Men pants

Hiking pants - how to choose

There are several aspects to consider carefully when choosing the perfect pair of hiking pants. This guide is intended to provide an insight into the features and benefits of different hiking pants.

Types of hiking pants

The different designs of hiking pants can be grouped into several categories.

Universal pants

Their primary functions are quick-drying elastic or anatomically shaped, durable fabric. Traditional hiking pants provide better warmth than shorts and protect your legs from insect bites, scratches from rocks and thorns, rain, sun and wind. They are suitable for cool, wet hikes, as well as hot hikes with strong sunlight.

Traditional trousers with an "outdoor lifestyle" aesthetic are a good choice for casual Fridays at work or visits to the city. For example, Mammut hiking pants have several models that are quite classic in design and can be worn everyday or even to work. On the other hand, Milo pants have a simple appearance, all the necessary features of hiking pants - comfortable, flexible, quick-drying, but at the same time budget-friendly .

Transformable pants - shorts

Convertible pants have a zipper on each leg, usually just above the knee. This allows you to untie and remove the lower part of the trouser leg. They are popular among hikers for their versatility and space and weight saving features. They are universal because there is no need to carry shorts. The convertible pants are easier to wash because the lower part usually gets dirty first. This is especially beneficial when you plan a long hike or trek of several days, where you have to carry everything in a backpack.
Possible disadvantages are abrasions in the part where the zipper is sewn in, so before buying the pants, you should make sure that the zipper does not interfere.

The Runbold pants model offered by Mammut is available in both zip off or pants-shorts version and classic pants version. It is worth mentioning that the Runbold model has a special cooling material, so they are perfect for summer hiking or hiking in the tropics.

Sizing, fit and mobility

It is recommended to prefer hiking pants that are relatively tight, but do not restrict movement. Pants that are too wide are heavier, tend to flap in the wind, and can catch on rocks or branches. Conversely, pants that are too tight can cause chafing, restrict mobility, and wear out faster around the knees, crotch, and butt.

Most comfortable and mobile models have articulated knees (the fabric is cut to fit the shape of the leg) and ribbed crotch (a diamond-shaped fabric in the crotch area that improves mobility and reduces stress on the garment). The composition of the material is equally important; models with a higher proportion of spandex are often more flexible and comfortable.

On long distance hikes, wearing hiking pants continuously can stretch and loosen them, giving you a bigger feel until they are washed and dried again. Hikers also tend to lose waist inches on long hikes. As such, we recommend looking for a model with an integrated belt, drawstring or belt loops to adjust the fit for longer periods on the trail.