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The best kind of hikes are those that come with stunning views, interesting paths and gorgeous weather. But, even if you’ve got all of the above and more, nothing turns a good hike bad more than ill-fitting hiking gear.
Wearing leggings that don’t fit you properly? You’ll likely spend most of your time adjusting the waistband, pulling them up or stretching out the legs. Luckily, we’ve walked this path before and we’ve put together all of the best women’s leggings for hiking.
Walking shoes? Check. Beautiful views? Sorted. The perfect hiking leggings? You’re about to find them! Read on for our favorite pairs spanning all kinds of colors, lengths and sizes.
Patagonia Women’s Centered Tights
Patagonia’s Women’s Centered Tights are the perfect level of thickness to keep you warm enough on those early morning hikes but cool enough for the final stretch under the sunshine. Available in six different sizes and various colors, there’s enough variation to match all of the rest of your hiking gear. Patagonia’s one of the best when it comes to cool and casual hiking gear, and the stretchy, performance-forward, moisture-wicking material of these ones ensures you can always focus on the trail ahead, rather than adjusting your outfit. Bonus point: they’re also made from semi-recycled materials, with odor-controlling fabric that’s just as useful for the trek as it is for the planet.
The North Face Women's Paramount Hybrid High-Rise Tight
Outdoor veterans The North Face know what they’re doing when it comes to hiking clothes and the Women’s Paramount Hybrid High-Rise Tight promise just that. Not only are they seriously comfortable, they’re also pretty practical. A high rise design ensures they’re never falling down and a zip pocketing keeps all of your goods secure on the trail. There’s a heat transfer logo on the center back waistband to keep you cool from start to finish, paired with the brand’s hybrid fabric, which provides both durability and comfort. They’re specially designed for hiking but will also blend in well inside the gym or during everyday life.
Columbia Women’s River Tights
Columbia’s Women’s River Leggings come in five trail-friendly shades, which means if you’re someone who’d prefer a bit of color in your hiking gear, they’re the perfect answer. These flattering everyday leggings are suitable for casual hikes and accidentally-longer-than-anticipated adventures, thanks to their stretchy and moisture-wicking fabric. They’re a little thicker than normal leggings and have added sun protection to keep you covered. But that doesn’t mean to say they’re too thick for warm hikes. A pair designed specifically for hiking, they fall to a 7/8 length, so there’s no excuse not to pair them with your favorite hiking socks.
Eddie Bauer Women's Trail Tight Leggings
Eddie Bauer’s Trail Tight Leggings are a hiking essential: a pair you’ll wear casually for the first time and consider them a staple for all kinds of adventures from then on. Bringing together everything you could need in one pair of leggings, they come in four size ranges (regular, petite, tall and plus) and also a large range of colors. These leggings come with the added benefit of two drop-in cargo pockets and a secure zip vertical pocket for all of your essentials. Other impressive features include UPF 50+ sun protection, a figure-flattering high-rise style and a Power Mesh waistband that won’t inch down during activities. These were designed specifically for hiking and scrambling and more than justify their price tag.
lululemon Align High-Rise Pant 25"
Lululemon isn’t just restricted to yoga and workout gear. It’s also a great option for more heavy duty leggings that’ll prove their worthiness next time you’re hours into a hike or stopping to rest midway through a particularly strenuous climb. The Align HR Pant might have been designed for yoga but it’s great for hikes, too. Available in a huge range of colors and an almost as large number of sizes, these leggings are just as weightless as they are soft. You’d probably opt for these during the summer months on trails with less diversity on the path. But they’re a comfortable choice with a small, hidden pocket in the waistband and moisture-wicking enough to keep you feeling good.
Danskin Zip Pocket Legging
Danskin’s Zip Pocket Legging is simultaneously flattering and versatile, designed in a shape and style that’s doubly reinforced for a smooth silhouette. That’s also something that comes in useful when it comes to hiking, particularly thanks to that reinforced ultra-high waistband that keeps you feeling secure the whole way through and four-way stretch fabric for all kinds of trails. Though these leggings may look pretty standard, they come with hidden pockets, which means your keys, headphones and any other essentials always have a place for hands-free climbing. They come in four different muted shaded and a range of sizes.
Helly Hansen W Myra Leggings
Helly Hansen’s W Myra Leggings were designed to be multifunctional, which makes them a great addition to your wardrobe not just for hikes but also for other workouts and everyday occasions. Packing a punch into a relaxing style, these leggings were designed with input from active women, including two side-slit pockets big enough for all essentials, a lightweight design that keeps you feeling cool and soft brushed knit fabric for comfort purposes. Don’t be fooled by the lightweight design, though, these leggings are more than suitable for camping and trekking as well as hiking, with material that somehow keeps you warm and cool at the same time.
Adidas Women’s Loungewear Trefoil Tights
Go faster stripes might not actually be a real thing but you’ll feel almost like they’re real when you’re hiking in the Adidas Women’s Loungewear Trefoil Tights. Just as stylish as they are practical, these leggings lean on the thicker side, which means they’re a brilliant option for hikes during cooler weather or adventures where you may find yourself walking through high grasses or heavily wooded areas. Basically, if you think you’re at risk of scratched legs on your journey, these are a way forward to avoid just that. The signature three stripe design comes complete with a full-length leg, made of soft, stretchy jersey and a budget friendly price tag.
Under Armour Women's Speedpocket 7/8 Tights
The Women’s UA Speedpocket 7/8 Tights were designed for running, which makes them more than suitable for hiking without ever having to adjust them mid-stroll. One of the main attractions of these leggings is the adjustable pocket, which expands to hold even the largest of large phones while you’re adventuring. This expansion does the job to keep your phone secure, without any kind of bouncing around on the move. Other great features include the water resistant material, moisture-wicking fabric with four-way stretch, and laser perforations for added ventilation. Oh, and they’re pretty stylish too.
New Balance Impact Run Crop
These cropped leggings were designed with the outdoors in mind, right through from their mid-waist rise through to the ventilated patches on the thighs. A top choice for hikes in warmer conditions, the Impact Run Crop comes with two drop-in side pockets and a back zip pocket for storage. This pair also has reflective details, adding to your safety on evening time hikes. A fitted silhouette comes designed to feel suitably snug at the hip and thigh without waving goodbye to a full range of motion. There’s no excess fabric of fear of snagging on nearby trees or bushes.
Sweaty Betty Eco Therma Running Leggings
Sweaty Betty is one of the best in the game when it comes to hiking leggings for women, even if they’re not usually advertised as just that. This is a brand that never waves goodbye to quality fabric, which is why you’ll buy a pair for the gym, wear them for hikes and realize they’re just as thick and durable months after consistent wear. The Eco Therma Running Leggings come in navy blue or black, in a fabric that’s water resistant, sustainable and reflective all at once.
Brooks Running Momentum Thermal Tight
The Momentum Thermal Tight was definitely designed with momentum in mind: these thicker leggings will withstand any kind of climates, leaving you free to hike first thing in the cool mornings or in any kind of cold weather. They’re thermal leggings but created in a way to maximize warmth without foregoing comfort of freedom of movement. Known as the warmest tights created by the brand, these ones will be just as practical on their own as they will for layering in seriously cold climates. They make tackling mountains a breeze – metaphorically, not literally.
ASOS 4505 Legging In Rib With Stirrup Detail
Fashion forward ASOS is a great choice for all kinds of workout gear and the brand’s own workout and fitness line is a brilliant option for budget friendly additions to your wardrobe. Fashion and function go hand in hand when you’re wearing the 4505 legging in rib with stirrup detail, which keeps your legs cozy from start to finish using that stirrup detail. If you’re hiking in cooler weather, you’ll likely warm to this pair thanks to its thicker, without being bulky, fabric and high rise design.
Asics Thermopolis Winter Tight
These leggings were built from Asics’ signature Thermopolis fabric, which keeps you from letting a little bit of cool weather hold you back. Wear these on the mornings when the outdoor weather just looks a little bit too scary, for a lightweight and flexible addition to your outfit that keeps you a good temperature without feeling too heavy. A secret weapon for cold hikes, these winter leggings come in a high rise style and reach down to the ankles.
On Running Tights Long
On Running knows what’s what when it comes to running gear. And that expertise extends itself to hiking, too. While they might not be the most budget friendly leggings on the market, they’re built to last. They also come with some pretty specific additions to keep you feeling your best, like protective inserts above the knee to add extra warmth where you need it most and subtle buttons for layering purposes. They’re made with sustainability in mind, too. Warm enough for cool days, but light enough for in-between seasons, they have pockets, ankle zippers and adjustable waistbands to tick all the boxes and then some.
