Additionally, since pants are including further options to safeguard you from the solar — search for pants with UPF safety just like the Outside Analysis Ferrosi which is rated at 50+ UPF!

Pant Size & Versatility

Mountain climbing pants sometimes are available in three primary choices: full-length, convertible, and roll-up.

Full-length pants are an awesome choice for full leg safety, even in the summertime. A lot of the pants on our listing are thought of full-length just like the Patagonia Skyline Traveler Pants or the Columbia Saturday Path Pant.

Convertible pants — none are proven in our listing — are a 2-in-1 packaged deal. They are often worn as shorts or pants, because the legs zip off. They’re an awesome choice for variable climate and multiday hikes the place you need extra choices and fewer gear to pack. They don’t get as many type factors however are practical and versatile if that’s what you’re searching for. 

And someplace between full-length and convertible lie roll-up pants much like Patagonia’s Quandary pants or the Outside Analysis Ferrosi Pants. Such pants have a tab, button, or drawcord that secures the cuff when rolled up.

A few of our testers are additionally huge proponents of ankle-length pants that don’t require you to roll the cuff, just like the Mountain Hardwear Girls’s Dynama/2 Ankle. Not solely can this be a method choice, but additionally it permits you to put on mountaineering boots with ankle cuffs with out having to make any alterations to your pants, which generally is a bonus for some.

Mobility

Having the ability to transfer freely is a significant hallmark of the perfect mountaineering pants. Whether or not operating down the path or scrambling up a rocky patch, you don’t need your pants limiting your motion. That is the place design options like a gusseted crotch, articulated knees, and stretchy supplies show helpful.

The feminine form will be powerful to suit, however there are extra choices now than ever earlier than, and a few pants, just like the Outside Afro + REI Co-op Path Pants accommodate a wide range of physique sizes and shapes. Some manufacturers like Fjallraven supply curvy and straight suits, whereas others have added plus-size technical choices. And since each physique is formed in a different way, it may be useful to strive on a number of pairs earlier than shopping for to make sure a comfortable (however comfy) match.

In the case of trekking-specific leggings, like our favourite choose, Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights HD they will typically be barely tighter and fewer forgiving than typical yoga pants however are extra sturdy and sometimes strengthened to assist in longevity on the path.

Options

Mountain climbing pants are available in all sizes and shapes, and a few options like the kind of waist closure or measurement and the variety of pockets can assist you resolve what sort of pants you’ll like the perfect. 

Pockets will be useful when accessing objects rapidly whereas out on the path. Typically, mountaineering pants could have back and front pockets, like we famous on the REI Co-op Trailmade Pants. Pants with extra versatility will present a zippered pocket on the thigh for added safety.

Since we like to remain on the transfer, we choose pants with deep pockets that match our telephones or snacks and, ideally ones that zip. In the case of pockets that aren’t practical for our wants, they have a tendency to make it on our cons listing.

The Fjallraven Keb Curved Trousers have a formidable quantity of pockets, with two hand pockets plus two deep pockets on every leg, and even an inside mesh pocket. We additionally actually recognize when leggings function pockets, and that’s one of many primary causes the Athleta Headlands Cargo Tights and the Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights made it onto our listing.

You’ll additionally need to resolve what kind of waist closure you’re searching for in a mountaineering pant. Most conventional mountaineering pants function a zipper and button closure, just like the Outside Analysis Ferrosi, Patagonia Quandary, Prana Halle II, Kuhl Freeflex, and Columbia Saturday Path Pant. All these pants additionally all include belt loops, so you’ll be able to dial in a exact match.

The Coalatree Trailhead pants function a cinched waistband with a drawcord for a extra informal, fairly than technical, look. For some, the stretchy waistband of leggings may be extra interesting. These match snugly below a backpacking backpack’s waist belt, and received’t be susceptible to any snagging or bunching like button-closure pants would possibly. 

Climate Safety

A DWR (sturdy waterproof repellent) coating is used on most mountaineering pants. It doesn’t make pants utterly waterproof however provides sufficient safety to maintain you dry on dewy mornings or in gentle showers.

The Coalatree Trailhead Pants and Outside Analysis Ferrosi Pants present a DWR end for sudden rain, however we don’t suggest carrying them as all-weather pants. As a substitute, you’ll need one thing designed to tackle extra precipitation just like the Columbia Saturday Path Pant with Omni-Protect for repelling stains and water. Nonetheless, if you want whole waterproof safety — rain pants layered over mountaineering pants will do the trick.

It’s value mentioning that DWR coatings put on out over time, so that you’ll wish to deal with closely used mountaineering pants for optimum efficiency. Nikwax Softshell Proof Wash-In is a straightforward solution to hold your pants repelling water 12 months after 12 months.

Extra Options for Mountain climbing Pants

The little extras can actually make or break pair of pants. A few of the options accessible are well-positioned cargo pockets, zippered pockets, cooling vents, belt loops, and built-in belts. These increase a pant’s useability and performance on lengthy treks, and assist with group and total consolation because the miles grind by.

Extra options we like are stain resistance and anti-microbial properties for fewer washes, safety from abrasions to maintain your pants lasting via rugged terrain, and even designated waist loops designed to maintain objects useful. Whether or not you need these or not depends upon your private mountaineering plans and elegance.

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