A good pair of walking trousers will be able to stand up to constant abrasion, changes in conditions and they’ll also provide conveniences like storage for things like your phone, compass and map. But there’s no point in having a high performance pair that tick all of these boxes if they’re not going to feel comfortable to walk in. And that’s why we’ve put together this test of the best women’s walking trousers; we want to highlight the products where the fit – or the cut – haven’t been neglected and aren’t the result of that old-fashioned ‘shrink it and pink it’ approach.
Take the Fjällräven Kaipak Curved trousers, for example. They are specifically built to accommodate a more curvaceous body type, including features like an accentuated waistband, a body mapped construction and stretch panels for freedom of movement.
Many outdoor brands, such as Halti and Sasta, now include plus size options to accommodate a wider range of builds too. Though a long time coming, it’s refreshing to see these companies leading the way, with hopefully more to come across the industry.
Related: Why Should Plus Size Women Have To Shrink Themselves To Access Good Quality Kit?
Aside from the fit and cut, when choosing a pair of women’s walking pants it’s worth considering the types of fabrics used and the thickness of them. Softshell is a popular material as it tends to be breathable, stretchy and tear resistant, blending a number of materials including polyester or nylon and elastane. Polyester and cotton blends tend to be popular as they tend to provide a high level of protection from the wind. These different constructions have different advantages and disadvantages when compared against each other, so there isn’t necessarily one that can be described as being the best.
It’s also important to look at the adjustment options on a pair of hiking trousers. For instance, what kind of waistband do they have, is it elasticated or semi elasticated? If there’s no elastication, is there an integrated hipbelt or just belt loops? Is there any volume adjustment down at the ankle cuffs? These can be handy if you want the trousers to hold to your boot, keep warm air in and insects out, and not flap in the wind so much. Also consider the amount of pockets and their placement, size and how they close up. Are they big enough to hold a map, are they secure enough to keep your phone or car keys inside?
The Best Women’s Walking Trousers
Here’s our round-up of the best hiking pants for women. All of the images show our testers out using the product in places like the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Scottish Highlands. Remember, if you need extra info, we’ve stuck links to our full in-depth product reviews alongside each one.
- Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II – Best Women’s Walking Trousers Overall
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The North Face Felik Alpine – Best Women’s Hiking Leggings
- Klättermussen Misty Trousers – Runner up for Best Trousers for Hiking Overall
- Salewa Alpine Hemp Light Pants – Best Breathable Women’s Hiking Pants
The trousers listed should be suitable for a range of different outdoor activities at varying levels of weather protection. If, however, you’re looking for a bit more advice on what to look for in a good pair of walking pants, you’ll find some more info here, as well as some men’s trouser options too.
Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II
Our pick as the best women’s walking trousers overall
Price: £42
Weight: 285g
Best for: hiking and trekking
What we liked: versatile, good durability, recycled materials
What we didn’t like: were a little slow to dry once wet
These trousers, the latest iteration in Craghoppers’ extremely popular Kiwi line, performed well for us during our tests. Firstly, we liked the articulation because, while making long strides while scrambling, the gusseted crotch gave complete freedom of movement. We also found these were durable enough to withstand rough rock and we liked the slight stretchiness to the fabric too.
The fit felt quite loose around the thighs and legs but it’s not overly baggy or flappy and we found the trousers had enough warmth and protection from cold winds to suit hiking right through from early spring through to late autumn.
The combination of durability, comfort, articulation and the convenient pockets all, we think, made these trousers worthy of selection as our best overall pair of women’s walking trousers.
Full Specifications
Available in men’s and women’s versions / made from recycled polyester / with sun protection and insect barrier / four pockets / eco-friendly DWR / built-in sunglassses wipe / belt loops.
Read our full Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II review.
Buy the Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II: £42 at Craghoppers.com
The North Face Felik Alpine Leggings
Selected as our team’s favourite pair of women’s hiking leggings
Price: £60
Weight: 340g
Best for: hiking, scrambling and mountaineering
What we liked: durable panels, warm, useful pockets
What we didn’t like: Waistband is slightly thin
These offer just about everything you’d want from a pair of women’s outdoor pants, as our tester, Emma Cole, found out. “The fabric is excellent, said Emma. “They kept me warm when up on a hillside with a bitter wind blowing, but also let out the heat when the sun came out.”
In our tests, these proved to have a very dynamic feel, with the stretchy fabric and high waist allowing complete freedom of movement. Using them on rough, rocky terrain, we were also impressed by the durability that the reinforced panels on the knees, backside and calves brought to the table.
The Felik Alpine gets bonus points for having handwarmer pockets and useful pockets on the thighs too. We also liked the fact that the waist, though slightly thin, did have elastication and also the addition of a drawcord so you can really refine the fit to suit you as you shrink and grow through the course of a strenuous expedition.
Full Specifications
Available in men’s and women’s versions / polyamide and elastane weave / 70D panels / PFC-free DWR / open handwarmer pockets / zipped thigh pocket and open thigh pocket / zipped ankle cuffs.
Read our full The North Face Felik Alpine review.
Buy The North Face Felik Alpine Leggings: £60 at Alpinetrek.co.uk
