How to choose the best Alpine hiking pants for women that you won’t regret
You have no idea how to pick out your new favorite hiking trousers for Alpine hikes? You came to the right place. Today we dive into a clothing item you wear on every hike in winter and summer: the right hiking pants.
Just like with regular clothes, it can be difficult to find a pair of hiking pants that fits you perfectly. I often hear women complain that most hiking pants are made for people with a straight figure, not for people with curves. I can see where this statement comes from.
Even though most hiking pants have stretch in them, the stretch needs to be in the right places. The hip-waist ratio is most of the time not something you can adjust. Still, there are so many different brands, and there are now lots of different styles of hiking pants - from super stretchy leggings to very baggy ones. I am sure you will find something that fits you just right.
How to find hiking pants that fit your body
I think going to a big outdoor store and trying on as many pants as you can is the best way to get to know brands available in your area. Here in Innsbruck the Sportler is a great place to do that. That way you get a good feeling for what styles fit you well and what don't. Once you know which brands and the styles you like and what size you have, it is going to be easier to find good deals online - whether you want to buy something new or you are searching on a second-hand platform.
Here are some things you might want to think about while trying on outdoor hiking pants:
Do you like a high waist, medium waist or low waist?
Do you want something tight like a legging or something roomy?
When and where are you going to wear the pants?
What kind of shoes are you wearing with the pants? Bring the shoes if you can.
Does it need to be waterproof or water-resistant?
What colours do you like? What looks good with your hiking jacket?
Can you roll up the bottoms, to make them more suitable for warmer weather?
Do you carry a backpack with you, or will your snacks, phone and water fit in the hiking pants?
Will you wear a belt with them?
Do you need something robust or something light?
Do you like it when the legs flare out or do you prefer cuffed ones?
How long do the legs need to be? Do you want the fabric to cover your shoes or not?
What is your budget? (I talk more about budget in the last paragraph)
I hope these questions help you to find your perfect hiking, outdoor pants for your hikes in the mountains.
Technical features to look for in hiking pants
Imagine you found a pair of pants that you like. It fits well, feels good, and you look great! What else should you keep an eye out for? This of course is totally up to personal preference, but I always look for these 8 decision makers:
Is there enough stretching? Because I need to moooooove!
Do the trekking pants have big pockets for my phone and snacks?
Do they have ventilation holes, because… well you know why.
Do they have an adjustable waist, so that no matter what my lunch is I can still fit into the pants?
Would I feel comfortable wearing this in a restaurant after the walk?
Does the material feel comfortable? Am I feeling any seams that might annoy me after a while?
Do I or someone I know have experience with this brand? Does it feel and look like good quality? Do I think this item is going to last me long?
Will I be able to find this second-hand?
Safety first: the hiking pants at work
Being safe on a trail should always be your absolute priority. Whether you are a complete beginner or very experienced, safety always comes first. Safety can mean many different things while you are out there. Your clothes should protect you from the elements of nature. During a walk, you may have to have endure:
radiant sunshine (protection with clothes is better than sunscreen)
very cold wind (pants should keep you warm)
rain or snow (pants should keep you dry)
slippery or icy walking paths (good pants protect you when you fall)
insects (pants should protect you from their bites)
Make sure you choose the right hiking pants that match your hiking style. For example, for a summery walk through a forest you want to wear light, long pants. For a snow walk over a mountain top, you want to wear thick pants that keep you super warm and isolated. My rule is: the more extreme the hike, the better your hiking gear needs to be. Do not go hiking on a snowy mountain trail in your Levi’s jeans, people. If you are not sure your potential hiking pants will do the job, ask the people in the store for their advice.
The bad news is, there are also other kinds of dangers you might encounter on the road: creepy old men, boring conversations with your hiking partner or enormously cute dogs. Sadly your hiking pants won't help with any of these situations.
Which hiking pants works best in Alpine weather?
The weather is obviously super important when deciding what kind of hiking pants you want to buy. I live in Innsbruck in Austria, the heart of the Alps, and I have experienced that I need 3 types of hiking pants year-round in my wardrobe. Let’s find out what is in my closet.
P.S. Don’t feel like reading anymore? Scroll down, I made a short video about my hiking pants.
Thick outdoor pants for winter hikes.
During winter hikes I wear thick, sturdy outdoor pants. If it is really cold - very cold wind, temperatures beneath 0 degrees - I wear short polyester leggings underneath my hiking pants. This has works great for me. I could also buy insulated outdoor hiking pants. I think this is a great option if you are somewhere where it is often much colder. But for me, I find that my short legging gives me enough warmth to survive the really cold hiking days.
I recently bought the La Sportiva Eridon Evo W pants. I found them on sale, and bought them because I liked the colour, they fit me well and the material is perfect: not too thick, not too thin. I love the flexibility of these outdoor pants. With insulation underneath it is a great very-cold-weather option. Without the insulation, these pants are also very suitable for fall and cold spring days.
I also have an older pair from Meru. Although the lower quality is very visible compared to the La Sportiva ones, I still think this was great purchase. I have had these for 4 years, worn them a ton and they still do not have a hole in them. You do not need to wear an expensive brand to have a great and safe day hiking. Start with whatever is available for you. As long as the hiking pants are suitable for the environment you are hiking in, you have everything you need.
Lightweight hiking pants for spring and summer
During warm spring days and summer I wear long, light hiking pants or shorts. I got these super lightweight Dynafit trouser for my birthday last year. They are great when it is warm but you want to protect your legs from insects, the sun or sharp bushes. I also love the bright fuchsia color. Be careful though with trousers that are thinner. The thinner the fabric, the easier it will rip.
I currently do not have a zip off pants but of course this is a great option for those hikes where it is cold in the morning, but hot during the day.
Hiking shorts for warm weather
When the weather allows it, I prefer to wear shorts. I thrifted a pair of army green Decathlon shorts last year. They are great as they are pretty thick and perfect for a hike high up the mountains where you will be sitting on rocks during lunch time. I think they also look great.
I would also like to add a thin pair of hiking shorts. I tried these shorts from Salewa and they looked great. I will keep checking my thrift stores to see if something likes this comes on. Sweating is inevitable during a summer walk, but we can at least look and feel great while we are doing it.
Underwear and base layers for hiking
The type of underwear you wear has a big impact on the insulation and comfort of your hiking pants. Yes I said it, your underwear matters. And yes, I am now briefly going to talk about the underwear I wear on hiking trips. On cold days, I wear Bridget Jones kind of underwear, the big ones. If my butt or my organs are cold, it is not a fun day for me. I would recommend wearing boxer shorts or even bigger types of underwear on really cold days. Nobody is going to see them anyways, and you will be so much happier, trust me.
On warm days, you can of course wear smaller underwear. Wear something that is comfortable to you and works with the temperature of that day. And for bra’s? I wear comfortable bra’s without a wire during high intensity hikes.
How much do hiking pants for women cost?
Hiking gear is expensive. A hiking pants from a cheaper brand like Meru of CMP starts at 80 - 90 euros. Medium expensive brands like La Sportiva, Salewa, Columbia or Mammut come in between 150 - 200. To top it off we have maximum expensive brands like Patagonia and Ortovox, they start at a minimum of 200 euros.
I find it very hard to say if hiking pants from Patagonia are really better than hiking pants from CMP. Honestly, I think it depends on your personal taste and what kinds of hikes you do. If I had to go up to Mount Everest, I would surely put all my money in the best gear I can find. But for the average hobby-hiker? I don’t think it matters if you wear second hand H&M sports trousers from last season or the newest Ortovox merino-lined glacier pants. As long as you are comfortable, it fits you well, it matches the weather condition you are hiking in and you feel great, you will get home safely.
Where to buy sustainable outdoor clothing?
There are a couple of outdoor brands that are more sustainable than others. These are brands like Patagonia, Mammut, Deuter, Osprey and Cotopaxi. Here is a list of the The 45 Best Sustainable Outdoor Brands of 2024 you might want to check out.
It is great if you can support these usually more expensive brands. What if you want to do it a little more cost-efficiently? There are more sustainable ways to buy your outdoor gear. Check your local thrift shops regularly. If you are lucky, you can find good-as-new, good quality items there, from merino layers to down jackets, from perfect backpacks to leather hiking shoes.
Another way to be sustainable, is to use your outdoor gear as long as you can. Repair your clothes when they have holes and be careful with your stuff. Wear the things you have before buying something new.
I am curious, what is your opinion on sustainability when it comes to gear for hiking and camping? Do you find sustainability important and in what way do you practice it?
Ignore the marketing: wear what works for you
Definitely ignore these lies about what you should wear while being outdoors.
Wear skitouring or climbing trousers for hiking.
Make thinner trousers warmer by adding insulation underneath.
Wear casual cargo pants to hike in.
Wear a total second-hand outfit.
Do not buy a pair of hiking trousers every season every year and spend that money on a hiking trip.
You don’t need a matching outfit (but you can if you want).
Roll up the legs of your trousers to make long trousers suitable for warmer weather.
Wear your grandpa’s hiking jacket, the older stuff is always better quality anyway.
Totally wear men's outdoor trousers if they suit you better.
I hope this guide has helped you find your dream outdoor trousers: whether that is an amazing pair of Patagonia that is going to last for 10 years, or a second-hand pair from Nike for 10 euros. I wish you very happy and safe hikes in your new outdoor trousers.