Lightweight, comfortable and stylish. Recommended 7+7 trekking pants for spring and summer climbing
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
7 recommended trekking pants to choose by silhouette
The days when a loose fit was necessary to ensure ease of movement are long gone. Now, thanks to polyurethane fiber (spandex), stretch has improved dramatically, and there are an increasing number of slim, stylish models that are both functional and slim. While this stretch fabric is not without its drawbacks, such as its durability deteriorating over time and its inability to be made thinner, it is likely to be increasingly adopted in the future, as it offers sufficient functionality depending on how it is used, as well as new possibilities for the enjoyment of wearing it, even in outdoor wear
Arc'teryx Lefroy Pants
The LEFROY Pants, a pair of trekking pants newly released for 2016, boast a particularly tight and stylish form among Arc'teryx's pants, yet they offer unrestrictive mobility. This is likely due to the fabric's blend of 14% stretch material (polyurethane) and the three-dimensional cut with a gusseted crotch. There are only three pockets, one on each side and one on one leg, but honestly, having too many pockets isn't much good. Anyway, I feel like I've been waiting for something like this
HAGLOFS DRACO PANT
Haglofs often produces clean, beautiful silhouettes, but the DRACO PANT is especially cool. If it weren't for the thigh pockets, these would definitely be my go-to pants for everyday wear. The slim silhouette is made possible by the highly stretchable softshell material (Bluesign certified). This pants also uses about 15% polyurethane material, giving it excellent stretch. While it's not as cool or breathable as the brand's Lite Cross Pant, which we introduced earlier, it makes up for that with its ease of movement, style, and durability
Millet Les Druis Xtreme Pants
Although functionally excellent, Millet pants often have a traditional shape from the past, and in that sense, there are many models that I personally find disappointing, but I finally found the perfect pair. The deciding factor was the overwhelmingly good silhouette that doesn't compromise on comfort. As you'd expect from a French-designed model, they are wonderfully contoured from the waist to the thighs, and anyone who wears them will definitely have longer legs. Of course, they're quite stretchy, so they're not too tight
But that's not all that's great about it. The fabric is a blend of Cordura nylon and Drynamic material, which is highly absorbent and quick-drying, making it lightweight yet highly durable and comfortable
Mountain Equipment Granite Bottom
I'm sorry to say that you shouldn't expect too much from this pair of pants in terms of functionality, but the design is so amazing that you might wonder, "Are these trekking pants?", and that alone makes it worth introducing here
Strictly speaking, this model is geared more towards bouldering than trekking, so in that sense it may not be ideal for long, arduous mountain climbs. Still, despite being tight, it seems to have all the basic functionality, such as ease of movement thanks to the three-dimensional cut and stretch material, breathability and quick-drying nylon fabric, and water-repellent treatment, so I don't think this comfort would be suitable for light hiking
Patagonia Tribune Pants
Patagonia has many excellent models that are slim, stylish, and highly functional, and this one is my favorite in terms of silhouette. Not only is it perfect for outdoor activities with its four-way stretch and three-dimensional shape, but its cotton-like feel makes it surprisingly suitable for everyday relaxed wear as well. It's a must-have item for everyone
Phenix Fine Slim Pants
Phoenix offers a wide range of fashionable models tailored to the Japanese body type, and the slimmest and most stylish of these is the Fine Slim Pants. Designed for climbing, the pants boast a beautiful silhouette, three-dimensional cut, and a gusseted crotch for excellent mobility. Furthermore, ventilation at the back of the waist, water-repellent mesh at the back of the belt, and other features make them perfect for trekking
THE NORTH FACE Accellite Pants
TNF has a wide lineup of pants, but for better or worse, many of them are loose-fitting models that resemble traditional Japanese mountaineering wear, or models that are extremely functional (even difficult to wear on the train on the way there), so to be honest they haven't really appealed to me personally, but this year is different
Part of the fastpacking lineup we're focusing on in 2016, these ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight softshell pants are perfect for spring and summer mountain climbing. They feature a tight silhouette and a sharp look with no visible seams, creating a fresh look. They're also highly stretchable, smooth and comfortable against the skin, quick-drying, and water-repellent, making them versatile enough for more than just mountain climbing. My only request would be for them to offer more waist and length sizes (unfortunately, they don't fit my body type)
Related reading
Comparison impressions: Trekking pants I'm glad I bought this year 2018
[2025FW] It looks easy but it's surprisingly difficult. The best trekking pants for autumn and winter and tips on how to choose them without regrets
We will announce the list of gears to be released at the mountain tool flea market held on November 13th.
You can climb snowy mountains and backcountry! 5+5 recommended hard shell pants