As an avid hiker (see all my hiking guides), I’ve learned that having the right gear can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying the trail. And for me, one essential piece of gear is a good pair of hiking leggings.
While some hikers prefer to wear pants or shorts and some people even say you shouldn’t wear leggings for hiking, I pretty much always hike in leggings because they’re comfortable, flexible, and versatile.
Plus, since I already own them for other activities like yoga and running, they’re an easy choice for me. I’ll occasionally wear some hiking pants (these ones) but the majority of the time I’m in leggings when hiking.
But not all leggings are created equal when it comes to hiking in leggings.
As someone who’s spent plenty of time on the trails, I’ve learned the hard way that not all leggings are up to the challenge of a rigorous hike. That’s why I’ve spent countless hours researching, testing, and reviewing different brands and styles of leggings to find the best options for leggings for women who love to hike.
In this blog post, I’m excited to share my top picks for the best women’s hiking leggings. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just starting out, these leggings will help you stay comfortable, dry, and supported on the trail.
From durable materials to moisture-wicking technology, these leggings have all the features you need to tackle even the toughest hikes with ease.
Whether you’re planning a day hike or a multi-day backpacking trip, be sure to check out my recommendations for the best women’s hiking leggings.
With the right pair of leggings for hiking, you can focus on enjoying the beauty of nature and the challenge of the trail, without worrying about uncomfortable or ill-fitting gear!
Wondering what to wear if you go hiking in warm weather? Here’s my ultimate guide
The Best Leggings for Hiking List
| Fjallraven (Abisko Trail Tights) | Patagonia (Pack Out Tights) | Arc’teryx (Essent Leggings) | Eddie Bauer (Women’s Trail Tights) | The North Face (Movmynt Tights) |
| Price: US$120/ £120 | Price: US$89/ £75 | Price: US$120/ £100 | Price: US$90/ £30-40 | Price: US$85/ £70 |
| Fit: High-Rise, 7/8 leggings length | Fit: 29″ inseam, mid-rise waist | Fit: Full-length, 28″ inseam | Fit: High-rise, available in tall, petit, plus. 28″ inseam | Fit: high-rise, 27.6″ inseam |
| Details: Contains recycled materials, 2 side pockets | Details: Made from recycled materials, leg pockets | Details: Thigh pockets, moisture-wicking | Details: Loads of colours, 3 pockets, odour & SPF protection | Details: UPF 40, high-rise, thigh pocket, reflective details, moisture-wicking |
| Why we like them: Technical gear in nice colours & more affordable than some options | Why we like them: Patagonia has great sustainability credentials and they’re my usual go-to for gear | Why we like them: Durable and great for movement | Why we like them: Loads of colours, good price (especially when on sale!) | Why we like them: Good price, comfortable and great features useful for hiking |
Leggings for Hiking in Cold Weather
| Under Armor Leggings (Amazon Leggings) | Lululemon (Fast & Free – brushed Nulux) |
| Price: US$55/ £25-£40 | Price: US$128/£118 |
| Fit: High-rise, compression leggings for hiking | Fit: High-rise, multiple lengths |
| Details: HeatGear for added warm, pocket | Details: Lightweight, sweat-wicking, fast-drying, pockets, waistband drawstring, fleece |
| Why: Cheapest on the list, will keep you warm if wearing hiking leggings in winter | Why: Good quality, great for standard workouts as well as hiking, lots of colour options |
In addition, Costco sells some pretty good fleece-lined leggings in winter that I’ve used the past few years as leggings for winter hiking and x-country skiing. They’re actually the warmest leggings for hiking I’ve found so far.
More information on Hiking Leggings for Women
Below you’ll find further details on all of the hiking and walking leggings and tights listed above.
Fjallraven – Abisko Trail Tights for Hiking
The Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights (women’s) are amongst the popular women’s hiking leggings with pockets available.
They’re well known to be comfortable, durable good for mobility, and have some big pockets for your phone (or more importantly, snacks!). The reinforced knees and butt area make them great for hikes as these areas tend to be the first to rip if you’re scrambling and hiking past bushes and branches.
These are almost the most expensive on the list but they’re cheaper than most hiking pants they can easily be $200+. They’re not waterproof but they do have some DWR (durable water repellency) making them the most waterproof walking leggings on this list.
If you need more resistance while hiking in the rain, you can chuck some waterproof pants over the top of them.
The material on these is quite thick which makes them warm leggings for hiking, so they’re better as leggings for hiking in winter.
Patagonia – Pack Out Tights
Patagonia is one of my favourite outdoor brands. I like the way they fit me and their sustainability commitments are one of the best in the outdoors sector.
The Patagonia Pack Out Tights are versatile and super durable as well as comfortable. Whether you’re looking for leggings for hiking, rock climbing, or scrambling, these hiking leggings will see you through.
If you live in a hot climate, these tights might not be for you as they don’t have a whole lot of breathability.
However, if you live in the PNW or somewhere else with a similar climate, then they’ll work great on dry days. Rainy days will need some extra waterproofing clothes.
On thiese walking tights there is a side pocket on each leg and a small zippered pocket along the hip and they come in several colour options.
Arc’teryx – Essent Leggings
The Arc’teryx Essent High-Rise Legging 28″ are tough, durable, and designed for serious freedom of movement, making them the ideal choice for any outdoor excursion.
These leggings are highly abrasion-resistant, breathable, and have excellent stretch, providing great comfort and support during even the longest hikes.
The wide, high-rise stretch-mesh waistband wicks moisture and fits comfortably, ensuring that you stay cool and dry and there are 2 thigh pockets so you can keep your essentials close.
They’re not cheap, but the Essent High-Rise Legging 28″ this one of the best pairs of leggings on this list for comfort, durability, and performance on your next hike.
Eddie Bauer – Women’s Trail Tights
I always thought Eddie Bauer was for older men but I was wrong (or they’ve just got a lot better in recent years!).
Eddie Bauer’s women’s trail tights are one of the best leggings for hiking year-round thanks to their moisture-wicking, odour control and sun protection qualities.
These also rank as one of the best leggings for hiking year-round.
These leggings for hiking also have some pockets, including a side one and are supportive. They stay in place even if you’re backpacking and, as with all leggings, allow for mobility which can be key on steeper hikes!
The North Face – Movmynt Leggings
If you’re a fitness enthusiast looking for leggings that can keep up with your active lifestyle, look no further than the Women’s Movmynt Leggings by The North Face.
These leggings offer the perfect combination of sweat-wicking and stretch comfort, making them ideal for running and hiking.
The high-rise waist ensures the leggings stay firmly in place while you move, while the handy thigh pocket keeps your phone secure. The reflective details ensure you’ll be seen even during Alpine Starts or sunset hikes.
These leggings are also made with partly recycled materials, making them more sustainable. They have FlashDry, moisture-wicking technology, and also offer UV protection if you’re hiking in hot sunny weather.
They’re a great option for the best leggings UK since they’re the cheapest and still durable!
Best Cold Weather Hiking Leggings
These warm hiking leggings will help you stay cosy when hiking in the cold.
Under Armor HeatGear Leggings
HeatGear is Under Armor’s original performance base layer to help keep you warm as thermal walking leggings.
These thermal hiking leggings are designed to be for workouts so will be sweat-wicking when you’re out on a hike and are made to stretch too.
This particular pair has compression, and anti-odour properties and is breathable too. They also get great reviews.
Lululemon Fast & Free Leggings (Brushed Nulux/fleece if looking for winter leggings)
Some people are very against the idea of using Lululemon for hiking but they’re what I hike in the most often. They’re amongst the most popular activewear leggings for women for a reason!
Sure, Lululemon Align isn’t great for hiking but other items such as Fast and Free leggings definitely can be. Let’s be honest, I pretty much live in leggings whether I hike or not, and Fast and Free are one of the pairs I own.
Fast and Free are made for running which means they’re sweat-wicking, lightweight and have a drawstring in the waistband so you can adjust them slightly to stay up.
The downside is that they’re a bit easier to rip than some of the reinforced pairs of hiking leggings on this list. I’ve not had issues with it before, and they’re a lot more durable than the Align leggings by Lululemon, but something to bear in mind.
Wondering ‘what does brushed nulux mean?’ Nulux is a type of fabric Lululemon use that adds a bit of extra warmth to your leggings. It’s abit like a thin fleece and on the UK website they actually refer to as fleece more often than not. If you see ‘brushed Nulux’ on their website, you can expect these leggings to be thicker and warmer.
What else to consider about hiking leggings?
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to hiking leggings. So while I can share my top picks, the best thing to do is to try some on yourself. When you’re out shopping for leggings to hike in, consider the following to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck!
Price of hiking leggings
Hiking leggings can be expensive but there’s no reason you need to have specific leggings for hiking.
Wear whatever you’ve got and if you get to the point where you find you’re hiking a lot and your current leggings just aren’t doing what you want anymore, then you can upgrade and get something more hiking specific.
Ladies walking leggings come in such a wide price range and the most expensive isn’t always the best. Sometimes you really are just paying for a brand name.
Comfort
Comfort is the number one thing for me when it comes to hiking pants and walking leggings women can wear.
If they’re too tight, falling down or uncomfortable in some other way it’s just going to make your hiking experience miserable – and that’s no fun!
The reason lots of people opt for leggings over pants when hiking is that they’re comfortable, but some are still more comfortable than others. That’s one of the reasons I opt more for leggings meant for working out as they tend to be more stretchy and moveable than some of the others.
Pockets
Having pockets in your leggings makes things so much easier! They’re great for slipping your phone into, storing a snack bar, or keeping some lip chap in.
I use my phone a lot to take photos when hiking and being able to keep it in the pocket of my hiking tights means I’ve got super easy access without having to take my backpack off or zip/unzip things.
Durability
While hiking pants are still going to be more durable than pants, hiking leggings can also be durable.
If durability is most important to you (perhaps you’re hiking past brambles a lot or doing scrambles), then the Fjallraven Abisko or Arc’teryx tights are probably going to be the best ones for you due to the reinforcement and special materials they use.
Moveability
Leggings are great for mobility since they’re stretchy. The best ones for this are leggings high in nylon or elastane such as the Lululemon and Arc’teryx pants.
Looking for a pair with a gusset (rather than just a seam) will give you extra mobility around the leg/groin area – great for if you’re climbing steep sections.
Drying & Breathability
The best womens walking leggings are breathable.
Breathable leggings are super important, especially when it comes to what to wear hiking in the summer or in warmer climates.
If you’ve got leggings you workout in, or run in regularly, then the chances are these leggings will work well for hiking too.
Some leggings for hiking will be more breathable than others and I’ve noted where this is the case above.
Warmth
If you live or are hiking in cold temperatures then the warmth is going to be an important factor to consider. I’ve had luck with fleece-lined walking leggings and the nulux brushed leggings from Lululemon. They’re both good options for winter walking leggings.
However, if you’re hiking in snow regularly you’re probably still best to opt for some hiking pants that offer more weather resistance and then add a base layer underneath them.
Waistband / Fit
I always opt for high-rise but I know not everyone is a fan! If you don’t like high-rise make sure you get some mid-rise hiking leggings so that you’re more comfortable.
Can you go hiking in yoga pants?
Yes! You most definitely can and don’t let people tell you otherwise. Sure, they may get wet if you get sweaty and they might rip on brambles of rocks but you most definitely can wear them.
You don’t need super expensive gear in order to get out hiking.
I’ll still wear yoga pants for hiking as that’s what I own the most of because they’re comfortable. They dry quickly enough if you hang them up in the evenings too.
Overview of the Best Hiking Leggings
These are just some of my top picks for hiking leggings and there are plenty more out there. If you find some that work for you stick to them! It’s not essential to have a name brand and some of my favourites are just a pair of thermal leggings for hiking from Costco.
If you’re wondering what else you need for hiking, besides good quality leggings, check out the following posts:
- What to pack for day hiking
- 10 Essentials for every hiking trip
- Essential backpacking toiletries
- What to wear hiking in summer
- What to wear on hiking dates
- What to wear hiking in hot weather
FAQs about the best womens hiking leggings
What are the best leggings for walking?
The best leggings for walking are the ones you feel most comfortable in. In addition, they should be moisture-wicking so you don’t just end up in a pair of sweaty leggings that’ll make you feel cold. Other good features include a pocket for your phone, and reinforced knees to prevent rips and tears.
What are the best leggings for walking?
The best womens hiking leggings in my opinion are those by Patagonia or Lululemon. While I wouldn’t wear a brand new pair of Lululemons on a hike (for fear they’ll get damaged or dirty beyond washing!), I would wear Patagonia’s as they’re more designed for hikig.
Can you wear leggings when hiking?
Aboslutely! Some people are a bit snobby when it comes to this and will say you can’t, but you absolutely can and it’s what many women wear when hiking. When it comes to hiking leggings women can wear, make sure they’re something durable and have moisture-wicking qualities.
Last Updated on June 9, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
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