13 Best Pants for Summer Hiking

Ah, summer – ’tis the season for lakes, beaches, and mountains. More importantly, it’s also the season of sweat, sunburns, and chafing due to the heat. Despite its carefree and warm image in our minds, summer can be full of weather extremes. From explosive thunderstorms to scorching heat, we realized that we needed hiking clothes that could handle all the elements thrown at us. The best pants for summer hiking not only kept us cool and protected our skin from the sun but also didn’t limit mobility. Plus, they offered protection against a variety of things, whether from an overgrown trail, coarse boulders, ticks, poison oak, or anything else we had to climb over.

While looking for excellent hot-weather hiking pants, we looked at not just the price but also the material, the fit, and other extra features. These included everything from the closure to pockets – or the lack of them. So, why not read our list and guide for these products before your next hiking adventure in the great outdoors?

Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pant

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Most versatile. The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants are a solid pair of straightforward, budget hiking pants and one of our favorite convertibles on this list. Firstly, these pants are made from lightweight nylon ripstop fabric that’s water-resistant as well as features UPF 50+ protection. So, the pants dried quickly, especially due to the presence of the Omni-Wick mesh panels that wick moisture from the skin. Hence, we were able to wear them during light rain. Secondly, these pants come with an integrated belt, which helped a great deal with the customization of fit.

We especially loved the extra pockets, which ensured that we had ample room for storing our phone and a few snacks as well. Finally, the pants have a 10-inch inseam and convert to shorts via the zip-off legs. That’s why they’re not just one of the best men’s hiking pants but also one of the overall best waterproof hiking pants.

Here is a detailed review of these pants by Don’t Waste Your Money.

• Material: 100% nylon ripstop
• Integrated belt/drawstring: Yes
• Sun protection: UPF 50

Patagonia Quandary Pants

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Few hiking pants impressed us as much as the Patagonia Quandary Pants. This popular, affordable workhorse of a pant has been a staple in the hiking community for a while, and we didn’t want to be the only ones not to try them out. For one, these lightweight pants offer excellent mobility and versatility, thanks to the 65% recycled nylon build, complete with a DWR coating. Since it also has a bit of spandex thrown into the mix, these outdoor pants were also fairly stretchy against our skin. What’s more, they’re also weather resistant and were able to repel both rain and wind that we encountered on our hike.

But one of the best things we liked about these pants is that they’re designed to fit curves, and as curvy women, we highly appreciate that. Wrapping up the features is the added security at the waist in the form of an inner drawstring that keeps everything in place.

• Material: 94% nylon (65% recycled), 6% spandex
• Integrated belt/drawstring: Yes
• Sun protection: UPF 40+

prAna Stretch Zion II Pants

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Most comfortable pants. The prAna Stretch Zion II Pants are the comfiest hot-weather hiking pants on the list. Besides the relaxed fit of these legendary pants, we loved the leg roll-up feature, which ensured that the pants didn’t impact mobility when we climbed or hiked. What’s more, the new, breathable ReZion fabric from the brand has a shiny, sleek appearance. Plus, it’s also recycled and Bluesign-approved, thus being lighter and more flexible as well. We also loved the fact that the plastic button feels lighter than a metal one would have, considering we’ve used metal button pants for a while. Furthermore, the left thigh zipper pocket is a handy touch, while the double entry points allowed us to access the contents while sitting or hiking easily. Wrapping up the features are the ventilated inseam gussets, which boost comfort and breathability.

You can check out more details about the pants on the official product page.

• Material: 95% recycled nylon, 5% elastane
• Integrated belt/drawstring: Yes
• Sun protection: UPF 50+

KUHL Renegade Cargo Convertible

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Another great pair of convertible pants are the KUHL Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants. These pants are our pick for the best zip-off hiking pants for more reasons than one. Firstly, the fabric is durable and tough, which ensured that we were able to wear these pants on the wildest of trails. What makes it all the better is the generous amount of stretch, thanks to the spandex in the pants. Secondly, as pockets aficionados, we loved the plenty of pockets that allowed us to stash everything from our phones to even hiking snacks. Additionally, the zip-off legs are easy to work with, whether we were standing or crouching while taking them off.

Peter Glen talks about these pants in this detailed YouTube video review.

• Material: 95% nylon, 5% spandex
• Integrated belt/drawstring: No
• Sun protection: UPF 50

Mammut Runbold

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The slim-fitting and functional Mammut Runbold Pants have a lot going for them. One of the best parts about these pants is their breathability, which comes from the mix of spandex and polyamide material. So, we were able to wear them in hot and humid climates too without feeling suffocated. Secondly, these Runbold pants have zippered pockets. We were able to stash quite a few things in them without worrying about them falling out when we moved a lot. Moreover, these hot-weather hiking pants also have great mobility, despite the slim fit. It mainly comes from the gusseted crotch and the articulated knees. Finally, these pants have a DWR coating and repel water during light rainfall and dry off quickly too. 

• Material: 85% polyamide, 15% spandex
• Integrated belt/drawstring: No
• Sun protection: UPF 50+

prAna Stretch Halle II Hiking Pants

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There’s another prAna product on this list; this time, it’s the prAna Stretch Halle II Hiking Pants. We did everything from rock climbing to thru-hiking, and these durable and lightweight pants provided unrestricted movement through all adventures. As the name implies, prAna’s proprietary ReZion fabric, which is made from 95% recycled nylon, created a great fit and didn’t inhibit mobility. So, these pants are very durable and comfortable for both single and multi-day adventures. While we loved that there were many pockets, some of them might be a tad too small to be very functional. Still, these make for a great comfortable pair of women’s hiking pants.

• Material: 95% nylon/5% elastane
• Integrated belt/drawstring: No
• Sun protection: UPF 50+

Arc’Teryx Gamma LT Quick Dry Pants

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Arc’Teryx is one of our favorite outdoor brands, and the Arc’Teryx Gamma LT Quick Dry Pants sits at the top of the list. This pant is a fantastic piece of clothing for more reasons than one. Firstly, the material is a mix of nylon and elastane, which is treated with a DWR for excellent water resistance. Hence, these pants particularly shone when we traveled to humid and wet places. What’s more, they fit well and don’t inhibit mobility, partly thanks to the sewn-in thigh map pocket. The brand has even put a cord inside the pant hem and updated the belt, which allowed us to get customization of fit across a range of waists. The best bit? The secure pockets include one that’s easily accessible at the thigh.

• Material: 88% nylon, 12% elastane
• Integrated belt/drawstring: Yes
• Sun protection: UPF 50

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants

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Best overall. For us, the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants were the real deal. Not only are these pants incredibly comfortable, but they also kept us cool when the mercury rose when we were hiking. Moreover, they also offer a high degree of mobility, thanks to their durable ripstop fabric build that has 14% spandex, which is higher than average. So, they’re as stretchy as they are unrestrictive, making them perfect for rock scrambles, yoga, running, hiking, and whatnot.

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We especially loved the drawcord cuffs that allowed us to cinch them up higher on our calves when need be; all ideal qualities for hot weather. Finally, we loved the articulated legs and the straight-panel gusset, which enhanced our mobility further, and the waistband, which extended the pants’ flexibility. It’s no wonder that they’re known as one of the best rock climbing pants.

• Material: 86% recycled polyester, 14% spandex stretch-dobby
• Integrated belt/drawstring: No
• Sun protection: UPF 50

Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights

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Our leggings prayers were answered by the Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights – and rightfully so. These leggings from the Swedish brand work equally well in yoga class as they would on a multiday trek. What’s more, the polyamide and elastane blended build offered the same stretch and comfort that we expected from a legging. The only difference? They even added reinforcement over the knees and the rear, earning them bonus points from us. If that wasn’t enough, the leggings even have two side pockets, one zippered and one angled, which could easily fit our phone and other small essentials too. Wrapping up the features is the drawcord in the wide waistband, which made it very easy for us to make adjustments for size. So, if you’re looking for a streamlined look while hiking or trekking, the Abisko tights are all you’ll ever need.

“I’m someone who needs tights or leggings to trek or hike – can’t do it in anything else – and the Abisko tights were an absolute blessing for me!

WOW Travel

• Material: 82% polyamide, 18% elastane
• Integrated belt/drawstring: Yes
• Sun protection: No

Patagonia Altvia Trail Pants

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The Patagonia Altvia Trail Pants are the most recent addition to the brand’s hiking pant line, and we love them. These pants blend a stretchy yet durable build and a very functional storage layout. This is thanks to the recycled polyester and spandex build, which is what made these very comfortable for us, along with giving us all the mobility in the world. In fact, the pants even have elastic in the waistband, giving them a jogger-like feel and fit. That said, the Altvia Trail pants are still sufficiently trail-ready, complete with an abrasion-resistant exterior and a DWR coating. So, we weren’t caught unawares in light rain when we were hiking.

We particularly loved the zippered closures on all five pockets, which allowed us to stash everything important to us in there. The best, though, were the zippers at the cuffs’ bottom, complete with a small metal hook for secure closure.

• Material: 14% spandex stretch-dobby, 86% recycled polyester
• Integrated belt/drawstring: No
• Sun protection: No

Mountain Hardwear Women’s Dynama/2 Pant

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The Mountain Hardwear Women’s Dynama/2 Pant is a wonderful pair of hiking pants that look great when worn as a casual wear too. For us, these pants hit that sweet spot between function and style with their simple, non-technical design. At the same time, the lightweight spandex and nylon build make these pants excellent for taking to the trails. Thanks to the spandex, we found them soft and stretchy enough for easy mobility when we were doing steep hikes too. When we were caught in light rain, we didn’t get wet due to the DWR finish that provided some protection against stains and moisture both. The best bit is that the fabric also provides UPF 50+ for extra protection against the sun. What we found most flattering was that the fit is feminine without being too loose or tight at the same time.

• Material: 94% nylon, 6% elastane
• Integrated belt/drawstring: No
• Sun protection: UPF 50+

Marmot Arch Rock Pants

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The Marmot Arch Rock Pants are some of the best pants for summer hiking in hot weather. We loved the ability of the pants to offer impressive temperature regulation, and that too at a decent price of just less than 70 USD. For almost 10-20 USD less than its peers, the Marmot has a full suite of features. We especially liked the gusseted crotch and the articulated knees, which helped a lot with mobility during difficult hikes that involved a lot of climbing. Moreover, the hand-sized zippered closure along the right pant leg helped us access snacks and other emergency items quickly. In fact, these pants are amongst the lightest hiking pants on this list, weighing just 9 oz. where others weigh more. At the same time, they held up very well even when we were scrambling through Utah’s canyon country.

• Material: 94% nylon, 6% elastane
• Integrated belt/drawstring: No
• Sun protection: UPF 50+

Marmot PreCip Eco Pants

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Best rain hiking pants. Sitting at the top of our list is the Marmot PreCip Eco Pants. While all the pants mentioned above are traditional hiking ones, this Marmot one is a true rain pant. They’re from the brand’s popular rain jacket line, so we knew that they were the real deal. For one, we were able to wear them over our hiking pants when the rain hit. At the same time, we were able to use them as an outer layer for protection against the wind when we walked around the camp. Thanks to the fully taped seams and the waterproof NanoPro Eco membrane, these pants kept us dry when the going got tough. The ankle-height side zips wrap up the features, making it relatively easy for us to slide these pants on and off our legs.

• Material: 100% nylon, NanoPro waterproof membrane
• Integrated belt/drawstring: No
• Sun protection: No

Our Verdict!

While we loved all the summer hiking pants mentioned above, we’ve created a specialized list of the ones we love for their specific features:

• Most versatile: Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pant
• Most comfortable pants: PrAna Stretch Zion II Pants
• Best overall: Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants
• Best rain hiking pants: Marmot PreCip Eco Pants 

How To Choose The Best Pants for Summer Hiking?

Pant versatility and length

Hiking pants for the hot weather usually come in three main options – roll-ups, convertible, and full-length ones. Roll-ups lie somewhere between convertible and full-length ones and come with a drawcord, button, or tab to secure the rolled-up cuffs. Convertible ones are the ultimate 2-in-1 option, as the legs zip off, and we could wear them as both shorts and pants. Finally, there are the traditional full-length pants, which were great for complete leg protection, even in the hot weather. The ones we looked at tackled overheating with vents and mesh pockets.

Ease of movement

One of our major concerns was being able to move freely in hiking pants. Whether we were scrambling up a rocky path or running down a trail, we looked for pants that didn’t restrict our mobility. Hence, we looked for design features such as articulated knees and a gusseted crotch, which prove to be very useful. Furthermore, we also considered how comfortable the pants would be when we’d be wearing a fully loaded backpack.

Weather protection

Wearing pants doesn’t guarantee protection from the sun’s damaging rays. When we were hiking on extremely sunny days, we looked for pants offering UPF protection of 40-50. Also, we looked at pants with DWR coating, which, while not ensuring waterproofing, does ensure wet-weather protection.

Extra features

There is a whole bunch of little extras that can really make or break pants. Well-positioned cargo pockets are one, while zippered pockets are another. We also love in-built belts, pants with options for belt loops, etc.

Should I wear pants or shorts for hiking in the summer?

For low-altitude summer hikes, shorts are better as they’re cooler than pants and give you the ultimate freedom of movement. However, going for combination pants is a great idea.

Is it better to hike in pants or leggings?

Hiking pants are better for technical hikes and trails that aren’t groomed. Even otherwise, their build is much better than leggings anyway, whether it’s shorter hikes or longer ones.

Do jeans make good hiking pants?

While denim is usually considered very uncomfortable for hiking, you can wear jeans as long as you’re comfortable with them.