Hiking Pants for Winter - Choose the Best Ones

It’s so important to have the right clothing for winter hiking. Being able to stay warm, dry and comfortable means that you can have a much more enjoyable hike no matter the weather. However, pants are often overlooked gear items as people tend to concentrate more on keeping their upper body warm in winter. Still, having the right hiking pants to keep you warm and dry, as well as, giving you complete freedom of movement, is extremely important in the tough conditions that winter brings.

This article will outline the best winter hiking pants for men and women, as well as, explain what you need to look for and consider when choosing the right pants for your winter hike.

How to layer your pants for winter

Just like for clothing on your upper body, it can be ideal to layer your pants for colder conditions. In winter, you’re often trying to stay warm, dry and comfortable at all times and this can work best with a combination of pants worn together.

A basic layering system works like this:

Base layer: A next-to-skin base layer or thermal underwear will help regulate your body temperature, but it should also be made from a sweat-wicking material such as merino wool. You still sweat in winter despite the cold weather and keeping dry is important for staying warm.
Insulated layer: The middle layer is all about keeping yourself warm. Depending on the conditions you’ll be facing in winter, you can opt for a synthetic material or fleece lining or even down for extreme conditions.
Outer layer: The outer shell layer is usually a water and windproof layer to keep your legs dry in case of snow, rain or strong wind. This layer can also be removed or added during the course of your hike depending on the weather conditions.

Main criteria for choosing winter hiking pants

Winter pants are just as important as anything else on a winter hiking gear list. As with many different clothing options, there are a variety of criteria that you need to think about such as comfort, material and features.

Material

Hiking pants can be made in a variety of different materials. The type of material you choose is important because it can impact many other things like durability, insulation, breathability and mobility. Most hiking pants will come in a blend of synthetic materials, with some offering different features depending on their purpose:

Fitted base layers: Synthetic blends with a higher amount of elastane for added stretch.

Softshell pants: Rigid materials such as nylon, polyester and cotton.

Outer shells: Weather proofing abilities such as Gore-Tex or water repellent coating.

Insulating pants: Fleece-lined pants offer added warmth.

Insulation

Warmth is one of the key factors when considering winter hiking gear. This can occasionally mean that you have to compromise on both breathability and mobility. However, the layering system mentioned above works well here, as you can have a more breathable base layer with a more insulated mid-layer.

Insulating pants are sometimes made from tougher and thicker materials that are fleece-lined, however, there are also some lighter-weight synthetic options too made from nylon.

Weather-resistant

There are a range of weather-resistant or weatherproofing options when it comes to different pants. Most of the time, your standard hiking pants and mid-layer options offer basic water-resistant properties. However, for tough conditions with snow and rain it’s best to consider fully waterproof and windproof outer shell options made from Gore-Tex or water repellent coatings.

Breathability

With thicker materials used in winter hiking gear, it can be difficult to find breathable clothing at the same time. However, breathability is important for keeping yourself dry and allowing sweat to be wicked away. Options that are made from merino wool or some synthetic wool blends will be more breathable and comfortable to wear than options like cotton or hard-shell fabrics with thicker membranes.

Weight

Although weight isn’t usually a huge factor when choosing the right pair of pants, you might want to consider this when it comes to weather conditions and mobility. For example, some fabrics like cotton get heavier when wet and this can add extra weight when hiking in winter. You will want to opt for materials that have quick drying properties such as merino wool or synthetic blends which can reduce the weight.

Mobility

The last important criteria for choosing winter hiking pants is mobility. With the added layers, material thickness and insulation, it can often make hiking pants for winter quite restrictive. If you’re going to be hiking over tough terrain that requires ease of movement then you will want to make sure that your hiking pants allow you to move effortlessly.

Picking a pair of pants that are more fitted and have articulated knees offers more flexibility and less restrictions when tackling tough terrain. This will also depend on your individual body shape and preferred fit.

Added features

All hiking pants have added features that differ across brands and styles. While these are often not necessities for winter hiking, it can come down to personal preference as to whether you want them or not.

Added features include pockets, built-in belts and convertible pants or zip-off legs. Many pants will offer basic pockets around the waistline, but some options have extra pockets on the lower legs as well.

Built-in or integrated belts can offer more adjustable sizing for people who fall in between standard sizes or who like to be able to adjust their waist tightness.

One of the biggest features with hiking pants is convertible options or zip-off legs. These are often two-in-one style options that can be converted into shorts. They can be extremely versatile and helpful if you’re hiking across different seasons or likely to get hot during your hike. However, some people find them baggier than standard pants and the zips can be slightly annoying.

How price can influence your options

The price for hiking pants can vary wildly depending on the brand, materials used, quality and added features. This might impact your choices when shopping for pants and it’s important to be aware of the quality that you’re buying.

Splurging on higher quality or a highly reputable brand is often a good idea if you want a pair that is reliable and durable. Often cheaper options will have lower quality zips and thinner materials that won’t last very long.

Winter hiking pants for women

Best winter hiking pants overall

KUHL Women’s Klash Pants

These cold-weather hiking pants strike a perfect balance between style, practicality and comfort. They have plenty of features that make hiking in winter more enjoyable, including a water repellent finish, comfortable stretch for added mobility and extra pockets for valuables. They are the perfect softshell mid-layer pants with the ability to add a base-layer underneath or outer shell on top when needed. There’s very little not to like about these winter hiking pants for women, which are also moderately priced.

Specs:

Material: 72% nylon, 20% polyester and 8% spandex
Fit: Regular, mid-rise
Pockets: 5
Belt: No
Weather resistance: Durable water repellent finish

Features:

Abrasion resistant, ripstop material
Ergonomic fit with knee darts for freedom of movement
Right thigh pocket for easy access to valuables
Zippered bottom hem to fit over hiking boots

Best budget winter hiking pants

Columbia’s Women’s Lined Saturday Trail Pants

Columbia makes some of the best budget hiking clothing. With these pants you get plenty of bang for your buck with some nice features for cold weather hiking. The stretchy material makes the straight leg fit very comfortable. For cold conditions, these pants will also keep you warm with an inner thermal reflective lining. There’s not much to dislike about these pants, except perhaps that the pockets are slightly limiting and small.

Specs:

Material: 96% nylon and 4% spandex
Fit: Regular
Pockets: 4
Belt: No
Weather resistance: Water repellent finish

Features:

Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection
Omni-Shield advanced repellent finish
Straight let and mid-rise fit
Thermal reflective lining for extra warmth and breathability

Best waterproof pants for winter hiking

Patagonia Women’s Torrentshell Pants

These pants from Patagonia are the perfect outer shell layer that you can easily pack in your daypack and reach for when the weather turns. They are loose fitting with adjustable cuffs which can easily be pulled over your base or mid-layer pants. They will keep you dry even in severe weather with Patagonia’s H2No Performance fabric that is 100% wind and waterproof. There’s limited extra features with these pants and just a couple of basic pockets, however, for rainy weather they are one of the best options.

Specs:

Material: 100% recycled nylon
Fit: Regular
Pockets: 2
Belt: No but elasticised waistband with drawstring
Weather resistance: Water and windproof

Features:

Made from 100% recycled nylon face fabric
Waterproof and breathable H2No reliability
Durable water repellent zippers
Storm flaps and hand warming pockets

Best convertible pants for winter hiking

Outdoor Research Women’s Ferrosi Convertible Pants

These convertible pants tick all the boxes when it comes to practical and durable hiking pants. They are lightweight, fitted nicely, offer plenty of pockets and have zip-off legs for multipurpose use. The two-in-one design means you can convert these pants into shorts whenever it gets warm in the backcountry. The material is also wind and water resistant which means these are a great option for battling winter weather. If you’re after comfortable, convertible hiking pants, these are for you.

Specs:

Material: 86% nylon and 14% spandex
Fit: Regular-straight leg
Pockets: 5
Belt: No but integrated drawstring
Weather resistance: Water and wind resistant

Features:

Nylon ripstop to protect you in scree and overgrown terrain
Convertible pants for all day use
Zippered pockets for keeping valuables safe
Softshell fabric for breathability and mobility
Soft, fleece lined waistband