Hiking

Image by Dru! via Flickr

Hikers Travel, and Travelers Take a Hike . . .

so a pair of pants which is great for hiking and traveling is just common sense really! Hiking and travel pants have to be great for all outdoor activities, and fortunately there are some pants which fit the bill perfectly.

What To Look For In Great Hiking & Travel Pants

If you’re “in the market” for a new pair of pants which will be great for when you get to the trail head to start your hike, as well as traveling in the car for hours on end (even if you’re not traveling to a hike) then there are a few necessities which you need to watch out for.

• Active people need active pants . . . pants which can live up to the stresses and strains which they are undoubtedly going to come across as you go about your “normal” activities.
• Hiking & travel pants which are quick drying are a great bonus, not only for when you get caught out in the inevitable rain shower along the trail or have to cross a “small stream” (that’s what they call it on the trail guide) which is actually almost waist deep, but for when you fall in the mud . . . spill your beer . . .  and need to do a quick washing job on your travel pants but need them to be dry by morning.
• Hiking and traveling pants need to be made of nice peachy material so that it’s nice and soft on your skin, chaffing can seriously hinder your hiking capabilities, (the only possible positive is if you have somebody nice to rub in the lotion for you). Anyway, peachy fabrics keep you comfortable, even if your travel pants have got a little bit soggy along the way, but of course, if you’ve taken notice of the hiking pants tip above it won’t take them long to dry out.
• Travel and backpacking pants need to fit properly. We’re not only talking about buying hiking pants which are actually big enough for you . . . I don’t care what size you were last year darling, if you can’t breathe when you fasten the waistband they’re definitely no good . . . but they also need to have plenty of room for movement. You need plenty of room to move your legs and around the gusset area to stop chaffing (see, we’re back to the hiking tip above now). Are you beginning to see how all of these hiking pants tips kind of merge together?
  

  Image by brewbooks via Flickr

   

• Hiking & Travel pants which have extra UVA protection are a bonus. Some fabrics can provide extra protection against these harmful rays.
• Hiking pants need zippered pockets for your important bits and pieces. Some travel and hiking pants have those cargo pockets on the outer of the legs too . . . great for stashing your sandwiches when you’re traveling and trail maps when you’re hiking.
• Travel pants need to be comfortable for walking, but also for sitting. You also need to make sure that the pockets in your travel pants are designed so that your things don’t fall out of them when you’re sitting down.
• Convertible Hiking & Travel Pants are great for people who like that little extra flexibility. It’s a pair of pants . . . . no, it’s a pair of hiking shorts . . . . now it’s hiking pants again.

I forgot all about Thermal Equilibrium (mainly because I can’t spell it).