12 Best Walking Trousers for Hiking

12 Best Walking Trousers For Hiking

Yeah, the big Covid Lockdown is over and we can finally get up mountains and down dales.  And I dont know about you but that means i am shopping for a whole new wardrobe of hiking clothes!

When I am shopping for hiking gear I am looking for trusted brands, stretchability, durability and comfortable.  Walking Trousers and Walking Leggings aren’t normally waterproof (so order some waterproof over-trousers too for long hikes) however they are normally showerproof, dry quickly and use wick away sweat!

There is so much choice in hiking trousers to suit every body shape and size, even the kids.  For our star buys its Marmot women’s waterproof walking trousers for me.   My husband’s choice is the Fjallraven mens walking trousers though.

Do you need kids walking trousers? Then I’ll recommend the Craghoppers Cargo trousers. all our star buy hiking pants are reviewed in depth here.

No time to read reviews? I present the quick links to buy your best walking trousers and water-resistant hiking pants right now from our star picks:

Fjallraven Men's Vidda Pro Trousers M Reg Sport Trousers, Blue, 52 UK
  • Sport type: Outdoor Sports Apparel
  • Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers M Reg Sport Trousers - Blue, 52
Marmot Women Minimalist Hardshell Rain Proof Pants - Black, Medium
  • Rugged, 2.5-Layer rain trousers for women with complete protection in wind and inclement weather; absolutely water and wind-proof; These hiking trousers protect you on hikes, treks and bike rides
  • Equipped with the absolutely water-proof and very breathable GORE-TEX Paclite Technology with drip-off effect, These hard-shell trousers are a hit in any weather, without making you sweat
Craghoppers Children's Kiwi Cargo Pants, Black, 11-12
  • 4 pockets - 2 with zippers
  • Elasticated waist adjuster at the back
Columbia Men's Convertible Hiking Trousers, Silver Ridge II
  • Men's hiking trousers with capability for quick conversion to shorts, Ideal combination of breathability and stretch
  • Durability and comfort thanks to material of breathable Ripstop nylon and comfort stretch, Quick drying capability thanks to Omni-Wick technology
Sale
Berghaus Women's Ortler 2.0 Walking Trousers, Water Resistant, Comfortable...
  • WATER REPELLENT: Stay dry and comfortable for longer as the main fabric has been treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) technology to resist water absorption
  • UNRESTRICTIVE: IDEALer freedom of movement thanks to articulated knees and stretchy, durable fabric
Mountain Warehouse Trek Youth Trousers – Quick Drying Children's Pants, 4...
  • Fleece Lining - Extra warm, cosy and very comfortable
  • Quick Drying - Thanks to the fabric composition, water dries quickly making it great for holiday wear and washing
Sale
Berghaus Men's Paclite Gore-Tex Waterproof Overtrousers, Lightweight,...
  • ALL-DAY COMFORT: Once you're wet, everything seems ten times harder and it can put a dampener on the day Keep the Paclite Gore-Tex Overtrousers on hand and you will wonder how you managed without them on every adventure
  • INTERACTIVE DESIGN: Paclite technology means this pair can be squished right down in your rucksack while 3/4 length water-resistant side-zips help with ventilation and make pants easier to remove while an elasticated waist provides a comfortable fit
THE NORTH FACE Venture 2 Casual Pants TNF Black-TNF Black XS
  • High-rise pants
  • Elastic waistband with internal drawcord
Mountain Warehouse Pakka Kids Waterproof Over Trousers - Taped Seams Rain...
  • IsoDry - Waterproof & breathable material allows moisture out & prevents rain getting in
  • Taped Seams - All seams are taped to make this item fully waterproof
Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Tights Sport Trousers - Black, M
  • Technical trekking Tights
  • Reinforcements at knees and rear
Fjallraven Women's Abisko Trekking Tights W Sport Trousers, Grey, L UK
  • Technical trekking tights in stretch fabric
  • Comfortable wide waistband that can be adjusted with a drawstring inside
Canterbury Kids Thermal Leggings Baselayer Bottoms Navy M
  • Young rugby players can tackle the cold in confidence even when conditions get tough with these leggings.
  • Made with ThermoReg technology they will keep little ones warm when they need it most providing essential insulation by creating a barrier against the cold so the body can retain heat for longer.

Ready to order now then check out our in-depth review of walking trousers here.

Guide to Buying the Best Walking Trousers

A wide variety of walking trousers and hiking pants are available in the market today. How do you decide what’s right to buy? Answering the questions below can help:

  • What type of walking/hiking am I going to do?
  • How long is my hike?
  • Do I need protection from the rain, wind, or both?

Types of Walking Trousers

Windproof/water-resistant walking trousers:  Have plans to do a lot of winter walks? Then you should get windproof trousers that are warm and water-resistant. They’ll protect you against windstorms and drizzles. But they can’t keep you adequately dry when it rains heavily for that I recommend adding waterproof over trousers to the shopping list.

Waterproof walking trousers/ Packable rain pants: Need lightweight packaway trousers? Then these bergahaus rain pants that pack down small are ideal. You can wear them as they are or as over-trousers and throw them in the Rucksack when not needed! They offer you outstanding rain protection and still allow you to move freely. The fabric has a waterproof coating so you’ll stay dry and comfy even when it rains heavily.  

Mountaineer trousers: They are more rugged and durable than standard walking trousers. Made of hardwearing materials, they are typically abrasion-resistant. They’re lightweight and can endure extreme weather conditions and contact with rocks.  

Fleece-lined walking trousers: Are you looking for thermal walking trousers? If yes, the ones with an inner fleece lining are just what you need. They’re ideal for your hikes in winter.

Zip off walking trousers/ 2 in 1 walking pants: You can zip their bottom section off to transform them into shorts. If it feels too hot or you need to roll up your trousers, these zip-off walking trouser shorts would be ideal to wear.

Walking Leggings: These hiking leggings are a new idea,  lightweight, skin tight and offer you an active fit so you dont get walkers chaff! Since they stretch easily, they let you become more active during hikes and are perfect for fell runners. Hiking leggins are also brilliant for keeping midges and mosquitos from biting you as they cant penetrate the fabric.

Things to Consider When Buying Your Walking Trousers

Type of activity: What type of activity will you be taking on? Does your hike involve simple walking like those pub walks or dog walks wearing your shorts? Or do you need something more rugged and durable to deal with rocky and challenging terrains?  

By answering this you can decide if you need walking leggings, the best waterproof dog walking trousers  or tougher mountaineer trousers.

The season, temperature, and weather: Are you planning to engage in lots of winter walks? If yes, you’ll need windproof, warm, and waterproof walking trousers. 

Plan to walk or hike mostly in summer instead? Then something breathable, lightweight, and moisture-wicking would suit you just fine. How hot or cold the temperature will be and if there’s likely to be storm or rain too would be decisive factors to think about.  Remember if you think it will rain then packaway waterproof trousers are your friend!

Breathability: Walking trousers made with breathable fabrics can wick away moisture and help in ventilation. This means even when the temperature soars and you sweat, you’ll stay cool, dry, and comfy.

Stretchy:  Walker trousers made of flexible fabrics can stretch easily as you take long strides, jump over, or climb. This allows dynamic movements and added comfort as your knee can move more freely and flexibly.  

Fit: Your chosen walking trousers shouldn’t be too tight to keep you gasping for breath or too loose to make you prone to trips and falls. They should give you a snug fit. It’s a bonus if they have features like articulated leg pads or elasticated ankle and waists covers.  Make sure the cuffs as snug but not scratchy or itchy (nothing hurts more on a hike than bad cuffs lol)

Also look for high wasted walking pants…it makes all the bending and stretching easier and stops a cold back!

Weight: Your walker trousers should be lightweight and allow dynamic movements. When you’re already lugging your hiking gear, you definitely don’t want your trousers to add more weight and woes to your hike.

Durability: These walker trousers will be on your body for hours on end and face the elements. You definitely don’t want them to get torn or damaged. Else, they’ll let in the elements.

Pockets: yes one we dont think about when we buy pants but when hiking you want heaps of on body, easy access storage.  ON any hiking clothes look for a couple of warming hand pockets and at least one zippable storage pocket.  I always look for walking pants with a phone pocket…we dont carry maps now but a phone in our cargo pant pockets!

Before we go into our in-depth reviews of our best walking trousers, here are quick links to our other picnic and hiking essentials on the site.  If you have all these, you are sure of the perfect time when you go outdoors!

Can you think of another essential outdoor or picnic items I need to include? If so, drop me a line in the comments.

12 Best Walking Trousers For Hiking

In-depth reviews of Walking Trousers

Overall Best Men’s Walking Trousers

Fjallraven Men's Vidda Pro Trousers M Reg Sport Trousers, Blue, 52 UK
OVERALL BEST Men’s Walking Trousers - These lightweight, water resistant trousers are ideal for hiking, trekking, and mountaineering. They’re robust as they’re made of G1000 fabric. They’re reinforced in high-wear areas.

Pros