A good pair of walking trousers is a gamechanger for walking and hiking – walking trousers for women are designed to be lightweight, stretchy, and breathable however many miles you cover. In warm weather, summer walking trousers that use a breathable fabric will keep you cool, while in winter, thicker hiking pants with built-in waterproofing will be the best choice. There are varied styles of hiking pants on sale - slim, stretchy walking trousers and hiking tights are a good choice if you don’t like traditional bulkier designs. Many pairs of the best women's walking trousers can be converted into shorts, which is ideal for walking holidays.
Best women's walking trousers
- Fjallraven Keb Curved trousers, £215
- Rab Firewall Waterproof Trousers, £150
- Craghoppers Nosilife Pro II Trousers, £95
- Forclaz Trekking Zip-Off trousers MT100, £29.99
- Fjallraven Abisko tights, £155
- Montane Terra Ridge Trousers, £95
- Berghaus Galbella Leggings, £50
- The North Face Exploration Convertible Trousers, £80
- Revolution Race RVRC GP Trousers, £85
- Montane Minimus Waterproof Trousers, £100
Best tough walking trousers
Fjallraven Keb Curved trousers, £215
When the going gets tough, pull on a pair of Fjallraven’s Keb durable walking trousers. These rugged walking trousers double up as work pants thanks to reinforced knee and rear panels, making them ideal for setting up camp, gardening and outdoor jobs, and hiking. The Kebs have roomy pockets, reinforced knees, and useful ventilation zips, and come in straight or curved versions – the curved is a great choice for women with wider hips.
Buy Fjallraven Keb Curved trousers: From £120.13 at Amazon <<Best Deal>>
Buy Fjallraven Keb Curved trousers: £215 at Cotswold Outdoor
Best waterproof walking trousers
Rab Firewall Waterproof Trousers, £150
The excellent Firewall hiking pants look bulky but actually feel very comfortable on, and have been designed with trekking in mind to provide freedom of movement as you hike. Zips to mid-thigh make it easy to get them on and off, and we liked the high waistband and the under-boot loops on the cuffs for wear with hiking boots - Ideal when the weather looks varied and you don’t want the faff of pulling waterproofs on and off.
Buy Rab Firewall Waterproof Trousers: From £125 at Amazon
Buy Rab Firewall Waterproof Trousers: £66.98 at Alpinetrek <<Best Deal>>
Best insect-repelling walking trousers
Craghoppers Nosilife Pro II Trousers, £95
If you’re heading to a climate where mosquitoes and other biting nasties may lurk, a pair of trousers impregnated with insect repellent can be a very clever shout. Craghoppers rightly call their Nosilife Pro II a ‘travel standard’ - this smart pant boasts a hidden superpower – it’s made with Craghoppers’ own-brand Nosilife material, which has an insect-repellent treatment to provide permanent protection from mosquitoes and other biting insects.
Buy Craghoppers Nosilife Pro II Trousers: £95 at Craghoppers
Best budget hiking trousers
Forclaz Trekking Zip-Off trousers MT100, £29.99
Our best on a budget at just under £30, these simple but comfortable walking trousers deliver good quality without the premium price tag, and also zip away into shorts – everything we’d expect from Decathlon’s cheap and cheerful own-brand, Forclaz. On test, we liked the stretch panels of the Trekking Zip-Off trousers for good ease of movement. The zipped-off shorts are comfortable and flattering – these versatile trousers would make a great spare pair to pack for a summer trekking holiday.
Buy Forclaz Trekking Zip-Off trousers MT100: £29.99 at Decathlon
Best walking trousers for stretchy comfort on mountain hikes
Fjallraven Abisko tights, £155
If you prefer the comfort and freedom of movement of slim, stretchy hiking tights to wide walking trousers, try Fjallraven’s Abisko skinny outdoor trousers for size. These legging-style walking trousers are so comfortable and stretchy that you’ll immediately forget you’re wearing them. The Abisko Tights have an elasticated waist, and handy thigh pockets, fit nicely under waterproofs, and have bum and knee panels that are great when you’re sitting around camp after a hike.
Buy Fjallraven Abisko tights: From £105.74 at Amazon <<Best Deal>>
Buy Fjallraven Abisko tights: £120 at Cotswold Outdoor
Best walking trousers for scrambling and mountain adventures
Montane Terra Ridge Trousers, £95
Female climbers, mountaineers, and hikers heading up into the hills from spring through to autumn should look no further than these excellent adventure trousers, which manage to be both tough and flexible in one comfortable package. Montane’s Terra Ridge trousers are stretchy enough to wear for scrambling, and have a soft slightly stretchy fabric that makes them feel great to wear all day long.
Buy Montane Terra Ridge Trousers: £95 at Amazon
Buy Montane Terra Ridge Trousers: £66.50 at Blacks <<Best Deal>
Best walking trousers for summer walks and sports
Berghaus Galbella Leggings, £50
On hot summer hikes, swapping from hefty trousers to slim cut, stretchy walking leggings can make things much more comfortable. Super stretchy and breathable, the Galbella tights are so comfy you’ll barely notice you’ve got them on, but offer more warmth and protection than shorts. They’ve also anti-microbial, so you can get a good few days wear out of them before they need a wash.
Buy Berghaus Galbella Leggings: From £25.52 at Amazon <<Best Deal>>
Buy Berghaus Galbella Leggings: £50 at Berghaus
Best walking trousers for travel and packing light
The North Face Exploration Convertible Trousers, £80
Why pack both trousers and shorts for a walking expedition when you could just take the Exploration? This well-made zip-off pant from The North Face is easy to convert from trousers to knee-length shorts on the go, and come in three neutral shades that you could easily dress up, so it’s ideal if you’re packing light on a hiking holiday and want one do-it-all bottom to wear daily. Short, regular, and long lengths are available.
Buy The North Face Exploration Convertible Trousers: £66.64 at Amazon <<Best Deal>>
Buy The North Face Exploration Convertible Trousers: £94.95 at Alpinetrek
Best hardwearing but comfortable walking trousers
Revolution Race RVRC GP Trousers, £85
Revolution Race shout about the versatility of their RVRC trousers, reckoning they work for ‘hiking, fishing, dog training, climbing, and sailing’. These hardwearing trousers are ideal for outdoorsy types who do more than just walking, and make a great quiver-of-one choice if you want to invest in just one pair of hardwearing trousers. Stretchy panels make the RVRC very comfortable as you move, and the knees are fitted with pockets for knee pads, which is handy when you’re camping or working outdoors.
Buy Revolution Race RVRC GP Trousers: £85 at Amazon
Best lightweight waterproof walking trousers
Montane Minimus Waterproof Trousers, £100
Minimal by name and nature, these light-as-a-feather waterproof walking trousers weigh in at just 130g, so you’ll barely feel them on. They’re designed specifically for trail runners and other fast-paced activities, and their light weight means they’re also perfect for backpacking and bike packing, packing down small into an included mesh bag for easy portability. Despite being so lightweight, they'll repel rain and wind brilliantly.
Buy Montane Minimus Waterproof Trousers: From £77.95 at Amazon <<Best Deal>>
Buy Montane Minimus Waterproof Trousers: £100 at Cotswold Outdoor
