The North Face Women's Aphrodite 2.0 Pant, Starting Starting at $31.48 on Amazon

We all know how difficult finding a perfect-fitting pair of pants can be, mainly because standard industry sizing often seems very out of touch with the sizes and shapes of actual human bodies.

The outdoor industry is no exception. For instance, according to the cut of the majority of hiking pants I’ve tried, I have inordinately large thighs (and behind) in proportion to my waist. Which I suppose makes sense, as I am a cyclist and have pretty developed muscles in that area - but you’d think more brands that specifically market to active people would take that into consideration.

Following is a list of some of the best hiking pants and shorts for women. All of these, I’ve tried myself but, as I am only one size of person, I also researched Amazon reviews. If you’re interested in other recommendations for great hiking apparel for different-sized people, check out some hiking Instagram accounts like @ashleyadventure, @unlikelyhikers, and @i_am_dragonsky.

KUHL Anika Convertible Soft-Shell Pants

Like so many clothing items I’ve found that work well for me, these specific hiking pants are no longer made – though I did find a pair for sale on eBay.

I love these pants because they are lightweight, quick-drying, and sun-protective (and they convert into shorts). As well as hiking and trekking in them, I also wear them when I don’t want to don a full-on rain pant while biking in stormy conditions.

They are similar in look, feel, and fabric content to the KUHL Splash Roll-Up Pant.

Columbia Saturday Trail II Convertible Pants

If you like the idea of convertible hiking pants, Columbia has a great, affordable option. These feature water and stain repellent fabric with SPF protection. They’re also available in a wide range of sizes. Some reviewers have complained that the leg zippers are too tight and dig into their thighs when sitting or crouching.

If you think this might be an issue for you, Columbia also manufactures the Saturday Trails sans knee zippers.

Fjallraven - Women's Nikka Curved Trousers

If you have the money to spend, these technical trekking pants by Fjallraven are worth the investment. I can attest that they are cut more generously in the thigh and rear regions than many others. I also appreciate the full-size pockets (with zippers) and the fabric reinforcements on the knees. They’re cut higher in the waist back which is great when carrying a backpack.

I also own a pair of Fjällräven Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers.

These have a gusseted crotch and zippered vents from thigh to knee. They’re also exceptionally water repellent. I wear these when the weather is especially humid or I know I’m going to be crossing rivers.

Northface Aphrodite 2.0 Women’s Pants

These are my favorite pull-on elastic waist hiking pants. The pockets are nothing to write home about (mainly because the front pockets don’t have zippers) but they are comfortable, soft, quick-drying, and lightweight.

I very rarely hike or trek in shorts, and especially not in forest or jungle terrain because, well, leeches (and other bugs).

I do like these Salomon shorts though because of all the secure zippered pockets (If you haven’t noticed, I think pockets are extremely important.) I’ve worn these while exploring new cities in hot weather and they look nice enough to wear into museums and restaurants while also being super comfortable. And they dry quickly if you happen to get caught in a freak, sudden, thunderstorm as happened to me while wandering around Dubrobnik. 

Though not quite as stellar in the pocket department as the Salomons, these Orvis shorts fit nicely and are stretchy and quick drying.

My absolute favorite hiking shorts are a pair of grey Icebreaker shorts that were discontinued years ago. I can’t even find what they were called. I own three pairs; two grey and one tan. They fit securely in the waist and have a loose fit everywhere else. The front pockets are a bit shallow (and unsecured) but the back have a snap and button closure. I wore these, along with a pair of cycling leg coolers (because, again: leeches) while trekking through the Borneo jungle. I wish I could buy more pairs of them.

The moral of this story is that if you find a pair of hiking pants and/or shorts you really love, buy a few pairs because they’ll probably be discontinued at some point.