Top 5 Places to Buy Hiking Pants – Outdoor retailers, online stores

Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe

If you are wondering where to buy hiking pants, start by deciding what matters most: in-store fit help, a wide online selection, easy comparison shopping, or direct access to a brand’s newest models. REI Co-op, Backcountry, Amazon, and major outdoor brands all sell capable options, but the best choice depends on your budget, climate, trail conditions, and preferred fit.

REI Co-op: A Strong All-Around Place to Buy Hiking Pants

REI, short for Recreational Equipment, Inc., is one of the best-known outdoor retailers in the United States. The consumer co-op dates to 1938 and sells hiking clothing from multiple outdoor brands as well as its own REI Co-op line. That makes it useful for shoppers who want to compare different fits, fabrics, price points, and features in one place. REI also publishes detailed guidance on how to choose hiking pants.

REI is especially practical when fit is your main concern. Hiking pants can feel very different depending on rise, thigh room, stretch, waistband design, and whether the waist sits comfortably under a backpack hip belt. Trying several pairs side by side can be more useful than comparing size labels alone.

Look for lightweight, breathable pants for warm-weather hiking, roomier cuts that can fit over a base layer for cold conditions, and dedicated waterproof rain pants when the forecast calls for prolonged wet weather. REI’s current hiking guidance emphasizes flexible, quick-drying, moisture-managing materials rather than treating one fabric or pant style as best for every trip.

Patagonia: Sustainable Materials and Trail-Focused Designs

Patagonia is a strong option for hikers who care about both technical performance and material choices. A better example of the brand’s everyday hiking category is the Quandary Pants. The current men’s version uses a stretch-woven blend of 96% NetPlus postconsumer recycled nylon and 4% spandex, includes a DWR finish made without intentionally added PFAS, and provides 40+ UPF coverage on protected areas.

The original discussion of Patagonia’s Torrentshell is useful, but it needs an important distinction: the Torrentshell 3L Rain Pants are waterproof shell pants rather than a typical all-day soft hiking pant. They use a 3-layer H2No Performance Standard construction with a 100% recycled nylon ripstop face and are designed for wet-weather protection. For dry or mixed conditions, a more breathable hiking pant such as the Quandary is usually the more comfortable starting point.

Patagonia also uses Fair Trade Certified production on many individual products, including the current Torrentshell 3L Rain Pants. Because manufacturing details can vary by product and season, check the specific product page rather than assuming every Patagonia pant has identical certifications or materials.

Columbia Sportswear: Functional Hiking Pants at Accessible Price Points

Columbia is a popular choice for shoppers who want practical hiking features without moving immediately into premium technical pricing. The brand’s hiking-pant range includes lightweight trail pants and convertible designs that can work well for day hikes, travel, and warm-weather use.

The current Silver Ridge Convertible Pants are a good example. Columbia lists Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection, Omni-Wick moisture management, six pockets, a partial elastic waist, and zip-off legs that convert the pants into 10-inch inseam shorts. The main body is nylon ripstop.

Those features make the Silver Ridge line useful for variable temperatures, but convertibility is a preference rather than a requirement. Some hikers dislike the feel of zippers around the thighs, while others value the ability to switch from pants to shorts without carrying a second bottom layer.

Amazon: Convenient for Comparing Many Hiking-Pant Listings

Amazon can be useful when you want a large marketplace, fast comparison shopping, and access to many brands in one place. Prime members receive fast, free delivery on millions of eligible items, but not every product or seller has identical shipping, return, authenticity, or warranty conditions. For apparel, always confirm the seller, size chart, return eligibility, and exact model before ordering.

Fixed marketplace prices, star ratings, and review totals become outdated quickly, so a durable buying guide should not present them as permanent facts. The products below are better compared by stable features, while current price and availability should be checked at the time of purchase.

When buying through Amazon, use the brand and model name to cross-check specifications against the manufacturer’s current product page. That is particularly helpful when multiple generations of a pant share similar names.

Backcountry: Broad Outdoor Selection and Gear-Focused Advice

Backcountry specializes in outdoor gear and carries hiking and climbing pants from brands such as Outdoor Research, prAna, The North Face, and others. Its hiking-pants category is useful when you want a retailer that sits between a single-brand website and a general marketplace.

Backcountry also promotes access to its Gearhead staff for product advice. That can be useful if you are choosing between pants for backpacking, climbing, hot-weather hiking, or mixed mountain conditions. For backpacking, details such as a low-profile waistband, stretch, and pocket placement matter because bulky seams or hardware can become uncomfortable under a pack hip belt.

Use Backcountry’s current product pages to compare materials, fit notes, size availability, and sale pricing. As with any retailer, inventory and discounts change, so treat current prices as live shopping data rather than evergreen specifications.

The North Face: Hiking Pants for Warm Weather, Mixed Conditions, and Technical Use

The North Face sells hiking pants across a wide range of use cases. Current models include lightweight stretch pants, convertible pants, moisture-managing trail pants, and more technical weather-protective options. Many of the brand’s everyday hiking pants use FlashDry or FlashDry-XD technology for moisture management, often combined with stretch fabric and a durable water-repellent finish.

DryVent is also a real The North Face technology, but it should not be treated as a feature of hiking pants in general. DryVent is a fully waterproof, windproof, breathable shell construction used for weather protection. The brand’s current hiking-pants selection more commonly highlights features such as FlashDry moisture management, stretch, articulated knees, water-repellent finishes, and convertible designs.

For ordinary three-season hiking, prioritize comfort and breathability first. Move to a waterproof shell pant when sustained rain or wet snow makes true waterproof protection worth the trade-off in breathability.

Arc’teryx: Technical Hiking Pants for Demanding Terrain

Arc’teryx is known for technical mountain apparel, but its pants use different constructions for different jobs. The brand’s Gamma family is a good example of a breathable, weather-resistant softshell approach for hiking and climbing. Gamma pants use stretch fabrics and articulated patterning to support movement rather than relying on a waterproof membrane.

Arc’teryx also sells waterproof GORE-TEX pants, including Beta-family shell models intended for harsher weather and technical terrain. That means the statement that Arc’teryx uses GORE-TEX in “many” hiking pants is too broad. A shopper should first decide whether the trip calls for a breathable softshell hiking pant or a fully waterproof shell.

Arc’teryx can make sense for hikers who place a high value on patterning, freedom of movement, technical fabrics, and mountain-focused design. Features vary by model, so check whether you actually need reinforced panels, harness-compatible pockets, waterproof construction, or other alpine details before paying for them.

Outdoor Research: Versatile Pants for Hiking, Climbing, and Travel

Outdoor Research has a strong reputation for crossover outdoor pants that work for hiking, climbing, and travel. The Ferrosi Pants are a clear example: Outdoor Research describes them as lightweight, breathable, water-resistant, wind-resistant, quick-drying, stretchy, abrasion-resistant, and rated UPF 50+.

The brand also sells a separate Ferrosi Convertible Pant with zip-off legs that turn the pant into shorts. That distinction matters. Zip-off legs are available on specific convertible models, not on every Outdoor Research hiking pant.

Other practical details in the Ferrosi line include articulated knees, an adjustable waist, multiple pockets, and designs that can work under a climbing harness. This versatility makes Outdoor Research worth considering if you want one pair of pants for trail use, travel days, and occasional climbing.

How to Choose Where to Buy Hiking Pants

The best retailer is the one that reduces your biggest buying risk. If you are unsure about fit, prioritize a store where you can try on several brands or return an unsuitable size. If you already know the exact model you want, buying directly from the manufacturer can make it easier to confirm current specifications, inseams, colors, and materials.

• Choose REI or another outdoor specialty retailer if you want to compare multiple brands and fits.
• Choose Backcountry if you prefer a large outdoor-focused online catalog and gear-oriented shopping help.
• Choose Amazon if convenience and broad marketplace availability matter most, but verify the seller and exact model.
• Choose the brand’s own website if you want the newest specifications, official size charts, and the clearest product-generation information.
• Choose a local outdoor or sporting-goods store when same-day fit testing matters more than having the widest online selection.

What to Look for in Hiking Pants Before You Buy

Good hiking pants should match the weather and terrain rather than simply having the longest feature list. REI’s current hiking-clothing guidance emphasizes flexible, quick-drying and moisture-managing materials, while also distinguishing ordinary hiking pants from waterproof rain shells.

Fabric and Drying Speed

Nylon and polyester blends are common because they can be lightweight, durable, and quick to dry. Stretch fibers such as elastane or spandex improve mobility. Cotton-heavy pants, including traditional denim, absorb more water and dry more slowly, which can become uncomfortable when conditions turn cool or wet.

Fit and Mobility

Look for enough room to step up, squat, and climb without the fabric binding at the knees or crotch. Articulated knees, gusseted crotches, stretch fabric, and adjustable waist systems can improve mobility. The waistband should also remain comfortable beneath a backpack hip belt.

Weather Protection

A DWR finish can help light moisture bead off the surface, but a water-resistant hiking pant is not the same as a seam-sealed waterproof rain pant. For steady rain, a true waterproof shell offers more protection. For dry weather or high-output hiking, a breathable softshell or lightweight woven pant is often more comfortable.

Sun, Bugs, and Brush

Long pants add physical coverage against sun, insects, scratchy vegetation, and rough rock. If sun exposure is a priority, look for a clearly stated UPF rating. If insects are a concern, combine appropriate clothing with the other protective measures recommended for your destination.

Pockets and Trail Practicality

Secure zip pockets are useful for keys, cards, or a phone, but more pockets are not always better. Check whether cargo pockets interfere with your stride or sit beneath a pack strap. Convertible pants can be helpful in changing temperatures, while simple non-convertible designs usually feel smoother around the thighs.

The best hiking pants are not necessarily the most technical pair; they are the pair that fits well, dries fast enough for your conditions, moves comfortably, and provides the level of weather protection your hike actually requires.

If your hiking trip also includes fishing, this guide to the best travel fishing rod can help you plan compact gear. For travel-focused packing, you can also review these minimalist travel backpacks. Keep those choices secondary to fit, weather protection, and comfort when selecting hiking pants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are hiking pants?

Hiking pants are outdoor pants designed for movement, changing weather, and trail use. Common features include quick-drying synthetic fabric, stretch, articulated knees, secure pockets, water resistance, and sometimes UPF sun protection.

What features should I look for in hiking pants?

Prioritize fit, stretch, quick-drying fabric, breathability, useful pockets, and a waistband that works with your pack. Add UPF protection, reinforced areas, convertible legs, or waterproof construction only when your climate and trail conditions make those features useful.

Where can I buy hiking pants?

You can buy hiking pants from outdoor specialty retailers such as REI and Backcountry, general marketplaces such as Amazon, sporting-goods stores, local outdoor shops, and directly from brands including Patagonia, Columbia, The North Face, Arc’teryx, prAna, and Outdoor Research.

What are some popular brands for hiking pants?

Common hiking-pant brands include Columbia, The North Face, Patagonia, REI Co-op, Arc’teryx, prAna, and Outdoor Research. The best brand depends on your fit, budget, climate, and whether you want lightweight trail pants, convertible pants, softshells, or waterproof shells.

What should I consider when buying hiking pants?

Consider the type of hiking you do, expected temperature and precipitation, sun and bug exposure, fit, inseam length, stretch, pocket layout, pack compatibility, and your budget. If you buy online, check the current size chart and return conditions before ordering.

Are waterproof pants the same as hiking pants?

No. Many hiking pants are breathable woven or softshell pants that may resist light moisture but are not fully waterproof. Waterproof rain pants use a membrane or coating and sealed construction to block sustained rain, which usually makes them less breathable during hard exertion.

Should hiking pants be tight or loose?

They should be secure at the waist without restricting movement. A trim fit can reduce snagging, while a slightly roomier fit can improve ventilation or leave space for a base layer. Test the pants by stepping up, squatting, and sitting before deciding.

Sources

1. REI Co-op Expert Advice: How to Choose Hiking Pants — fabric, fit, and weather-selection guidance.
2. Patagonia Quandary Pants — current hiking-pant materials and features.
3. Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants — UPF, moisture management, pockets, and convertible design.
4. The North Face Hiking Pants — current hiking-pant categories and technologies.
5. Arc’teryx Men’s Pants — distinction between softshell hiking pants and waterproof technical shells.
6. Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants — current fabric performance and design details.