Backpacking Pants

[goathunter]

Does anyone have summer, late June - late July backpacking pant recommendations? I don't mind zipoffs. Could be hunting brand but don't have to be

 

[Live_weighT34]

I’ve been impressed with the Black Ovis granite peak pants. Prana Zions are great as well but Black Ovis is at least a pro hunting company. Both the BO and Zions are similar priced if you buy on sales.

 

[SloppyJ]

I'm a huge fan of the Columbia fishing pants. That or the sitka ascent stuff. Not sure your temps but here it could be over 100 so they have to be super light.

 

[Austink47]

Prana zions are my go to. I don’t have a but and the integrated belt works well under my pack belt. They also dry reasonably fast and are a good balance of durability cool / light weight.

 

[BBob]

Kuiu Tiburon

 

[Smokey Bear]

I’ve been very happy with my Kuiu Kutana stretch woven pants. They were good with the heat and also dry quickly.

 

[grappling_hook]

Kuhl Renegade Rock

Fjallraven Keb Agile

Eddie Bauer First Ascent

 

[2ski]

Rei trailmade pants. I bought some at a discount in late summer and I've been wearing this winter too. They're lightweight and dry fast but they block some breeze too. I think they change the material to more of a 4 way stretch and have no experience with the new ones.

 

[Poser]

I prefer the Kuiu Tiburon. First Lite Trace is pretty good, too.

 

[xcutter]

Pana Brion Pant and the Sitka Traverse Pant. I like the Kuiu Tiburon but the legs are a little tight for my liking.

 

[justinspicher]

I use a few from Patagonia and I’ve used OR, Mountain Hardware and Pranas in the past. Lately I’ve just been wearing Levi’s.

 

[The_Jim]

Prana zions are great. I use them through the fall.

 

[taskswap]

Lots of good options here. If you want a cheap (but very decent) option, Walmart sells the Wrangler "Outdoor Performance Zip Cargo Pant". Despite the zip in the name, they're not zip-offs. They just have two thigh-level pockets with zip closures. It's the perfect position for a cell phone, right at your fingertips and out of the way of a pack hip belt and other things you might be carrying. They're flexible and comfortable, fast-drying, and make almost no noise as you walk. Currently $27ea. I'm a fan of the darker khaki/olive colors which work well for me for both hiking and hunting.

 

[ColPenguin]

Just throw on a pair of polyester or cotton gym shorts and go hiking. Unless you're trailblazing or bushwhacking then you don't need to overthink this and put on heavyweight brush pants or softshell pants for walking with a load in summer.

A pair of nylon soccer shorts are ideal for ultralight summer backpacking. They weigh nothing, allow ventilation, and dry quickly. It's an athletic activity, wear simple and cheap athletic apparel.

You do not need to drop $60-70 on a pair of softshell pants to go walk in the woods.

 

[brca005]

To piggy back off the shorts idea, I agree on that! Unless there’s a need for pants, shorts would be the way to go.

I look on Poshmark quite often for pants and shorts, you can find a lot of the stuff listed at a fraction of the price and generally in very good condition. I think Poshmark is an underrated place to look for clothes and if you’re patient, you can find just about any pair of pants or shorts you want.

I recently picked up 2 pairs of Kuhl shorts (for hiking, camping and general wear) off Poshmark for $60, which is less than what they go for new.

I’ll also second the Black Ovis Granite Peak pants, they’re a great pair of pants (also got off Poshmark for $40 in like new condition), I’ve been thoroughly impressed with them, light enough for summer use but heavy/warm enough to be used when temps get down to freezing.

 

[TaperPin]

Wear just about anything you like. Wyoming and Colorado often have a healthy mosquito population so I generally have full pants. If it’s really warm I’ll wear shorts, but pack extra bug spray.

There are more synthetic or synthetic blend pants than ever. Athletic department will have everything from baggy yoga pants, track pants, baggy running pants, light weight fleece etc. Work pants departments are full of comfortable models cut tight like skinny jeans to baggy like BDUs. Work pants have transitioned into some high dollar designer brands. REI will have a bunch of pants of all kinds. I’ve even seen polyester loose weave PJs at old navy that would be really comfortable to hike in.

My favorite cut is just a loose jean-weight material with pockets that are deep enough to not have things fall out. Single layer Carhartt or Forest Service work pants (cotton blend not arimid fire pants) are ideal to me - mosquitos have to work at it to get through, they don’t collect large amounts of dust like an open weave fabric, and I like the color.

 

[TaperPin]

If you’re unfamiliar with an area, googling hiker photos for that area and time of year will give you a good idea of what works well.

 

[dfish]

Another vote for prana zions. Have also found the kuhl convertible pants to be pretty nice, as they are a zip off bottom leg.

 

[fngTony]

I’m not completely sold on using shorts. Sun, bugs, poison ivy, brush, wind are why many wear a legging under them. Budget options I vote for any of the various wranglers that stretch or the flavor of the week at Costco. If you want to drop some coin then Tiburon or Kutana (depending on how hot it is).

 

[grappling_hook]

Shorts are fine for going on a hike, but this question was about backpacking, not hiking or rucking, etc. That generally means a multi-day trek sleeping in a different location each night. Pants are important imo unless you have some area-specific geography/trails/weather to not need them. Otherwise I think bringing shorts as one of your items is great, weather/terrain permitting.