The 6 Best Hiking Leggings
If you are looking for the best pants to wear hiking that are not hiking pants, hiking leggings are perfect for you! Making sure you have a comfortable pair of hiking leggings that will wick moisture is essential! No one wants to be uncomfortable while hiking or have clothes that only absorb sweat. The best hiking leggings are comfortable, breathable, supportive, and moisture-wicking. This guide reviews everything you need to know to find the best hiking leggings, including the best women's hiking leggings and what to consider when looking for the perfect hiking leggings.
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Patagonia Hiking Leggings
REI Co-op Hiking Tights
prAna Hiking Leggings
The Best Hiking Leggings
REI Co-op Flash Hybrid Hiking Tights
Pros:
High-waisted
Moisture-wicking
Breathable
Soft
Pockets
Cons:
Not stretchy as other hiking leggings
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The REI Co-op Flash Hybrid Hiking Tights are some of the best women’s hiking leggings. These hiking leggings are breathable and moisture-wicking, providing the ultimate comfort while on the trail. The REI Co-op Flash Hybrid Hiking Tights are high-waisted with a wide and thick waistband that provides support while not allowing the leggings to fall. It is one of my favorite features because they are very high-waisted! The hiking leggings also have large drop-in pockets that can hold your phone.
Patagonia Maipo 7/8 Stash Tights
Pros:
High-waisted
Moisture-wicking
Breathable
Stretchy
Soft
Pockets
Cons:
Expensive
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Patagonia is one of those brands you can count on to make quality hiking clothes, and the Patagonia Maipo 7/8 Stash Tights are no different. These women’s hiking leggings have stretchy and moisture-wicking spandex/polyester fabric that dries quickly. They also have contoured seams that help you move freely while hiking. One of the features I love most on the Patagonia Maipo 7/8 Stash Tights is the high waistband. It also has a hidden large pockets. The Patagonia Maipo 7/8 Stash Tights are some of the best hiking leggings on the market!
Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights
Pros:
High-waisted
Moisture-wicking
Durable
Stretchy
Pockets
Cons:
Expensive
Not as breathable as other hiking leggings
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The Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights are among the best women’s hiking leggings that are durable and long-lasting. They have 4-way stretch fabric that is durable and moisture-wicking. The hiking leggings also feature a movement-mirroring stretch that allows you to move freely while hiking. The Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights have a very high waist with a drawcord so you can adjust it to your comfort. One of the best features of these hiking leggings is the pockets. There are four pockets, two zippered hand pockets, a large pocket for a map, and a small zippered pocket that can fit a compass. The Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights are some of the best hiking leggings that are very durable and resist abrasion!
prAna Transform High-Waist Leggings
The prAna Transform High-Waist Leggings are among the best women’s hiking leggings if you want compression and comfort. The moisture-wicking, durable, and stretchy Chakara compression fabric allows you to move freely while hiking and not worry about holding sweat. The prAna Transform High-Waist Leggings have a high waistband made of double-layer mesh panels that provide excellent breathability and stay in place. It also has a convenient key pocket! A few of the features I love most are the breathable Coolmax triangle gusset and UPF 50+! The prAna Transform High-Waist Leggings are among the best hiking leggings with compression!
Arc'teryx Essent Warm High-Rise Leggings
Pros:
High-waisted
Moisture-wicking
Breathable
Stretchy
Pockets
Cons:
Expensive
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The Arc'teryx Essent Warm High-Rise Leggings are some of the best women’s hiking leggings that are comfortable and durable. The leggings have abrasion-resistant nylon-blend fabric, which is durable enough to handle granite when rock climbing, so you know they will be great while hiking. They are also stretchy, allowing you to move freely on the trail. The Arc'teryx Essent Warm High-Rise Leggings have a high, mesh-lined waistband that is breathable and moisture-wicking. There are also two pockets that allow you to store essentials like your phone. If you enjoy rock climbing, these hiking leggings are perfect because they are versatile, and the two pockets are accessible while wearing a climbing harness. The Arc'teryx Essent Warm High-Rise Leggings are some of the best hiking leggings that are durable and versatile!
REI Co-op Active Pursuits Tights
Pros:
High-waisted
Moisture-wicking
Breathable
Stretchy
Soft
Budget-friendly
Cons:
No large pockets
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The REI Co-op Active Pursuits Tights are among the best women’s hiking leggings from REI’s brand. The fabric is stretchy and moisture-wicking and has breathable mesh along the legs that provide ventilation and breathability. The hiking leggings have a flat seam construction that helps protect against chafing while hiking. The REI Co-op Active Pursuits Tights has a high waistband that features a drawcord so you can adjust it to your comfort. It also has a small pocket that is perfect for a key. Two of my favorite features of these women’s hiking leggings are the UPF 50 protection and reflective tape on the back. The REI Co-op Active Pursuits Tights are some of the best hiking leggings!
Hiking Leggings Features
Material
The material of hiking leggings dictates the durability, breathability, and mobility of the leggings. Below is a list of the most common materials of the best women’s hiking leggings. Some brands also have their own material they use for their hiking leggings.
Spandex (also known as Elastane) is stretchy, breathable, and moisture-wicking.
Nylon retains heat well and provides stretch and breathability but is not as breathable as Spandex.
Polyester is very breathable and wicks moisture well but is not as stretchy as Spandex and Nylon.
Breathability and Mobility
The breathability and mobility of hiking leggings are some of the most important things to consider. You want to make sure the hiking leggings are moisture-wicking, breathable, and stretchy. All of the best women’s hiking leggings on this list are moisture-wicking and stretchy, which allow you to move freely on the trail and not worry about the hiking leggings retaining sweat.
Durability
The durability of hiking leggings depends on the material and construction, especially around the knees and back areas that are high contact. If you will be hiking in a rocky area or going on a backpacking trip, durability is essential. If you are looking for the most durable pants to wear while on the trail, I recommend looking into traditional hiking pants.
Waistband
Finding hiking leggings with a comfortable waistband that stays up is essential because it can be frustrating if it falls as you hike. In my experience, hiking leggings with a high waistband tend to stay up better than ones with a lower one. If you want an adjustable waistband, I recommend buying women’s hiking leggings that have a drawcord. The drawcord allows you to adjust the hiking leggings as needed for your comfort.
Pockets
Pockets are a personal preference for hiking leggings. Some of the best women’s hiking leggings on this list have large pockets perfect for storing your phone, map, or other essential items you need to access. Others only have a small key pocket on the waistband. Although having pockets is not critical, they are a feature that is nice to have. Most hiking backpacks have pockets along the waist, which can be a great alternative to storing items if your hiking leggings do not have pockets.
If you are looking for the best hiking leggings, this guide is a great starting point! It provides everything you need to know, including the best women’s hiking leggings and what to consider when buying them.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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