How to Choose Hiking Pants

Inspired by outdoor pursuits, the do-it-all men's Hardwear AP Active Crossover pants from Mountain Hardwear combine performance and durability for your trips to town, work or the mountains.
Imported.
View all Mountain Hardwear Men's Hiking PantsBest Use | Hiking |
---|---|
Fabric | Durable stretch woven 97% nylon/3% elastane |
Moisture Wicking | Yes |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Pant Fit | Standard |
Pant Leg Style | Straight |
Inseam (in.) | 30 inches |
Gender | Men's |
Weight | Unavailable |
S | M | L | XL | XXL | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chest | 36-38 | 39-40 | 41-43 | 44-46 | 48-51 | ||||||||||
Sleeve Length | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | ||||||||||
Waist | 29-31 | 32-33 | 34-36 | 37-39 | 41-43 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 |
Hip | 36-38 | 38-40 | 41-43 | 44-46 | 48-50 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 47 | 49 |
Measurements are stated in inches.
SHORT: 30 inch inseam.
REGULAR: 32 inch inseam.
TALL: 34 inch inseam.
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I used these pants this winter and spring for working at a mountain resort doing snow removal and used them in a casual setting for working as a concierge. It was nice to have the double knee and nylon material for working in the snow. They were versatile in that I was able to put a thermal layer under them without being too bulky. I’m in and out of buildings and vehicles all day so the possibility to overheat with traditional snow pants for work can be very uncomfortable. The cut of the pants made it easy to either put the leg hem over or inside my boots depending on work that I’m doing. Half of my day is spent outside driving to properties removing snow and the other half removing trash to a compactor and it can get pretty hot inside of the buildings I work in. These pants made that transition easier. The zipper pocket made it easy to hold a small portable radio. The downside was that there weren’t any loops to put my work keys on so the carabiner had to go directly on the pant material. The drawstring and elastic are nice and have never failed. The pant pockets are made of sturdy mesh material that will be nice for all the dirt I get in my pockets in the summer when I am backpacking. I have washed these pants numerous times and haven’t had any problems putting them in a mixed load and occasionally put them in the dryer. The only wear that I have seen is on the pocket and some of the stitching on the double knee. Overall I’d say these are high quality hiking/work pants.
I wear a lot of athleisure from pretty much every brand that REI sells and more. My collection of technical pants range from various categories, like something for lounging, for the office, for the gym, or for traveling. There are certain criteria that I think a good proper pair of athleisure pants should have. The biggest is fit. I think these pants nail it in this department. I like my pants on a bit fitted / slim side so it's nice to see how these pants hug my calves. However, the biggest gripe I have with these pants are that they don't have a belt loop. This means that I have to rely on the drawstring cord to tighten my pants which feels incredibly awkward especially if you're trying to lose weight and you notice a bit of slack on the tummy. Also if you're a bit shorter or much taller than 5'10", the lack of inseam choices might leave a bit to be desired. Function I think these pants also nail it. I hate how some pants that I own from very expensive brands don't have a zipper pocket. Due to the stretchy-ness of the fabric, it's super easy for things like your phone to fall out when you're getting into your car. I like how these pants have two zipper pockets to prevent this from happening. I also like how stretchy the fabric is, so when you're doing those squats at the gym or lunges on the trail, the fabric moves with you. My use cases for these pants are probably office and traveling. I can definitely see myself bringing this along for my upcoming trip to Japan just due to how quickly it dries and how it can look good like a pair of khakis but perform like a pair of sweatpants.
I wore these pants in Massachusetts on a few hikes in late winter. The pants are very comfortable and spacious enough to wear long underwear underneath without being too baggy. They were lightweight and flexible. What made these pants 4 stars not 5: In addition to the standard button and zipper, there is string used for tightening around the waist. The string needs to be tied inside the pants; I found it not very convenient at first, but I got used to it after a few uses. I would have preferred external tightening mechanism.
These pants are very comfortable and can be worn both during hikes or snow shoeing as well as around town casually. I love that they have a secure string around the waste that the wearer can cinch up, eliminating the need for a belt. The cuffs of the pants slide securely over my boots minimizing the need for gators. I wore them on quite a few hikes and in various temperatures from below 30 to high 50s (F) and was impressed by the resistance to wind and cold. On only one occasion did I have to wear a thermal underwear base for added warmth. Full range of motion is provided given the material they are made from. My only gripe and wish that ultimately lead to 4 out of 5 stars is I wish the pockets were slightly deeper. All in all though I would purchase this product.
These pants took a little longer to test to give an honest assessment. For day to day activities, whether it is a causal city stroll, or great hot outdoors, they did feel very light, and best of all dry. Pants are stretchy so do not worry about ordering wrong size. I do believe ordering a one size under might be even better since there are drawstrings on the inside in the waistline to keep them from sliding off. There is also a back zipper pocket to keep valuables from falling out. Pants were tested in few climates, snowy Midwest with temperature swings ranging 15-50F, swampy humid Louisiana, and hot humid southern Florida in the past month. Verdict, they did well in all 3. Pants are very light, look fashionable to an extent to be able to walk casually in the city (khaki/sand color paired with white shoes), easy to take on and off, stretchy for more challenging hikes, climbing over boulders, forest trails, beach strolls. Pants kept dry and did not absorb moisture. They did sufficiently in colder weather as well as not to receive piercing wind chills. As you might imagine, what is the negative side to these pants. The front pockets. A major improvement to them would be zippers. Having wallet or phone inside, the pockets are relatively shallow. I had to make sure many times nothing fell out or got pickpocketed by accident. While driving few hundred miles, the wallet slid out few times into the “Bermuda triangle.” Minor Panic mode happened. Keeping valuables in them might not be the bestest of ideas especially if you will be going in more challenging terrains that require some bigger steps or climbs. The back pocket is sufficient for small valuables. Overall, I will be utilizing these pants in future as they are comfortable and look great.
I really like these pants—they’re incredibly comfortable and, most importantly, breathable! Even during long hikes, I didn’t feel overheated. Washing these pants didn't ruin the integrity of pants. The added drawstring is a nice touch, providing extra support and a secure fit.
After owning these pants for a few weeks, I expect to get a lot of use of them in years to come. Many hiking pants are designed to be mixed-use (for both hiking and everyday wear) - I think the AP Active Crossover Pants can be used in that way but are better as hiking pants. They are comfortable and presentable but because they're primarily nylon they aren't the softest. That said, they are fairly stretchy and just the right thickness - I found them perfectly comfortable for hiking with weather around 35F. They weren't especially insulating but blocked the wind effectively. They feature two standard front pockets plus one front zipper pocket and one rear pocket providing plenty of storage. There are no loops for a belt, but the inside of the waist has a drawstring instead. Personally, I had no need for it as I felt the shape of the pants was just right for me. As a person who lifts weights, it's sometimes hard to find pants other than joggers or sweatpants that look nice and fit snugly at the waist while being comfortable (not too tight) through the butt and thighs; I was very pleased with these in that respect.