What are the best hiking pants for men? In this article, we share our favorite men’s hiking pants to tackle the trail. Your comfort and mobility on the trail can have a big impact on your enjoyment. However, the technical performance is equally important a pair of flimsy pants with no pockets isn’t going to do any good. These men’s hiking pants deliver a nice blend of performance and comfort.
Our recommendations on the best hiking pants for men are based on days on end of trying out different pants in the mountains. The goal was to find a selection of pants that will serve a multitude of climates whether they’re hot, cold, dry, or wet. These are our picks for the best hiking pants for men in 2021/22.
Best Hiking Pants For Men
prAna Stretch Zion Pants ($85)
Weight: 13.6 oz | Material: 97% nylon – 3% spandex | Belt: Yes
Pros
- Comfortable
- Strong Material
- Versatile
- Durability
- Pockets
- Roll-Up Snap Feature
Cons
- Breathability in Hot Temperatures
- Mid Weight Fabric
Prana’s Stretch Zion pant is a blend of nylon and spandex with great moisture and temperature management. It’s a durable pant that feels highly versatile despite its design as a climbing pant. We really appreciate the feature set in the pants such as the zippered side cargo pocket and integrated waist tightener.
Although, they’re flexible, do not mistake them for being loose and sloppy looking. They look pretty good as everyday pants that can go anywhere after you step off the trail. Paneling in the crotch allows them to have a slim cut while offering a full range of mobility.
The material in the pants is very comfortable and is a nice blend of durability and water resistance. However, we do find the material a little too hot for warm conditions and there are more water-resistant hiking pants. If you need hiking pants for a warm or wet climate you may want to consider another pair of hiking pants. prAna’s Stretch Zion pants excel in cool climates for a hiker after a versatile pants.
Shop For PrAna Stretch Zion
Outdoor Research Ferossi Pants ($80)
Weight: 9.5 oz | Material: 86% nylon – 14% spandex | Belt: No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Decent Pockets
Cons
- Lightweight Material Feels Less Durable
- Slightly Loose Waist
The Outdoor Ferossi pants are an exceptionally lightweight pair of hiking pants for men. The uber-comfortable pants are similar to softshell pants with great water resistance and windbreaking capabilities. With that in mind, it keeps you warm in cool weather, but the breathability of the pants keeps you cool in hot weather.
Thanks to the lightweight material the pants pack down small and don’t weigh down a backpack. If you’re looking for on-trail performance, these pants are tough to beat. However, due to their lightweight material and performance focus, they aren’t as well suited for travel or errands around town.
Similar to Stretch Zion, the Ferossi has five pockets with two back, front, and one side pocket. The pockets are a bit smaller, but I do appreciate the horizontal zipper. It’s a great functional set of pants that provide the best 3-season performance in a pair of hiking pants.
Shop For Outdoor Research Ferossi Pant
Arc’Teryx Gamma LT Pants ($189)
Weight: 12.9 oz Material: 84% nylon / 16% elastane Belt: Yes
Pros
- Comfort
- Mobility
- Tough
- Water Resistance
- Style
Cons
- Price
- Lacks Back Pockets
It’s easier to find lightweight hiking pant that feels like a good match for summer hiking, than robust pants for changing conditions in the mountains. During the winter and more serious mountain summits, we turn to the Arc’teryx Gamma LT. It’s an exceptional softshell pant that is comfortable and offers reliable protection from the elements.
The material blend has great breathability and mobility that allows for great comfort. The cut is great with these pants slim enough to look flattering with enough room to layer thermals underneath for cold-weather hiking or alpine adventures.
The inclusion of a belt with a simple clasp that is reliable and should hold up on hikes after repeated days of use. They have three zippered pockets two in the front and a side pocket. An argument could be made for back pockets we rarely find them useful with a backpack on our back.
Shop For Arc’teryx Gamma LT
Columbia Silver Ridge Pants ($59)
Weight: 12 oz | Material: 100% Nylon | Belt: Yes
Pros
- Value
- Comfort
- Convertible
- Belt
- Performance
Cons
- Lacks Stretch
- Convertible
Whatever these pants lack in style they make up for in practicality. They offer solid UV protection, good moisture management, and ventilation. Oh, and they convert from pants to shorts with hidden zippers.
We’re not huge fans of convertible pants as they can look a little goofy and I find zippers bothersome. However, the zips on these pants do a good job of remaining comfortable and hidden.
I find the full nylon blend to be a tad bit obnoxious with the classic swishy sound made by older outdoor pants — the results of a 100% nylon material. It also makes the pant slightly restrictive as far mobility since they lack the ability to stretch.
Never the less if you need technical pants that can handle a multitude of temperatures these are solid and some of the best convertible pants on the market. As with most products from Columbia expect a solid product for an affordable price. You aren’t getting top of the line, but you’re also not paying $200 for a pair of pants.
Shop For Columbia Silver Ridge
Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers ($155)
Weight: 19 oz | Material: G-1000® Eco: 65% polyester, 35% cotton | Belt: No
Pros
- Tough
- Functional
- Ventilation
- Mobility
Cons
- Price
- Cotton Performance
The Fjallraven Keb Trousers are a kickass pair of pants, but they do have limited use for all-around hiking pants for men. We get a fair amount of use out of our pants in the Canadian Rockies where temperatures are cool year-round. If you want tough hiking pants with a lot of function then look no further than these pants.
These pants are built for hardcore adventures and time well spent in the outdoors. A heavy canvas blend that is both eco-friendly and rugged is the standout feature here. Combine that with a plethora of pockets and active paneling that moves with the leg for excellent performance.
The pants are full of nice features, but the most surprising is temperature management. Thanks to four zippered vents, they manage temperature extremely well. Another great feature is the adjustable cuffed pants legs that are great for protection.
If you think it’s going to be a cold day, you can easily pair these with thermals for winter adventures. They’re just a reliable pair of pants that happen to be the most comfortable hiking pants I’ve ever worn. Best of all these pants have awesome rugged good looks.
Shop For Fjallraven’s Vidda Pro Trousers
Patagonia Quandry Pants ($79)
Weight: 9.1 oz | Material: 95% nylon – 5% spandex | Belt: No
Pros
- Hidden Drawcord
- Silm Cut
- Mobility
- Comfort
- Lightweight
Cons
- Lightweight Nature
The Patagonia Quandry pant is a lightweight men’s hiking pant that feels at home in a multitude of environments. Patagonia markets that pant as a cross between a hiking and travel pant similar to which we find similar to the prAna Halle Pant.
It manages to do a great job in this role with comfortable material, clean-cut, articulated knees, and lightweight fabric. It’s closest in comparison to the prAna pant, but a more lightweight version. So it’s the better option if you spend more time in warm weather, but the prAna feels more versatile.
We also love that the fabric is certified blue-sign approved as it is sourced from sustainable materials. Fabric is then treated with a DWR that does an effective job of repelling water.
Shop For Patagonia Quandry Pants
REI Co-op Sahara Pant ($60)
Weight: 9 oz | Material: 94% nylon – 6% spandex | Belt: Yes
Pros
- Comfortable
- Value
- Roll Up
- Roomy Pockets
Cons
- Little Baggy cut
I really love the material blend REI choose for these hiking pants for men. They’re also a great cut that feels flattering and comfortable. You could even wear these around or out to dinner and not feel ridiculous.
What’s great is the affordable pant that is blue-sign certified and feels tremendous when hiking. They’re great hiking pants for men that should satisfy most needs on the trail.
Shop For Men’s REI Co-op Sahara
What makes the best hiking pants for men?
There are several key elements that any pair of the best hiking pants for men should check off. We need hiking pants that can check off just about every box which is why the majority of the pants on this list are technical pants designed for the outdoors.
Comfort & Mobility
Say whatever you want about pants, but if they’re not comfortable then they are not great for hiking. A pair of hiking pants need to be worn comfortably for days on end. They could be the most durable pants in the world, but if they feel like an art canvas I’m probably not going to want to hike for eight hours in them.
We also spend a lot of time moving uphill making big strides, stepping over logs, under logs, over rocks, through the brush, and even scrambling. Movement and mobility are super important when it comes to hiking pants. If the pants feel restrictive it’s probably one of the biggest negatives.
Weight
This follows in line with comfort and mobility, but if a pair of pants are heavy and restricting than they’ll affect their performance on the trail. It also plays an important role in multi-day hikes if you like to carry a second pair of pants when every ounce in your backpack counts.
Antimicrobial
This is what keeps pants fresh for multiple wears in warm weather. Cotton is terrible at holding up long-term for multiple days without a wash. Since you aren’t guaranteed to be washing your clothes every day, nor should you, we look for pants that have good antimicrobial properties.
Durability
These pants are meant for everyday hiking so they should act accordingly. By the time I’m done with a pair of pants, they will have seen everything that can be thrown at them. Great hiking pants for men stand up against, movement, dirt, sand, mud, and still keep me cool.
Material
The material should be durable, wrinkle-resistant, and breathable. Most companies seem to opt for nylon or weird fabric blends.
Function
We love the use of pockets, belts, and paneling to allow for great functionality while hiking.
Style
While this doesn’t have the biggest impact on performance on the trail you still want a decent pair of pants. It means you aren’t embarrassed by those trail photos or can run around town once you’re done hiking.
