5+ Best Hiking Pants for Men

Finding the best hiking pants for men can feel like an endless quest. I’ve spent countless hours sipping coffee, researching, and testing pairs in the great outdoors. Some pants impressed me, others not so much. Over the years, I’ve tried and tested eleven top pairs of hiking pants for men out on the market, and I’m excited to share my findings with you.

The right hiking pants can make or break your adventure. I’ve experienced pants that didn’t fit right or were too hot and uncomfortable. That’s why I’ve categorized my favorite pants based on their strengths: comfort, durability, and versatility. My goal is to help you narrow down your search into what I believe are to be the best hiking pants for men out on the market.

Best Hiking Pants for Men at a Glance

• Best All Around Pants : Outdoor Research Ferrosi
• Best Winter Pants: REI Co-op Activator Pants
• Best Budget Pants: Columbia Royce Range Pants
• Best Cargo Pants: Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants
• Best Convertible pants: Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants
• Best Joggers: Outdoor Vitals Skyline Trail Joggers

Bottom Line: The Outdoor Research Ferrosi is all around one of my favorite pairs of pants when it comes to durability, comfort, and breathability. The pants are the best so far in breathability making it our top pick for hiking in hot weather. Recently the Ferrosi Pants went through an update which has improved these pants compared to previous years.

The new updated Ferossi pants are made with improved fit although I did find the front pockets to be a bit shallower than before (minor con). The fabric is now made more sustainable and has improved durability compared to the previous pair. Fabric is still highly breathable which makes this still a great pair of pants to wear in hot weather.

The Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants are incredibly comfortable, offer a high degree of mobility, and keep you cool. They are made of durable ripstop fabric and incorporate a good amount of spandex that make them very mobile. We found that they provide high mobility for hiking and backpacking trips. They are also very light, thin, highly breathable, and have drawcord cinch cords that allow the pants to be rolled up during hot weather. Additionally, the gusseted crotch enhances mobility and comfort, especially during outdoor activities like hiking and scrambling.

Read more: Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants review

Bottom Line: The REI Co-op Activator is an excellent pick for those early spring, winter, and late fall hikes. The Activator really performs well due to its durability, warmth, and useful features. I found the fabric blend for these pants to work pretty well. The pants did not restrict movement though felt a little heavy compared to others on this list. 

I was most impressed by the features on these pants, I really liked the angled front pockets which made it easier to pull out items from the pockets. Although I enjoy these pants, I often find that I am somewhat limited to their use to only cooler temperatures due to how warm they can get. In warmer temperatures they do have cinch cords at the legs to roll up this does help with the ventilation some. Overall, I have found this to be my favorite pick for winter and shoulder season hiking. 

Bottom Line: An excellent pair of pants for when you are on a budget. The Royce Range pants by Columbia are lightweight with a modern tapered fit. I found them to be very comfortable with a good stretch. The elastane blend provides good stretch minimizing restrictions for ascending up inclines and various terrain.  

I found these pants to be fairly breathable and an excellent choice for three season weather. The pants are not the most durable though, but they have been able to resist wear and tear on fairly groomed trails. These pants are more in the minimalist style with few features: front, back pockets, and small coin/watch pocket. Overall, the Royce Range is my favorite for a budget hiking pants and I have used them as a trail to town pair also. 

Read more: Columbia Royce Range Pants Review

Bottom Line: The Renegade Rock pants by Kuhl are hands down my favorite for scrambling on the trail or climbing. I find that these pants stay comfortable while also remaining resistant to wear and tear. Just like other pants on the market these pants offer basic weather resistance with a DWR coat and UPF 50+ rating.

Overall, I am surprised by the features of the Renegade Rock pants. When it comes to carrying space on these pants there are a lot of options, especially with the well-designed cargo pockets. I found the side zip and side drop pockets super useful. And when I got warm, I would just cinch up the bottom of the pants for added ventilation. Minor cons are that these pants are limited mostly to 3 seasons use and a bit snug for layering due to the tapered fit.

Bottom Line: The Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants are a versatile option for hikers who appreciate flexibility in their outdoor gear. As zip off pants, these pants easily transform into shorts, making them ideal for changing weather conditions. The lightweight, breathable fabric offers excellent sun protection with UPF 50, ensuring comfort during hot weather hikes.

However, the zippers can become uncomfortable over long distances, and the pants lack significant stretch, which might restrict mobility. While they excel in warmer climates, they are not the best choice for colder weather conditions. Overall, these convertible pants are a solid choice for hikers seeking versatility and sun protection on the trail.

Bottom Line: The Outdoor Vitals Skyline Trail Joggers are an excellent choice for those who prioritize comfort and mobility on the trail. As versatile men’s hiking pants, their lightweight construction and breathable fabric make them ideal for hiking in warmer climates. The joggers provide a great range of motion, thanks to the stretchy spandex blend, making them perfect for dynamic outdoor activities.

However, they do have limited weather resistance, which means they may not be the best option for wet or extremely cold conditions. Overall, these joggers are a solid pick for hikers looking for a comfortable and flexible pair of pants for their adventures.

How We Test Hiking Pants

In our review process for the best hiking pants for men, we start by conducting an in-depth analysis online to identify the top contenders. This list is frequently updated as we discover and test new gear that stands out.

Our preference and experience led us to focus on pants that offer a great balance of comfort, durability, and versatility for various hiking conditions. We believe these metrics provide a good middle ground for different types of hikes, from short day trips to longer backpacking adventures.

We then extensively test these hiking pants in various conditions both in the field and in controlled settings. Field testing is our primary method as it provides the most applicable results, but, if necessary, we conduct simulated tests to evaluate specific features.

For our roundup of the best hiking pants for men, we examine five main factors:

• Mobility
• Breathability
• Versatility
• Weather Resistance
• Features

Hiking pants make it onto our list if they perform well across many of these factors. However, some pants may excel in certain areas while being less impressive in others. Please note that our testing is somewhat subjective to our personal preferences, though we strive to include a variety of options to be as helpful as possible.

In our findings, we will explain how each pair of the best hiking pants for men performed in our five main areas and what makes them worth considering.

Mobility

When I look at mobility, I am assessing how well the hiking pants will move with the body. This is easily one of the most important factors because a pair of pants that causes restriction with mobility will ultimately be uncomfortable. Thus, will probably ruin your experience out on the field. 

In my field testing I want to really feel whether the pants ride up, rub at the thighs or waist, or feel restrictive. While most hiking pants with a fabric blend with spandex or elastane tend to be more minimally restrictive. I have found this to not always be the case. Pants style and fit also play a big role in the mobility of hiking pants making hands on testing the best way to really test function.   

Breathability

When it comes to comparing the best hiking pants for men, breathability is a critical factor to comfort and function, especially when considering lightweight hiking pants. Depending on the use of the pants, having good breathability is an important factor when wearing a pair of pants in the warmer months.

Pants that have good breathability have features that improve ventilation such as lightweight fabric, mesh pockets, and cinch cords at the ankles. All these added features are critical if you are planning on wearing a pair of hiking pants in the heat. When I evaluate a hiking pants ability I do so by wearing those pants in field testing during hot temperatures and analyze the ability of the pants to wick sweat from the legs.

My two recommendations for pants with above average breathability are the Outdoor Research Ferrosi and the Outdoor Vitals Skyline Trail Joggers. They both would also be excellent picks for warmer weather.

Versatility

In regard to versatility this is the assessment of how well hiking pants can function in various conditions. When I look at versatility it is mostly how well the pants work for hiking to camping or even going into town. Most often the most versatile pants are able to look good while also being functional for outdoor wear and other activities.

When I look at how well a pants can perform, versatility is a specialty factor that I do not weigh very heavily. Most pants can work for most conditions. There are some pants that have features that make them better at functioning in various scenarios. Most of the pants in this list do well enough in versatility. One the excels as a trail to town hiking pants would be the Royce Range pants mostly due to its simplicity of design.

Weather Resistance 

When it comes to analyzing the best hiking pants for men you want to make sure you will be protected in the elements. In tests I often focus on outdoor testing by wearing the pants in wet conditions as frequently as possible. 

Then I resort to a more controlled test where I spray water on a pair of pants to see how the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating is performing. Ideally the DWR should be able to repel water forming beads and the beads of water should roll off. Note, that over time you will have to reapply the DWR. 

Designing weather resistant pants can be tricky for most companies. Because ideally you want to provide some DWR but you do not want to make the hiking pants so water resistant that you sacrifice breathability. Overall, the majority of the hiking pants in the market should have at least a DWR coating and a UPF of at least 50+. This just tends to be the standard from what I have seen across the board for the top hiking pants. 

Also, another factor to note is the DWR coating is designed to keep you dry enough in the instance of a downpour so you can put on rain gear. DWR is not designed to make the hiking pants waterproof or to replace rain gear when out in the backcountry.

Pants that really excel in weather resistance are the REI Co-op Activator 3.0. These pants are a bit heavier than others on this list and are a bit less breathable. But, with that tradeoff are more wind and water resistant. The added thickness provides a bit of extra durability as well. 

Features

When it comes to comparing the features of the best hiking pants for men, features are like the cherry on top. Good and useful features can really maximize the user’s outdoor experience. Some common features found on hiking pants are the number and type of pockets, built in belts, drawstring, belt loops, roll up snaps or cinch cords, mesh pockets, and ripstop fabric.

An integrated belt enhances the fit and adjustability of hiking pants, offering a low-profile design that is easier to use compared to traditional belts, though it may interfere with backpacks.

My favorite features are deep pockets that can fit my phone. (I wish phones would get smaller but that is not the case anymore!) Pockets that I find useful are zippered pockets and drop pockets. I really like zippered pockets because they are more watertight. Also, roll up or cinch cord features are super useful in adding ability to ventilate pants in warmer weather.

The most feature rich pants on this list are the Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible pants and the Kuhl Renegade Rock Pants. They both offer many pockets and additional features that other pants on this list do not have.

Hiking Pants vs Shorts 

It can often be hard to pick shorts or hiking pants. Wearing hiking pants will offer many advantages such as sun protection. And, also protection against abrasion from branches, brush, and/or rocks.

Shorts are great for those trails without a lot of brush or branches. They offer much more mobility and breathability during warmer hikes. But, during those in between seasons or temperatures it can be hard to pick between shorts and hiking pants.

One practical feature of some hiking pants is the ability to roll up pant legs for better ventilation.

During these in between seasons or temps. Layering becomes an effective solution which allows for the best of worlds. Though, if you tend to get hot or don’t like the layer idea. You may benefit from convertible hiking pants. Which works great since you can easily swap between styles.

Hiking with Jeans 

Most people ask about hiking in jeans, I don’t believe there is anything wrong with hiking in jeans. Most modern jeans are a blend of cotton and elastane so offer good durability and movement. For the most part you could definitely hike in jeans and be comfortable on a short hike with good weather. 

Before synthetic blended pants people hiked in jeans all of the time. If you are planning to hike in jeans. I would recommend not hiking in cold/wet weather. Also, I wouldn’t recommend hiking in jeans for long strenuous trails. But, short hikes with good weather jeans would be alright but, not hiking pants will be the best option. 

Final Thoughts 

It can be difficult to decide on a good pair of hiking pants due to how many exist on the market these days. But I hope that this guide of the best men’s hiking pants will make deciding a lot easier for you. Look forward to seeing you out on the trails!