Best Women's Hiking Pants for 2021 - Inexpensive & Amazing!

It’s so difficult for women to find pants that are made with as much quality, versatility, and comfort as men’s pants. We know from personal experience that it’s tough to select the right pair of hiking pants, especially when it can be tempting to wear leggings or shorts you already have. However, the benefits of true hiking pants are numerous, from leg protection to breathability. We’re big fans of full-length hiking pants with features like zippered pockets, bug protection, and convertibility. Because it’s so hard to find all these features in women’s versions, we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up our top picks for a variety of styles of women’s hiking pants.
Why should you listen to us? Well, we’ve collectively had decades of experiencing the pitfalls of previous models of female hiking pants. We also know that on hot days, though it may be tempting to throw on shorts, a breathable pair of pants does a much better job of protecting your legs and keeping you cool. Many true hiking pants are made with UPF protection, which blocks rays from the sun and protects your skin. Furthermore, certain models have features like permethrin treatment (more on this later), which repels bugs. No deet necessary!
In this guide, we not only find the best pants but we also give you real information about how to choose your size. Online sizing charts can be murky, and even inaccurate. Based on our own experiences in these pants, and scouring user reviews, we’ve also included sizing notes for each pair of pants to ensure you order the right fit on the first try.
Top Picks:
Best Value | All-around-performance Pants: Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Pants - amzn.to/2PPWpbX
Best Bug-Repellent Pants: ExOfficio BugsAway Vianna Pants - snp.link/581b9d31
Best Bomber/Softshell Pants: Patagonia Simul Alpine Softshell Pants - snp.link/2f8bcc95
Best Cargo Convertible Pants: Columbia Saturday Trail Convertible Pants - snp.link/82f165ea
Best Ultralight Hiking Pants: Arc’teryx Sabria Pants - snp.link/ead1e270
Disclaimer
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on these links, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you. I do not receive compensation from the companies whose products are listed. For product reviews: unless otherwise noted, products are purchased with my own funds. I am never under an obligation to write a review about any product. Finally, this post expresses my own independent opinion.

[@merlinmaya1]

Eddie Bauer pants are great if you have lean leg. I wanted so much to like them. My husband has a pair and I thought I'd try a pair. They don't have plenty of room if you have fuller legs and the waist gaps. Size 8 usually. I wish there was a curvy fit.

[@curiouslysummer]

Please make more videos on women’s outdoor clothes! Excellent video, thank you Katie!

[@GjPeddy]

Thank you for the very thorough review! Just a couple of suggestions for improvement: KZbin has a time stamping system, so rather than put all the time stamps at the beginning (which are then hard to find mid-video), you can use that system to ease the viewer... And to ease the speaker, you could consider using LAV mics? I imagined it would have been more comfortable speaking for so long :) Apart from that, thanks for the great content!

[@isabellahobbs2125]

you gave so much info, it was amazing. Being able to climb around in hiking pants is the most important part to me, and not having sinched ankles. I have been struggling with pants besides based layers, and this was a lifesaver. I will say, I wouldn't describe some of these pants as inexpensive. Prana Halle is $85. Stil excited to keep following your videos!

[@mendyviola]

I had no idea that they made big resistant pants. Being on the gulf coast, that’s a game changer, and not just for hiking, etc, but just going outside to check the mail! 😆

[@morganjenkins3965]

Great video review, well done, very thoughtful, showing lots of options...curious to know if Katie could do quick similar video on women's underwear covering styles [sport tops vs bra, bikini, thong, etc] and comfort, thermal???

[@eb5000]

Great info. Thanks

[@tjandkatie]

Thank you so much, great video.

[@adventure_alan_co]

Glad it was helpful! Best Katie & Alan

[@jott1883]

Any thoughts on the EE Torrid Pullover to be released tomorrow vs the Torrid Jacket version?

[@adventure_alan_co]

I prefer the Pullover.

[@jott1883]

@@adventure_alan_co Thanks and look forward to your full review

[@wanderingaloudwithmark3057]

Eddie Bauer seems to be overlooked by the KZbin hiking/backpacking community. My wife and I both use guide pro clothing and have nothing but good things to say about the clothing line. Definitely an affordable option as compared to Arcteryx or Patagonia at 2 or 3 times the price. On a side note, you can get the guide pro pants in an insulated version as well. @Adventure Alan thanks for highlighting a good mid priced option.

[@archie2archie]

No Rab no Montane no Mountain Equipment.