7 Comfortable and Durable Hiking Pants for Curvy Women
Are you looking for durable hiking pants for curvy women? I’ve tried loads of women’s hiking pants, and it took me years to find ones that are durable and comfortable.
The hiking pants in this post have been trail-tested and are now staples in my hiking clothing closet — especially for backpacking and climbing 14’ers.
If you’ve struggled to find durable hiking pants for your curvy figure, you’re not alone. Sometimes it feels like outdoor clothing brands are making items that only fit a certain body type. Body-inclusive sizing is a new thing for a lot of brands, and it’s slowly making its way to outdoor clothing.
As a tall and curvy hiker, I needed pants that I could wear all day on the move without constant adjustments. I also didn’t want to have to wear a separate belt because that can get uncomfortable with backpack hip belts on backpacking trips.
➡️ Get my complete gear to bring backpacking checklist for women.
The durable hiking pants for curvy women in this post are the absolute most comfortable and best pants I’ve found.
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Guide to Durable Hiking Pants for Curvy Women
What Kind of Pants do You Wear For Hiking?
Ideally, you’ll wear durable, water-resistant pants that let you move and breathe. A quick-drying fabric is the best. Avoid heavy fabrics like denim that will take hours to dry if they get wet.
I don’t recommend leggings or yoga pants because they rip easily and aren’t weather-resistant. Unsurprisingly, I’ve gotten holes in leggings after just one hike. They can get caught on bushes, and sitting on a rock or log can effortlessly tear a hole.
After blowing through three pairs of leggings, I don’t wear them for hiking anymore. Hiking pants are much more durable, and I don’t fear getting a hole in them.
➡️ Be prepared for your next adventure with my day hike packing list.
Leggings For Hiking
Leave the leggings at home or, if you really love hiking in leggings, try to find a pair with reinforced panels and other special features. Here are two that I’ve owned that are comfortable and reliable:
- Women’s Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights HD
- These trekking tights are reinforced in the knees and seat. They also feature a drawstring on the inside of the waist. I’ve slid down rocks in these tights without getting any holes! The fabric is thick enough that I’ve worn these in late autumn, and they were fairly warm.
- REI Co-op Women’s Trailmade Tights
- Nylon panels on the front and back of these tights increase durability. You’ll find two deep pockets on the sides that are big enough to fit a phone. These tights are more lightweight compared to the Fjallraven ones mentioned above. If you’re looking for thin yet durable tights, these are the ticket.
All these pants in the picture fit about the same for me, even though I’ve got three different sizes and four different brands.
From the top down:
- Kuhl Women’s Freeflex Roll-Up Pants. Size 12 Regular.
- REI Co-op Women’s Sahara Convertible Pants. Size 14 Tall.
- Arc’teryx Women’s Gamma Pants. Size 14 Regular.
- Patagonia Women’s Point Peak Trail Pants. Size 16.
Sometimes a regular length is long enough, but other times I need a tall size if the fit is short.
Finding Durable Hiking Pants for Curvy Figures
It can be frustrating to find hiking pants that fit. Oftentimes, when you have a curvy figure, the waist is too large and the legs of the pants are too small. Discovering pants that accommodate a larger thigh-to-waist ratio is more difficult than it seems!
My advice: Get pants with a drawstring or built-in belt. You’ll be able to get the size you need to fit your hips, and then you can cinch down the waist so they don’t fall down.
Don’t worry about the size number, get what fits. I can wear three different sizes, and they all fit similarly. Sizing changes across brands. I find I need a larger size in Patagonia pants than I do in Kuhl pants.
Try on 2-3 sizes, and you might end up with a size you never thought would fit. Do squats in the fitting room and lift your knee high to simulate taking a big step up a rock. Stretch is just as important as fit when you need these pants to have unlimited mobility.
A note on length: I prefer my pants to fit over my hiking boots. It prevents sand and dirt from getting into my shoes, and water won’t run off the pants directly into my boots if it’s raining.
Keeping your socks clean and dry is critical to managing comfort on the trail. I’d recommend you get a pair of merino hiking socks. Trust me — you won’t ever want to go back to cotton socks.
➡️ Learn all about merino hiking clothes in my detailed post.
The Best Hiking Pants for Curvy Women (Trail-Tested)
Trail-tested pants that will fit your curves and get you outside. Whether I’m hiking a 14’er, backpacking, or having a casual day outdoors, I want to trust the durability of my pants.
- Patagonia Women’s Point Peak Trail Pants
- These pants have adjustable velcro straps at the waist to help you get the perfect fit, and you’ll find hooks at the cuffs to attach to your boots. The Point Peak Trail Pants are mid-weight pants.
- I’ve worn the Point Peak Trail Pants for hiking a few 14ers, and I never fear wearing a hole in the durable fabric.
➡️ Interested in hiking 14ers? Get essential tips in my beginner’s guide.
- Patagonia Women’s Terravia Peak Pants
- Features a removable belt and hooks at the pant cuffs to go over your boots. Some of the best hiking pants for short, curvy women, available in short sizes.
- I haven’t tried these pants myself, but the belt on them looks perfect for a curvy fit.
- Arc’teryx Women’s Gamma Pants
- Available in short, regular, and tall sizes. Arc’teryx Gamma Pants are one of the leading women’s hiking pants in tall sizes. They have a waist adjuster and drawstrings at the cuffs.
- I love the stretch in these pants, and after being adjusted, I don’t have to touch them again the rest of the day. These are great for cold weather hiking adventures.
Convertible Hiking Pants for Curvy Women
On backpacking trips, it is especially helpful to wear convertible pants. No need to pack a pair of shorts! Keeping your bag light will make for a more enjoyable trip — trust me.
One day might be hotter than the next, and there can be variability in the weather in a single day as well. I also love convertible pants for water crossings. I can zip off into shorts and not worry about getting soaked.
- REI Co-op Women’s Sahara Convertible Pants
- Sometimes you want to be able to convert your pants into shorts. These are some of the best women’s hiking pants for hot weather. They are lightweight and stretchy.
- I have these in a tall size and they perfectly fit over my hiking boots. Features an inside drawstring at the waist, and you can unzip part of the leg from the bottom (easy to roll up).
- Kuhl Women’s Freeflex Roll-Up Pants
- Although these pants don’t zip off into shorts, they roll up to create capris. Perfect for water crossings and hotter hiking days. A waist drawstring helps to dial the fit. Available in short, regular, and tall sizes. If you like more fitted hiking pants, these are great.
Why Buy Hiking Pants At REI
Try several pairs of pants to discover what you like best. Go out and hike in them! Sometimes the pants that fit when you tried them on at the store suddenly don’t feel the same on the trail — we’ve all been there.
REI has a fantastic return policy that allows you to return gently used gear within a year of purchase if you are an REI member. This policy has saved me a lot of hassle and money.
Hiking Pants for Curvy Women FAQs
What are the best hiking pants for curvy women?
The best hiking pants for curvy women have stretch, a higher rise, and waist adjusters or drawstrings to accommodate hips and thighs without gapping at the waist. Brands like Patagonia, Arc’teryx, REI, and Kuhl offer options that work well for curvier body types. See the options on this post.
Are leggings good for hiking if you’re curvy?
Leggings can work for casual hikes, but for rugged trails or backpacking, hiking pants are more durable and weather-resistant. Curvy hikers often find leggings wear out faster due to friction and lack of reinforced panels.
Should curvy women size up in hiking pants?
Sizing up is common for curvy hikers to accommodate thighs and hips. Look for pants with built-in waist adjusters so you can size for your lower body and fine-tune the waist.
