Hiking FAQ: Pants or Shorts for Hiking
Here’s a common question I get about hiking: Should you wear shorts or pants hiking? I say pants! There are exceptions, but at 9 times out of 10, I’m team pants for hiking. Here’s why I prefer pants for hiking, what pants I wear hiking, and the times I do wear shorts.
Why I Love Pants for Hiking
Here are the main reasons I’m an advocate for wearing pants hiking:
(1) Transition well for weather changes – cooler starts to warmer days and warmer starts that become chilly with elevation gain. It’s easier to bring multiple upper body layers than to have to pack pants to go over shorts if needed.
(2) Cover your legs which protects them from scratches from brush when hiking and provides a barrier between your legs and rocks/the ground when sitting.
(3) Comfortable and seem to stay put more than shorts which I find more prone to riding up.
The Type of Pants I Love for Hiking
I usually wear leggings hiking, specifically, Athleta leggings, which stand the test of time and come in extended sizing. I have them in a few different weights including winter weight with water resistance. You can see some of my favorites leggings and reasons I love Athleta here.
I like mixing in a hiking pant as well because sometimes it does feel good to let your legs have a little more breathing room, so to speak. My go-to are Northface Aphrodite 2.0. They’re a reasonably priced, lightweight hiking pant with a draw string built for dry expeditions.
A pair of water resistant hiking pants fit for cooler weather is on my shopping list, but I’ve had trouble finding a good pair in stores because of sizing issues – I’m on the petite side – so I’ll have to order online for more sizing options. Prana Halle, Columbia Saturday Trail, and REI Sahara Pant are some of the most highly recommended hiking pants for women at a reasonable price point. (The brand’s make men’s versions as well, but I’m less familiar with the best men’s hiking pants)
When I Switch to Team Shorts
Even though, I’m usually team pants for hiking, there are a few situations where I’ll step on over to the other side and show some leg. I generally wear shorts for: trail runs, short hikes on well-established trails, and hikes where the weather is expected to be around 80 degrees or hire for the entire hike.
Pro tip: don’t just check the temperature at the location where the hike starts. When gaining a lot of elevation on a hike, it’s not unusually for temperatures to be between 10 and 30 degrees different at the start and at the summit)
Where to Shop for Hiking Pants & Shorts
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, for outdoor adventures, I prefer to go with well-established outdoor brands like NorthFace,Columbia, REI, BlackDiamond, etc. Why? Because you need your outdoor clothes and gear to work. You can find these and lots of other great adventure brands at REI, Amazon, and Moosejaw(among others).
If you’re in the market for new hiking pants or shorts, I’d love it if you’d use one of the links in this post to make your purchase. I’ll get a teenie-tiny commission at no extra cost to you
More About Hiking
Want to learn more about what to wear and bring on day hikes? Check out these articles next:
What’s in My Day Pack
The Ten Essentials for Day Hikes and Why You Need Them
What to Wear On Day Hikes: A Guide for Women
Best Outdoor Brands for Different Types of Hiking Gear
Want some hiking inspiration, check out these books:
Looking to make a vacation out of your destination hiking, check out TripAdvisor for lodging and things to do when you’re not on the trail.
