The Best Five Hiking Pants in 2014

Every hiker, mountaineer or other outdoor enthusiast needs appropriate equipment. When we mention equipment we usually mean sophisticated devices like altimeters, compasses, gps devices etc. but we often forget on the most basic equipment like clothing. Hiking pants are an important piece of hiking equipment even though we often forget this.

Trying to find good hiking pants is usually quite a challenge. You can hardly find information about properties of hiking pants on the web. First step towards finding appropriate hiking pants is to know which features hiking pants should have.

If you are looking for high quality hiking pants you came to the right place. Here we will present you the best five hiking pants in 2014. First we will describe hiking pants basic properties. If you just want to know which are the best hiking pants currently on the market skip the section about the basic properties and proceed to the reviews.

Hiking Pants Basic Properties

Materials

Hiking pants should be made of breathable, lightweight and quick drying material. This provides additional comfort and functionality. Therefore modern hiking pants are mainly made of synthetic materials. Cotton pants for example are not appropriate for hiking because they are too heavy, not breathable enough and especially they absorb too much moisture. To improve durability hiking pants usually have cordura or ripstop reinforcements.

Quick drying

Hiking pants need to dry quickly. You definitely don’t want to be in wet and sweaty pants all day or even longer. Quick drying is achieved with materials used. Synthetic materials are known by their quick drying properties.

Durability

Hiking pants need to withstand quite harsh conditions. It is important that they are made of durable materials which won’t tear easily. Usually cordura or ripstop reinforcement is used to improve the durability. The Ripstop makes fabric resistant to tearing and ripping. It provides extreme durability at low weight. The Cordura is widely used fabric known for resistance to abrasions, scuffs and tears.

Pockets

Hiking pants should have enough pockets so you can store your necessities. A big benefit is having pocket big enough to store the map in it.

Ventilation

Breathability is an important factor which provides additional comfort. Some hiking pants also offer zipped vents which can be used in hot environment. This offers you the possibility to maintain natural body’s temperature.

Weight

All hikers and mountaineers strive to lightweight equipment. Pants are not an exception. Lightweight equipment allows faster movement and better comfort.

Above we described the basic features of the hiking pants. Now you are probably wondering which are the best hiking pants in 2014?

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Trekking
• Mountaineering

Weight: 320g

The Montane Terra Pants are a lightweight, reinforced four season hiking pants which provide comfort and durability. They are made of Tactel Nylon. The Tactel Nylon is known for its softness, strength and breathability. It is an innovative fiber which also dries quickly (8 times faster than cotton). The Montane Terra Pants also have Teflon fabric protector which fends off soil, stains and spills making the pants water-repellent. The above mentioned materials also protect against wind. The design of these pants is very good. They have reinforced panels on ankles, seat and knees. On the sides are zips for ventilation and access. They have 2 zipped hand pockets and a zipped pull out security pocket. The Montane Terra Pants are modern hiking pants every hiker or mountaineer will like.

Pros:

• Durability
• Comfortable
• Design

Cons:

• Expensive
• Threaded through belt

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Trekking
• Mountaineering

Weight: 450g

Berghaus Ortler Pants are 4 seasons hiking pants made of stretch fabric with water repellent finish. They use DWR (durable water repellent) technology to assure you comfort in changing weather conditions. DWR is a coating added to fabrics making them water-resistant. These pants are made of the four way stretch yarn which provides you comfort and freedom of movement. The ventilation is assured by side zipped leg vents. The waist has elastic panels and also belt loops. The Berghaus Ortler pants have 2 hand pockets and 2 bigger side zipped pockets. If you want pants which provide good breathability, freedom of movement and general hiking performance, the Beghaus Ortler will suit you perfectly. And besides they are causal enough for everyday wear.

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Leg vents
• Nice fit

Cons:

• Price

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Trekking
• Mountaineering
• Travelling

Weight: 485g

The Rab Treklite Pants are great pants for hiking and mountaineering. They are water resistant, breathable and lightweight. The Rab Treklite are made of softshell fabric which performs excellent in normal and also extreme conditions. These pants are known by comfortable wear. The fabric is good at keeping natural body’s temperature. In hot weather you will feel cool enough and in the cold weather necessary warmth will be provided by the fabric. The Rab Treklite Pants come with an integral belt with Duraflex push buckle and stretch waist which assures good fit. They have 2 hand pockets and zipped pocket on the leg. The Rab Treklite Pants are good for hiking, mountaineering and all other outdoor activities during all 4 seasons.

Pros:

• Breathability
• Weight

Cons:

• Bad water resistance

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Trekking
• Mountaineering
• Travelling

Weight: 420g

The Prana Stretch Zion Pants provide decent comfort and functionality to hikers and mountaineers. They are made of four-way stretch fabric treated with DWR (durable water repellent) technology. The materials used are nylon and spandex. The Spandex provides additional elasticity. In cold weather they keep you warm and in cool weather you can roll-up the legs and secure them with a snap. This is a reasonable solution making the Prana Stretch Zion comfortable in all 4 seasons. The waist can be tightened up with a simple tug but Prana Stretch Zion Pants also have belt loops. These pants have 2 hand pockets, zipped security pocket and rear pockets. The Prana Stretch Zion Pants provide you decent water and wind resistance, breathability and general comfort.

Pros:

• Great fit
• Quality
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Bad water resistance

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Trekking
• Mountaineering
• Travelling

Weight: 415g

The Columbia Silver Ridge Pants distinguish from other here listed pants. They have convertible legs which offer a transition to shorts in hot weather. They are appropriate for hiking, mountaineering and other outdoor activities. The Columbia Silver Ridge pants are made of nylon Ripstop which provides durability and prevents tearing. They are also quick drying, lightweight and breathable. The Columbia Silver Ridge Pants come with integral belt and are partially elastic at waist. They have 2 hand pockets, 2 hook and loop side pockets and 2 hook and loop rear pockets. The Columbia Silver Ridge Pants are definitely a good choice for every hiker, mountaineer or other outdoor enthusiast.

Pros:

• Design
• Quality

Cons:

• Not suitable for cold weather