Hiking Pants: What do you Wear and why?

Patagonia Traverse for any situation where I expect weather or abrasion. Stretchy, very water resistant, and highly durable, but I prefer to just wear 3/4 merino tights or IO Bio Contact Loose tight.

Patagonia Rock Climbers. Tired of using zip-offs, so these roll up to shorts and stay rolled up. Comfortable but slim fit so order accordingly. Synthetic but the fabric breathes very well in warm/humid conditions. That said, I will need to try them in cool/windy conditions dayhiking this fall since the breathability effect may not be desirable in cooler conditions.

Arc'Teryx Ramparts most of the time.

I also carry Ibex wool tights to sleep in and/or add warmth.

A cuben rain wrap for rain.

I make my own with Supplex

Just two pockets on the front, bug enough to hold camera, GPS,…

I'm good down to below freezing.

If it rains, they get wet which is uncomfortable, but it doesn't absorb a lot of water sp dries out quickly

Very baggy so I can wear it in warm weather for sun and bug protection

REI Sahara Convertible. I wear the pants when hiking (never zip off bottoms). At home, I zip off the bottoms and wear the shorts all the time in summer. Very comfortable, lightweight, lots of strategically placed pockets. Almost indestructable. And includes a belt.

Depends on temperatures. Most of my trips are 4 days or less.

WHAT

Running shorts (w/liner – no underwear) and I carry rainpants if the lows are around 40-50 degrees.

When lows get below 40 degrees, I wear running shorts (w/liner) as underwear, and a pair of very lightweight softshell pants (OR Ferrosi). I can slip them off over my shoes, so they're faster to switch into shorts than zip-offs. But, I rarely need to do this, as they have ankle cinch cords and can be rolled up into a pair of shorts w/o coming unrolled. Similar pants would be Patagonia Simple Guides, and Arc'Teryx Gamma LT pants. I'm pretty sure both are slightly warmer, and they also don't quite have the features, fit, or color that I wanted. YMMV. In really rainy weather, I still bring rain pants, but since Colorado rarely has sustained rain, they usually stay home. I'm going to experiment with using a rain skirt this year, instead of rain pants for sustained rainy weather.

In even colder conditions, I switch out the running shorts for long johns, but now we're talking about winter-like conditions.

WHY

running shorts with liner: underwear is unnecessary and extra weight, running shorts are lightweight, great for hot weather, and double as shorts/underwear when wearing long pants

rain pants: I need them for camp warmth when only bringing shorts. While others may not need extra warmth in the morning, I like morning sunrise and early light photography. They also are nice to have if we get some cold rain.

softshell pants: I used to use nylon supplex zip-off pants (REI Saharas) and I find softshells to be a huge improvement in several ways: 1) Athletic fitting so it doesn't billow in wind, but stretchy so it's not restrictive. 2) Warmer in wind and rain, does a great job at repelling our short rainstorms, and just as cool in hot weather. 3) More durable and protective when off trail in willows and scrambling on rock and talus.

rain skirt: for ~1oz, these should replace rain pants when I need rain protection over my softshells to keep my thighs warm in sustained cold rain.

Just ordered 2 pairs of these a couple days ago. For the price, couldn't pass trying them. http://www.us.craghoppers.com/buy/nosilife-lite-trousers-regular-196308

Been using a pair of Columbia pants that are cotton/nylon. Probably gonna switch to shorts soon.

Ill wear shorts unless its pretty chilly and the sun is behind the clouds, but if pants are in order I usually wear my Patagonia Traverse pants, the only slim fitting pant I've found with no .extraneous pockets and zippers, also has an elastic waistband, simplicity defined. They're cut like a semi-fitted running pant, so you can see your footing really well and not catch yourself on branches and such along the trail and off. Comfortable from the low 60's down to below freezing in my experience, pretty versatile.

I'm looking at the Arcteryx Rampart or the Golite Yunnan hiking pant as an option for a more traditional trail pant, the former has a lot of good reviews.

+1 on columbia pants. Mine are light weight zip off pants. Great for cold mornings and then once you warm up, zip off and BAM! your cool and comfy in shorts.

What do you wear?
Patagonia Gi II zip offs.

Why?
Light, dry fast, fit me well and they were on sale.

My previous pants were some light columbia zip offs and I did like them a lot, but they didn't fit me as well.

I'm back to wearing Patagonia Gi II pants. To me, they are a good all around balance. The weight of nylon is quite durable, yet not so heavy that it's slow drying. The dry times aren't as fast as my Patagonia Sol Patrol pants, but they are still good and they seem to be a better compromise. I loved the fast dry times of the Sol Patrol, but fit wasn't as good (too tight in the thighs and too short of inseam) and just a button waist kinda sucks because you really need a belt too. The Gi II's are a good all around hiking pant at a reasonable weight.

Likes:
– Very Durable
– Fairly Light (10 -11oz)
– Fairly quick dry times
– Solid construction
– Integrated belt keeps them up well

Dislikes:
– Rear pockets (I don't need 'em)
– Waist system is a bit heavier than necessary (button + elastic + integrated belt)

You could always check out the great (and not totally serious) kilt thread:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=44343

I prefer a kilt for a number of reasons:

– Zero chaffing or monkey butt (Just add a touch of Body Glide!)
– Easy to layer with minimal time spent (No need to strip to put long johns on!)
– Fast potty breaks with no chance of zipper accidents!
– Great morning shawl to help keep the warm in!
– Great pillow case (just wrap it around a suffsack with clothes in it!)
– Curious looks from passers by (All of whom are thinking about my lack of undies!)
– Very breezy on hot days!

So yeah – kilt it is for me!

72HW

I have been wearing the Exofficio Amphi pants for years now. They last pretty well, you can find them in zip off or regular. They have enough pockets to do what I need including traveling through airports. I have used them on airfields from Kazakhstan to South America. I have backpacked in them in the Sierras and Montana. They are great in hot water and excellent in cold weather with long underwear. They dry more quickly than normal suplex and are much softer. They are my favorite go to pant for everything.

The price is a bit high but look for sales.

I love Columbia pants (their tops, not so much)and my favorites are their water shorts.

http://www.columbia.com/Women%E2%80%99s-Sandy-River%E2%84%A2-Short/AL4573,default,pd.html#

Reason I love them is they are meant to be worn as a water activity short so they dry super fast and have mesh for the pocket insides. Also since they are made for water if I'm doing any fording and they get wet there is little to no chaffing due to the wetness.

If it's cooler I do long john's underneath and wind pants over. I just hate how much traditional hiking pants weight and their lack of true versatility.

summertime i wear board shorts. they are cheap, dry fast, and really durable. come in 1000 colors and varieties.

cooler temps i currently like eddie bauer's travex pants…

Last for years, on sale often, look goofy with mismatched legs.

Bob

patagonia sol patrol–for hot hiking
patagonia rock guide–for most other hiking

Outdoor Research Equinox pants. They fit well, are really light, comfortable, and I like the look.

I use the Golite Reed rain pants, for all the same reasons.

I got a pair of these from REI not that long ago.

http://www.rei.com/product/787855/the-north-face-paramount-peak-convertible-pants-mens-30-inseam

They are awesome! They dry super fast and are bomb proof. I took a shortcut over a very steep slope of scoria (sharp volcanic rock) and took a nasty tumble/slide down the slope about 80 feet. I got up bleeding in a few different places but the pants didn't get a single hole in them :)

Nice deep pockets too.

Arc'teryx Rampart pants – I wear these pants all summer and into the fall. Why?

Lightweight – 9.8oz/pair for my 34W 32L
Thin fabric – Thin means I can roll them up into shorts in hot weather or where otherwise appropriate (stream crossing, etc.), providing all the functionality of zip-offs but less the weight of the zips (and no sections to misplace).
Quickdrying
Khaki color – doesn't heat up much
Fit – they move well, the articulated knees are a plus
Tough – They are still look new after several days of bushwacking, the material has held up better than I would have guessed
Numerous well-placed pockets – 2 cargos, 2 back, 2 hand pockets

So with my Ramparts I have coverage from thorns/bugs when needed and rolled-up they provide plenty of ventilation. There aren't really any non-functional or undesirable features, they are pretty minimalist save for the numerous pockets (but I love the excess of pockets, very handy on the trail). And they were pretty cheap for dead bird gear – I have 2 pairs, both were on clearance @REI for $45.

I wear Railriders Bone Flat pants most of the time (7.4 oz and well ventilated) and Weatherpants (tough as the proverbial nails) in cold weather or when the trail is really rugged and overgrown. In Ohio, shorts are not advised, IMO, because of the greenbriar (nasty) and especially during tick season, which is most of the year around here.

Stargazer

"So yeah – kilt it is for me!"

In bug season? I'd love to be the fly on the wall for that trip. ;-)

Depends on the trip.

Hot weather is usually Patagonia Baggies or the pair of running shorts at the top of my shorts drawer.

Warm weather or hot weather off trail is Rail Riders EcoMesh.

Cool weather is REI Schoeller Mistral Soft-Shell Pants. I really like these. Easy to move in and have articulated knees.

Cold Weather is REI Schoeller Acme Soft-Shell Pants. A little heavier than the Mistrals but just as comfortable.