Hiking Pants

Outdoor Research hiking pants cover the full range of trail conditions, from hot-weather UPF styles to durable weather-resistant softshells. Every pair is built for trail miles first: stretch where you move, durability where trail wear lands, and fabrics that dry fast.

Men’s and Women’s Hiking Pants

The range is built in men’s and women’s fits, each with its own cut rather than a shared pattern, with extended sizes on select styles. Shop Men’s Hiking and Climbing Pants or Women’s Hiking and Climbing Pants for the full lineup in each fit.

Fabrics and Styles

Two fabrics anchor the range. Ferrosi is the durable, weather-resistant softshell: stretchy, wind-shedding, and tough enough for scrambling and off-trail miles. Timberline is the lightweight, quick-drying choice for hot weather and travel. Styles run from technical cuts to everyday-looking pants, in an earth-tone range (olive, brown, navy, and more) that works past the trailhead.

Weather and Sun Protection

Most hiking pants are weather-resistant: they shed light rain and wind and dry quickly, but they are not built for sustained downpours. Fully waterproof rain pants are their own category, in the men’s and women’s rain pants collections. On the sun side, UPF-rated styles block UV through the fabric itself, with each product page listing its rating, which adds coverage you never have to reapply.

FAQs

What pants are best for hiking?

Match the fabric to your conditions. Weather-resistant softshell pants like the Ferrosi styles suit wind, abrasion, and shoulder-season cold; lightweight quick-dry pants like the Timberline styles suit heat and travel; UPF-rated styles cover high-exposure days.

Are hiking pants waterproof?

Most are not, and that is by design. Hiking pants prioritize breathability, stretch, and fast drying, with weather resistance to shed light rain. For sustained rain, waterproof rain pants worn over hiking pants are the right tool, and those live in the men’s and women’s rain pants collections.

What are UPF hiking pants?

UPF-rated hiking pants use fabric tested to block ultraviolet light, so covered skin stays protected without sunscreen. The higher the rating, the less UV passes through the fabric, and each product page lists the rating for that style. For exposed trails, desert hiking, and altitude, UPF pants pair with a sun hoodie for full coverage.

What is the difference between hiking pants and regular pants?

Fabric and construction. Hiking pants stretch with a full stride, resist abrasion from rock and brush, dry quickly, and add trail details like articulated knees. The Ferrosi and Timberline fabrics are the working examples: one durable and weather-resistant, one light and fast-drying. Regular pants may look similar but give up most of that function.