BEST Hiking Pants For Men

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

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.

---

Outdoor Research Ferossi Pants ($80)

Weight: 9.5 oz | Material: 86% nylon – 14% spandex | Belt: No

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.

---

Arc’Teryx Gamma LT Pants ($189)

Weight: 12.9 oz Material: 84% nylon / 16% elastane Belt: Yes

It’s easier to find lightweight hiking pants that feel like a good match for summer hiking than robust pants for changing mountain conditions. 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; they are 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.

---

Columbia Silver Ridge Pants ($59)

Weight: 12 oz | Material: 100% Nylon | Belt: Yes

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 remaining comfortable and hidden.

The full nylon blend is a bit obnoxious with the classic swishy sound of older outdoor pants, resulting in a 100% nylon material. It also makes the pants slightly restrictive regarding mobility since they cannot stretch.

Nevertheless, if you need technical pants that can handle many temperatures, these are solid and some of the best convertible pants on the market. As with most products from Columbia, expect a solid product at an affordable price. You aren’t getting top-of-the-line, but you’re also not paying $200 for a pair of pants.

---

Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers ($155)

Weight: 19 oz | Material: G-1000® Eco: 65% polyester, 35% cotton | Belt: No

The Fjallraven Keb Trousers are a kickass pair of pants but have limited use for men’s all-around hiking pants. 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, look no further than these pants.

These pants are built for hardcore adventures and time well spent outdoors. A heavy canvas blend that is both eco-friendly and rugged is the standout feature here. Combine that with many 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 exceptionally well. Another great feature is the adjustable cuffed pants legs that are great for protection.

If you think it will be a cold day, you can easily pair these with thermals for winter adventures. They’re a reliable pair of the most comfortable hiking pants I’ve ever worn. Best of all, these pants have fabulous, rugged, good looks.

---

Patagonia Quandry Pants ($79)

Weight: 9.1 oz | Material: 95% nylon – 5% spandex | Belt: No

The Patagonia Quandry pant is a lightweight men’s hiking pant that feels at home in many environments. Patagonia markets those pants as a cross between hiking and travel pants, 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 closer than the prAna pants but a lighter version. So they’re better 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 adequate job of repelling water.

---

REI Co-op Sahara Pant ($60)

Weight: 9 oz | Material: 94% nylon – 6% spandex | Belt: Yes

I love the material blend REI chose 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 blue-sign certified pants that feel tremendous when hiking. They’re great hiking pants for men that should satisfy most needs on the trail.

---

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 uncomfortable, they are not great for hiking. A pair of hiking pants must be worn comfortably for days. They could be the most durable pants in the world, but I probably do not want to hike in them for eight hours if they feel like an art canvas.

We also move 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 with comfort and mobility, but if a pair of pants is heavy and restrictive, they’ll affect their performance on the trail. It also plays a vital 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 wash your clothes every day, nor should you, we look for pants with 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 should stand up against movement, dirt, sand, and mud, but 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 using pockets, belts, and paneling to allow for excellent 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 after hiking.

---