What are hiking pants? Hiking pants are a type of outdoor clothing that converts to hiking shorts using a zipper. When hiking, comfort is one of the most important things for you to consider. You need to...
When hiking, comfort is one of the most important things for you to consider. You need to be comfortable in your surroundings, and comfortable in your clothes. If you are planning a week long hiking trip, you will want to know what types of clothes are best for long backpacking trips. If you are planning to hike in a diverse terrain, you'll want to bring clothes that will keep you cool during the day and warm at night. Dan Distasio, an expert on hiking tours and adventure tours, shares his expert knowledge of hiking clothes in this article.
Distasio informs us that "the most common hiking pants are the nylon ones with multiple pockets and zip-off pant legs that convert into shorts."
There are many qualities that make great hiking pants. The most important quality is their ability to dry quickly. Whether you fall in a river, or stomp through puddles, you want the wetness to dry off before you begin to hike again. You also want pants that are going to repel perspiration. You don't want pants that are going to stay wet like cotton or wool. They will get very dirty and stiff and this just leads to trouble in the form of chaffing.
"People love natural fibers, but the high-tech fibers are much better suited to outdoor activities," Distasio thusly states.
You can find clothes like these at any recreational outfitters or online at such sites as www.rei.com or even www.backcountry.com. The advantage to buying pants in store is obviously going to be the selection and actually trying on the pants before you buy them.
If you are going to be hiking in more severe climates, like a desert or snow capped mountain, you'll need to be more specific on your type of pant. For example, hiking in the desert, you'll want pants that are going to repel sand and keep you cool during the day. Light color pants are going to reflect the sun during the day and keep you cooler.
You'll also want pants that will keep you warm at night, because temperatures drop quickly after the sun goes down in the desert. This is where the common convertible pants/shorts are handy. You can zip the bottoms of the pant legs off during the day for shorts, and then at night reattach the pant legs for warmth.
When adventuring into colder climates, you'll want hiking pants in different layers. First of all, you'll need a thermal underwear layer that is responsible for warmth. You may also want a layer of tights. These are another form of the first layer. They are responsible for warmth and also are great for moisture extracting and support.
On top of these layers you may want to check out insulation pants in the form of fleece or other insulating fabrics. The main function of these pants is to provide warmth. On top of these you'll want to wear pants that are waterproof and breathable.
If you don't want to wear all the layers associated with hiking in snow or colder weather, you can always opt for a pair of mountaineering pants. These are what you would use if you were planning to climb extremely high, snow covered mountains. They resemble sleeping bags because they are often puffy, but are great for insulation.
