Hiking pants are an important piece of hiking gear but one that men often take for granted. Hiking pants have to be highly breathable, durable, quick-drying, and easy to vent when you get too hot, but warm when the temperature drops. Fit, freedom of movement, and pockets are also key factors.  What about hiking pants that are insect resistant or provide a high degree of sun protection? All of these are important variables when choosing the best hiking pants.

However, no one pant will suit everyone’s body type. Some hikers prefer a slimmer fit that reduces extra fabric while others feel more comfortable and airy with a looser fit. Particular features to look for include articulated knees and a gusseted crotch, lots of pockets, and venting options such as roll-up legs or convertible pants. With these variables in mind, here are the top 10 men’s hiking pants we recommend.

1. REI Sahara Convertible Hiking Pants

REI’s Sahara Convertible Hiking Pants are made of a lightweight, quick-drying stretch nylon fabric with a water-repellent (DWR) finish and UPF 50+ rating. A full elastic back waistband allows you to move freely and comfortably while the front has a zipper fly and button closure. Color-coded thigh zippers help you determine the right leg from the left leg when converting the shorts back to pants. Vertical zippers from the bottom hem to mid-thigh allow for more ventilation and also let you remove pant legs without removing your shoes or boots – a hiking must-have! Plus, they’re loaded with pockets for essentials, including front-hand pockets, back pockets, and a zippered cargo pocket, making them perfect for hikes or travel.

2. KUHL Renegade Convertible Pants

KUHL Renegade Convertible Pants have a soft, cotton-like feel, but are made with a nylon/spandex fabric blend that’s abrasion-resistant, water-repellent (DWR-coated), and fast-drying. The convertible pants’ zippers don’t have a flap over them, for a less bulky, more streamlined design, while ankle zips make it easier to get the lower pant legs on and off without messing with your footwear. Additional features: UPF 50 sun protection, dual cargo pockets, mesh pocket bags, and a gusseted crotch.

3. Patagonia Terravia Trail Pants

Patagonia’s ultralight and fast-drying Terravia Trail Pants are made with a highly breathable and stretchy fabric built from 85% recycled polyester/15% spandex plain weave that allows full articulation for a wide range of motion. They have a minimal, lie-flat waistband with belt loops for security and comfort, and come with 2 zippered front pockets, 1 zippered back pocket, and 1 zippered thigh pocket keep essentials secure. The legs have a bootcut pant style with drawcord cuffs to cinch down as needed for a customized fit and to keep ticks from crawling up your legs.

4. Outdoor Research Ferrossi Pants

Outdoor Research’s Ferrosi Hiking Pants are very lightweight and durable nylon pants with an exaggerated degree of stretch (14%) that makes them comfortable to use for strenuous hikes, rock climbing, and travel. An internal drawstring and flat stretch waistband make them easy to use with a hip belt or climbing harness, although external belt loops are provided if you prefer them. The pants have 3 deep drop pockets and 2 secure zippered pockets to keep essentials close at hand, while the ankles have adjustable elastic cuffs to keep out trail debris. The fit is true to size.

5. REI Trailmade Pants

REI’s full-length Trailmade Pants are made with a durable nylon/spandex stretch fabric that offers breathability, quick-drying performance, and ease of movement. They have a button-front closure with interior drawcord adjustment for a custom fit that doesn’t pinch under a backpack hipbelt, although belt loops are also provided. The pants have five pockets: two hand pockets, two rear pockets, and a zippered thigh pocket, providing a lot of utility. They also provide UPF 50 sun protection to keep you safe in the glaring sun.

6. Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo Hiking Pants

Columbia’s Silver Ridge Cargo Convertible Hiking Pants are versatile summer hiking pants designed with hot days in mind. Their wicking, quick-drying fabric offers UPF 50 sun protection, and the legs zip off to convert into shorts with a 10-inch inseam. Their fit features a partial elastic waist, an adjustable outer waistband, and a gusseted crotch that makes it easier to clamber up and over the trail’s obstacles. Pockets include a zippered security pocket on the left leg. A good value, they boast the most affordable price on this list before any sales or discounts.

7. Arc’teryx Gamma Pants

Arc’teryx’s Gamma Pants are great for hikers, backpackers, and climbers thanks to their durability, protection from the elements, and movement-supporting stretch. They’re made with a lightweight fabric that resists wind and water and is stretchy for freedom of movement. These pants include an adjustable low-profile webbing waistbelt that fits comfortably under a harness or pack and a front fly with a snap closure. They also include two secure-zip hand pockets and one easy-access secure-zip thigh pocket that can sit below a climbing harness. These Gamma Pants were formerly called the “Gamma Lightweight Pant”.

8. RailRiders Eco-Mesh Pants

RailRiders Eco-Mesh Pants are lightweight nylon pants with zippered mesh side vents for ventilation instead of zip-off convertible legs. They’re designed for use in very hot desert conditions and are pretreated with Insect Shield to prevent mosquito and tick bites. Constructed from two-ply, 3-oz Duralite nylon fabric, they are fast-drying with a UPF rating of 30. The fit is enhanced by elastic side panels at the waist, and sports two on-seam front pockets and 2 zippered back pockets. A lightweight webbing belt is included, but I’d recommend replacing it.

9. KUIU Tiburon Pants

KUIU’s Tiburon Pants are designed for off-trail travel in hot weather and feature zippered side vents for added ventilation. The pants are made from Toray Dot Air fabric, a woven nylon with a micro-perforated structure that allows air to pass through. This construction helps heat escape while maintaining resistance to abrasion. Higher-wear areas, such as the knees and seat, use a denser fabric to improve durability without adding much weight. The pants include a gusseted crotch to reduce seam stress and improve comfort. The waistband is designed to sit securely and includes belt loops for use with a standard belt. Multiple pockets provide storage for small items while remaining accessible when wearing a pack.

10. Duluth Trading Company Dry on the Fly Pants

Duluth Trading Company’s Dry on the Fly Cargo Pants are lightweight and quick-drying 100% nylon pants with a rugged canvas weave that’s brushed for cottony comfort with a surprisingly soft, non-crinkly feel. With UPF 40 sun protection and double knees for extra durability, they have 11 pockets, including deep side pockets, one with a zippered security pocket, and large rear pockets with flap hook-and-loop closures perfect for keeping track of all your gadgets and snacks in camp and on the trail. The soft tricot-lined elastic waist comes with a removable web belt while a relaxed crotch gusset gives you greater mobility for scrambling.

Hiking Pants Selection Criteria

Consider these variables when buying hiking pants.

Weight & breathability

For summer hiking, you want a breathable, lightweight fabric that will help you stay cool. You may want three-season pants, or ones you can layer for winter, but if you plan on hiking at the height of summer, buy for that.  Overheating will make you miserable, or worse.  Most hiking pants are fully synthetic, which helps them dry out quickly when you sweat. Some also incorporate mesh panels and/or pockets to help airflow.

Long pants, convertible pants, or roll-ups

Your choice will depend on both your comfort preferences and the type of hiking you’ll be doing. If it’s going to be hot, and you are backpacking with just one pair of pants, convertible pants will give you the most options for day and night. But if you know you will not want shorts, because of sun exposure, bugs, or terrain that will beat up your legs, convertible pants are unnecessary and will add bulk. In other words, consider your terrain and habits when you choose. If you do choose convertible pants, test the zippers and look for ankle zips, too, which let you take the lower legs on and off without removing your shoes. An alternative to fully convertible pants, roll-up legs–typically held up with a snap or button–can provide extra ventilation on a hot day.

Pockets and Extra Features

Extra features can make a good pair of pants into a great pair of pants. Secure, well-designed pockets give you easy access to essentials like your phone or map without rummaging through your pack. Well-placed waistbands won’t chafe under your pack’s hip belt. Reinforced pant cuffs can help prevent fraying.

Stretch

You’ll also want to look for stretch, especially if you’ll be hiking in scrambly terrain. If you have to get your legs up and over obstacles, you’re going to want to give in the fabric. Most of the pants listed here blend nylon with spandex or elastane to provide that stretch, but the ratios differ. Typically, the higher the spandex or elastane content, the more flexible the fabric. A cotton blend can also offer good mobility, but we shy away from cotton pants because they take to long to dry unless you’re hiking in very dry and hot conditions.

Durability

Aside from the durability of the fabric itself–which you learn through gear reviews along with trial and error–features that increase durability include reinforced seams as well as reinforced knee and rear panels. Heavier fabrics, or those with a tighter weave, may be more durable, but that also needs to be balanced against breathability in the summer months.

Sun protection

All clothing will provide some protection from direct sun, but some fabrics provide more than others. Many manufacturers have started listing UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) ratings on their clothes. This tells you how much of the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate the material. For example, if a garment’s UPF rating is 50, that means 1/50, or 2 percent, of the sun’s UV rays, reach your skin through the cloth. UPF 20 means that 1/20, or 5 percent, of the sun’s rays, get through. The higher the rating, the better the protection. Fabric type, weave, dyes and added chemical treatments can all affect UPF.

Insect protection

Fabric treated with insect repellents such as Permethrin can help keep the biting critters away. This can be especially helpful in high tick season. Few of the pants on our list this year are treated with repellent, but it is not a hard process to do on your own. (Permethrin is known to be dangerous to cats, so if you treat clothing at home, be careful with the chemical. Once you have finished treatment, however, the clothes are safe.) See here and here for info on treating clothes yourself.

Water protection

Durable water repellent (DWR) coating is common in hiking pants, as you’ll notice in our top ten list. It won’t make the pants waterproof, but it will help them shed water, and delay, if not prevent a soaking. That said, the coating wears off with wear, tear, and washing, so you’ll eventually need to refresh or re-apply it, which you can do safely at home with the right products.

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