The best hiking pants

• The best hiking pants offer a blend of comfort and durability, able to keep pace no matter if you're out for a short day hike or a multi-day backpacking trip.
• You'll also want your hiking pants to wick away sweat, moisture, and precipitation, to keep you cool in warm weather, and to hold up to whatever scratches and scrapes the trail might throw at you.
• Our top pick, the Mountain Hardwear AP Pant, offers wearers a fit that stays comfortable over several miles, a style that looks as good on the trail as it does in the office, and a price tag that won't break the bank.

Comfort makes or breaks a hiking trip and being comfortable on the trail starts with the type of pants you choose to wear. Novices may think it's fine to throw on a pair of jeans or their favorite sweatpants before setting out, though they'll quickly realize the mistake they've made. Instead, a proper pair of hiking pants helps make any hiking trip, however long, a more enjoyable experience.

But not every hiking pant is good for all conditions or every type of terrain. Where and how you plan to hike determines the style of pant you'll want to buy. Areas with large elevation changes may fluctuate between warm and cool, so a pair of convertible zip-off pants are best for managing your own body temperature. Additionally, hikes in heavily wooded areas create an opportunity for a branch to snag, or tear, your gear. For trips like these, a durable pant is vital.

With so many outdoor brands offering their own take on a hiking pant, the market is flooded with options. And since there isn't a true "one-hiking-pant-fits-all," it's important to find a pair that supports your specific brand of hiking. To help, we tested a wide range of hiking pants from brands like Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, and Fjällräven, to find the industry's best. Here are our favorite hiking pants currently available.

• Best hiking pants overall: Mountain Hardwear AP Pant
• Best hiking pants for durability: Fjällräven Abisko Lite Trekking Trouser
• Best water-resistant hiking pants: Prana Stretch Zion Pant
• Best hiking pants for hot weather: REI Co-op Sahara Roll-Up Pant
• Best zip-off hiking pants: Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pant

Updated on 4/16/2020 by Rick Stella: Updated each pick to reflect changes in 2020, included information on why hiking pants are worth investing in, and updated prices, formatting, and links. Testing is currently underway on new models for an upcoming update.