Best Hiking Pants for Backpacking and Thru-Hiking 2026

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I’ve worn hiking pants for thousands of miles across the Triple Crown trails (PCT, AT, CDT), the Te Araroa, multi-week backpacking trips and what feels like thousands of day hikes. A quality pair of hiking pants that I trust matters more than almost any other piece of clothing on a long hike. This guide is for backpackers and thru-hikers looking for lightweight hiking pants that breathe in heat, hold up to off-track scrub, and double as travel pants on a rest day in town.

As a former outdoor retail store manager and an independent gear tester, I judge hiking pants on weight, stretch, durability, weather resistance, and real-world pockets, not catalogue copy. My current top pick for most hikers is the Prana Stretch Zion Pants, with the Kuhl Deceptr as the lightest pair I would trust on a thru-hike. Also included are some of the best zip-off convertible pants which also work well as backpacking pants.

The core trade-off in this category is simple: the lighter and more breathable a pant gets, the more you usually give up in durability and weather resistance. For how I research and field-test gear, see the the Review Policy for further details.

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Quick Picks – Best Hiking Pants 2026

• Best Overall: Prana Stretch Zion Pants – My default hiking pant for thousands of trail miles; stretchy, durable, and the integrated belt actually works after you drop a pant size on a long hike.
• Best Lightweight: Kuhl Silencr Pants – One of the lightest pants in this review with a clean stretchy softshell feel and a relaxed fit option I prefer for backpacking.
• Best Ultralight: Kuhl Deceptr – Sub-12 oz with surprisingly good stretch and weather resistance; the unusual fabric feels rough at first but disappears after a few hours on trail.
• Most Comfortable: Kuhl Radikl – Heavy by thru-hiking standards but the most comfortable pant on the list; great as a town / travel pant on rest days. Not for wet weather.
• Best Eco-Friendly: Patagonia Quandary Pants – Lightweight, heavily recycled material, with a slim straight cut. Best for lean-to-medium builds.
• Best Technical / Alpine: Arc’teryx Gamma Hiking Pants – Premium softshell with the best fit on the list and useful zip pockets; only ding is the price.
• Best Breathable: Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants – Stretchier than almost everything else here, breathes well in the heat, and stays a go-to of mine in hot dry country.
• Best Mobility / Stretch: Patagonia Terravia Trail – Newer Patagonia stretch hiker that is worth a look if you want more stretch than the Quandary.
• Best Budget Hiking Pants: REI Co-op Activator – Solid windproof softshell for the price; a sensible pick if you want all-rounder hiking pants without spending Arc’teryx money.
• Best Convertible: Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants – Cargo pockets, DWR, and the best feeling on-trail of any zip-off I’ve worn.
• Best for Australia and New Zealand: Macpac Trekker Pants – Three plus years of testing; double-weave Pertex Equilibrium stretch fabric, integrated belt, UPF 50+. Only available in AUS / NZ.

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Backpacking Pants Comparison Table

Brand	Material	Weight	Waist	UPF Rating
Prana Stretch Zion Pants	97% nylon, 3% elastane	Not Specified	Integrated belt	50
Kuhl Silencr Pants	100% polyester with stretch	12 oz	Belt Loops only	50
Kuhl Deceptr Pants	76% nylon, 15% spandex, 9% polyester	11 oz	Belt Loops only	50
Kuhl Radikl Pants	68% cotton, 29% nylon, 3% spandex	15 oz	Belt Loops only	50
Patagonia Quandary Pants	95% nylon, 5% spandex	10 oz	Belt Loops only	50
Arc’teryx Gamma Hiking Pants	88% nylon, 12% elastane	12.5 oz	Integrated belt	50
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants	87% nylon, 14% spandex	12.7 oz	Belt Loops only	50
Patagonia Terravia Trail	85% polyester,15% spandex	9.9 oz	Belt Loops only	Unknown
REI Co-op Activator	63% nylon, 26% polyester, 11% spandex	15.1 oz	Belt Loops only	50
Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible	95% nylon, 5% spandex	Not Specified	Belt Loops only	50
Macpac Trekker Pants	89% nylon, 11% polyurethane	11.6 oz	Integrated belt	50

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How We Tested

The hiking pants in this guide are researched and, where possible, field-tested by an experienced long-distance hiker and former outdoor retail store manager. Across the Triple Crown trails (PCT, AT, CDT), the Te Araroa, multi-week backpacking trips and day hikes, I judge hiking pants on weight, stretch and mobility, durability, breathability, weather resistance, pocket layout, and value for serious backpacking. Some of the pants in this review were supplied by the manufacturer and some were purchased by the author for this review. For more on how we research and review gear, see the Review Policy for further details.

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Best Hiking Pants – Detailed Reviews

The Prana Stretch Zion is my default hiking pant. I’ve used the older version for thousands of miles of the PCT and they hold up better than almost anything else in this price range. The updated version is slightly lighter than the original, with recycled nylon and the same DWR finish that sheds light rain and dries quickly.

What keeps the Zion on my list is the integrated webbing belt. On a long hike you genuinely lose a pant size in the first week and put it back on after town stops, and the Zion belt adjusts without fuss. The ventilated inseam gusset takes some of the heat out of the thicker fabric, and the cargo pocket is one of the few I actually use.

The Women’s Hiking Pants version is called the PrAna Stretch Zion Halle Pant.

Trade-off: warmer than the Ferrosi or Kuhl Silencr and a touch thicker, so not the first pick if you’re hiking in genuine desert heat. The fabric is also stiffer than newer stretch pants like the Patagonia Terravia Trail. For most backpackers though, durability and the working belt outweigh those points.

Best for: backpackers and thru-hikers who want one pair of pants that handles 3-season trails, town days and travel.

The Patagonia Quandary is the lightest non-ultralight pant on this list and the easy pick if recycled content and supply-chain ethics matter to you. Patagonia uses heavily recycled nylon for the main fabric, and the DWR finish handles light rain.

A gusseted crotch and articulated knees keep the fit honest, and the zip thigh pocket is sized for a phone. The Quandary is also one of the better town-and-travel pants on the list because of the clean cut.

Trade-off: the slim classic cut suits lean to medium builds and feels restrictive for stockier hikers; not as stretchy as the Ferrosi, Stretch Zion or Terravia Trail.

Best for: weight-conscious 3-season backpackers who want a more sustainable pant and a clean cut for town.

The Outdoor Research Ferrosi has been around for years and still earns its place. The Ferrosi fabric is the headline, they are light, stretchy, breathable and tougher than it looks. It cuts wind, sheds light rain, and dries fast.

For a 12.7 oz pant the Ferrosi is more durable than I expected. The fit is honest. The recycled content is a bonus.

Trade-off: no integrated belt, just an internal drawcord that is harder to tighten quickly under a hipbelt. The pocket layout is basic.

Best for: hot-weather backpackers and thru-hikers who want a breathable, stretchy pant that disappears on trail.

The Patagonia Terravia Trail is Patagonia’s newer stretch hiking pant. It is essentially what the Quandary isn’t, more stretch, more freedom of movement, less of the stiff straight-cut feel.

In use the Terravia Trail behaves like the Ferrosi or Stretch Zion: stretchy, light, breathable, with a DWR finish that sheds light rain. The pocket layout is simple and tidy.

Trade-off: lighter and less rugged than the Quandary, so not the first pick for off-track bushwhacking.

Best for: backpackers who liked the idea of the Quandary but want more stretch.

The Macpac Trekker is a quietly excellent pant that almost no American review covers, which is a shame. The Pertex Equilibrium double-weave is the headline, an open inner weave that wicks against the skin and a tighter outer weave that handles weather. The result is a pant that genuinely breathes and still copes with NZ scrub and shoulder-season drizzle.

I’ve worn these for over two years across day hikes and multi day hikes and they’ve held up. The gusseted seat reads as a small detail until you’ve worn through a non-gusseted pant in the seat on a long trip. Integrated belt, UPF 50+, abrasion-resistant.

Trade-off: only one zip pocket and only available in Australia and New Zealand.

Best for: backpackers and thru-hikers in Australia and New Zealand. If you can buy them, they are the best regional pick on this list.

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Yet to be tested

• Fjallraven Keb Agile – Not yet tested but they are reinforced where you actually wear through pants; they look like a good choice if your trips involve scree, talus and bushwhacking.

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Hiking Pants Buyers Guide

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Material

Almost every pant in this review uses a nylon or nylon-blend face fabric.

Nylon is strong, light, dries quickly and shrugs off light rain when treated with DWR.

Polyester appears on softshell pants like the Kuhl Silencr. Slightly more water resistant than pure nylon, slightly less abrasion resistant.

Spandex / elastane is the stretch component; aim for around 3–15% spandex for real on-trail mobility.

Cotton (in the Kuhl Radikl, for example) is comfortable in dry desert heat but a poor choice for wet or tropical hiking, it absorbs water and dries slowly. Never hike in jeans.

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Weight and Packability

Anything under 11 oz is genuinely lightweight; anything under 9 oz is moving into trail-running pant territory. Heavier pants (14 oz+) buy you durability and warmth. For a multi-day backpacking trip, I’d target 10–12 oz unless you’re hiking in cold or technical terrain.

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Comfort

A comfortable pair of hiking pants are the best. Usually, they are breathable, have a least some degree of stretch, are lightweight, durable, have good pockets, and have some form of mild water resistance.

All the items that make for comfortable hiking pants are covered in more details below, keep reading. Part of having comfortable pants involves the design that includes articulated knees which allow a good amount of movement in the knee region of the pants. Not all pants have articulated knees but those that do make for a good room in the knee area.

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Articulated Knee and Gussets

Articulated knees and gussets are features that are appreciated in hiking pant design. The articulated knees allow for a full range of movement in the leg and knee area as the knee bends. Usually, it is simply more material added to this section of the pants. Gussets are extra room in the crotch area that replaces the normal way pants are made. Overall, the hiking pants fit your body better as a result of these features.

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Stretch and Mobility

Look for a gusseted crotch and articulated knees, plus a fabric with some spandex (4–14%). Stretch matters most on steep ground, when crouching for camp, or scrambling. The Outdoor Research Ferrosi, Kuhl Deceptr, Patagonia Terravia Trail and Arc’teryx Gamma are the stretchiest pants in this review.

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Water Resistance and DWR

Most hiking pants have some degree of water resistance. A general rule of thumb is that water resistance has an inverse relationship with breathability, which makes sense.

You’ll often see the letters DWR in the features of weather-resistant pants, which stand for durable water repellant. This means that they have a DWR coating, which enables them to shed water more easily in light rain.

Choosing synthetic fabrics over cotton also helps them be more water resistant, as nylon is far less absorbent than its organic counterparts. 

When things get wet it can be annoying. When hiking and backpacking you should always carry a good pair of lightweight rain pants to keep your hiking pants dry.

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Breathability and Ventilation

You put in a lot of effort when you’re hiking, and you know what effort means; that’s right, sweat! You need to make sure that the hiking pants you choose are breathable. Sweat not being able to evaporate keeps you from cooling down when you need to the most.

Breathability and water resistance are inversely related. A pure softshell breathes less than a thin stretch nylon, and a rain pant breathes less again. Look for mesh pocket liners and inseam gussets that double as venting.

As well as the material itself, look for ventilation. Thick pants like the Prana Stretch Zion may not be that breathable in fabric terms, but they have built-in vents to keep air flowing and help body heat disperse. The Ferrosi, Silencr and Deceptr are the most breathable in this review.

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Durability

Durability comes from fabric weight, weave (ripstop helps), and reinforcement in the seat, knees and ankles. You want to be confident that your pair of pants is going to be sturdy, and resistant to snags, tears, and abrasion. This is why it’s important to think about durability when you’re picking out a pair.

Different weaves and coatings can increase the durability of hiking pants and feature a gusseted crotch making for more robust construction. A thicker pair of pants tend to be more durable but carries a cost in terms of weight in comparison to lightweight fabric used in lightweight pants. The Fjallraven Keb Agile and Arc’teryx Gamma lead this review on durability.

Thinner synthetic pants are resistant to most forms of trail damage and still keep you cool. Light pants like the Ferrosi and Deceptr last longer than their weight suggests, but expect a couple of small ankle tears across a full thru-hike.

When hiking in wet weather and rough areas and you need extra protection it might be a wise idea to invest in a good pair of hiking gaiters to stop abrasion and mud from damaging the lower legs of the pants. I’ve been using gaiters to protect my pants and hiking boots for most of my hiking life but only in areas with lots of mud or snow.

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Warmth and Cold-Weather Layering

All of the lightweight pants provide good sun protection and warmth when needed. The lightweight softshell fabric and lightweight stretchy materials provide a good level of protection from the cold when needed. But when things get cold and the temperature drops below freezing it is time to layer up.

When it gets cold you can add a warm base layer underneath your hiking pants. I regularly do this to stay toasty warm when the temperatures drop. If you need another layer to stop the cold wind then a pair of rain pants work great. But when it gets really cold with temperatures well below freezing, you may need to take a look at a pair of Winter Hiking Pants which are thicker pants with good wind resistance and insulation. You may also need to upgrade to a pair of Winter Hiking Boots for better insulation. And when it gets cold you may need some down pants which are a great option for when you are in camp.

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Belts, Drawcords and Waist Adjustment

After a few days on a long hike you genuinely lose a pant size, then put it back on after a town stop. A pant with an integrated belt (Prana Stretch Zion, Macpac Trekker) handles that without fuss.

Internal drawcords (Ferrosi, Quandary) work but are slower to adjust under a hipbelt. Some hikers prefer to skip integrated belts entirely and use a separate webbing belt.

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Pockets

You probably don’t want to carry too much extra weight in your pants, but everyone knows that there are some things you’d rather have at hand than on your back.

If you’re someone who prefers to carry more in your pockets, make sure you’re looking for options like zip closures for security, and cargo pockets for capacity. Also, consider the lining of your pockets.

Mesh lining helps to ventilate internal pockets and facilitates drainage, perfect for any fording. Just take your phone out before you go wading!

Thigh pockets (also known as cargo pockets) and hand pockets are the most important, with rear pockets being a bit useless. I don’t know too many people who would consider hiking with anything in their back pockets.

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Fit and Style – Slim vs Relaxed

Slim Fit

Slim-fit pants are usually lighter than regular fit and also well suited to the outdoors. They usually look nicer and also work well as travel pants that can be used for hiking. Pants with a slim fit usually offer a lot of stretch.

Relaxed / Regular Fit

A relaxed fit is my preferred style of hiking pants. They offer a little more room than a slim fit and are better suited to the outdoors. But there is a limit. Some relaxed-fit pants can look very baggy, especially if you have a thin build.

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Women’s Hiking Pants

Almost every pant in this review has a women’s-specific version, usually under a slightly different model name (e.g., prAna Halle Pant II for the Stretch Zion). The construction, materials and features carry across. We plan to publish a BikeHikeSafari women’s hiking pants guide soon.

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Convertible Hiking Pants

Convertible pants are an option that appeals to hikers and backpackers who like to wear shorts during warm weather and hiking pants in colder weather.

Over the years I find that I have had a love-hate relationship with convertible pants. My main dislike is wearing a pair of shorts with a great big zip running around my thighs or knee area. This feeling is shared by many who are turned off for the same reason. But the positives are very good.

Like most people, I love the flexibility of having shorts and pants all in one option. When it comes to lightweight traveling they are perfect, when it comes to lightweight backpacking and hiking they are often better than taking a separate pair of hiking shorts and hiking pants. The lower legs zip off easily and you can store the pant leg in the backpack until needed.

Overall, I like zip-off convertible pants, they are versatile pants. They are here to stay and are always a part of most of my gear lists when I go hiking and backpacking. And the best convertible pants mentioned in the review above are all awesome.

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Pants Vs Shorts

Hiking Shorts are lighter, and more breathable, but don’t provide the same level of protection as Hiking Pants. In the summer months, shorts are a good option. Many ultralight hikers don’t wear hiking pants but prefer to wear shorts only.

When it gets cold they wear a pair of hiking base layers underneath the shorts. I’ve tried this method in temperatures well below freezing and it works well. Especially when you add a pair of Rain Pants to stop the cold wind.

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Value

There is a huge divide between the pricing of the most expensive and the most economical pants in this review. In many ways, you get what you pay for but sometimes things are just too prohibitively expensive. Check the prices to see whether they fit your budget.

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Conclusion

Here are the best pants for backpacking and hiking on the market in 2026:

• Best Overall: Prana Stretch Zion Pants
• Best Lightweight: Kuhl Silencr Pants
• Best Ultralight: Kuhl Deceptr
• Most Comfortable: Kuhl Radikl
• Best Eco-Friendly: Patagonia Quandary Pants
• Best Technical / Alpine: Arc’teryx Gamma Hiking Pants
• Best Breathable: Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants
• Best Mobility / Stretch: Patagonia Terravia Trail
• Best Budget Hiking Pants: REI Co-op Activator
• Best Convertible: Kuhl Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants
• Best for Australia and New Zealand: Macpac Trekker Pants

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Frequently Asked Questions

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