Outdoor Research  Cirque Lite Pants - Women's

The use: I live in the south (hot/humid), so I needed lightweight hiking pants that wick moisture and can be layered to add warmth in the cool season. I wanted stretchy & breathable but somewhat durable for sitting on rocks, walking through brush, etc. The fit: I am petite/short with narrow hips. 118 lbs, waist 29", hips 36", inseam 27". I bought a size Short Small so that the hips would fit, and hoped the waist would have enough stretch in it to be maxxed out but still comfortable. I am glad to report that the fabric has enough give to accommodate my waist while still flattering the hips. The pants look sharp and they are very comfortable. The buckle is a bit unecessary for me since I always max out the waist, but it's a cute detail. Unfortunately they are still too long for me, even at the Short size. I have to unzip the ankle zipper and fit them over my boots so they don't bunch up at the bottom. I really wish the Short sizes were 3+ inches shorter rather than just 2" shorter. The wear: I've worn them on about 4 hikes so far in winter and spring. They're great in the southern winter climate. Stretchy & easy to layer with thermals underneath. The mud guards function well and the pants wash well. I hang them dry to give them extra care. However, I'm not convinced they'll be my go-to pants for spring/summer hiking. The black color heats up as soon as the sun hits them so they heat me anytime I'm in sun. That was the only color available when I purchased, I wish I could have gotten the gray or blue. Also, the texture of the fabric on the interior of the pant has a slight softness to them, which feels a bit insulating. Not sure how that will feel yet in the summer. I think I want a different pair of summer hiking pants because the color alone is too hot for me in the southern climate, and they're just too long. I may need to go with ankle jogger style pants due to my inseam because the short size of the full pant is too long. Overall I really like the pants for southern fall/winter, but will continue my search for a shorter summer hiking pant for my southern climate.

These pants are amazing! I had been searching on second hand sires for the perfect hiking pants for a 4 day Trek in Peru during rainy season and these were prefection! They aren't rainproof after being in the rain for a couple minutes but they dry out so quick, even in a humid foggy window room. They provide the right amount of protection and breathablitiy. We had to pass through mud that was mid shin and while some took there shoes off and did it, I chose to tighten my shoes and zip down my pants. I made it through with not a spec of mud on my skin and when the mud dried it just flicked off.

I bought these this summer for a 5+ day trek across Isle Royale and they were perfect for this trip. Between crazy rain and trails that turned to rivers and mud bogs I feel like I put these pants to a serious test. My only complaint is that after one wash (using tech wash) they are pilling a bit in places. I plan to keep using them as a top layer when cross country skiing this winter, but I wish they still looked a bit better.

Best hiking pants (and passes as casual pants) ever! I’m on my 4th pair! I love the belt and use it all the time. The mediums fit perfectly for me at 5’9” and 145 lbs. All the pockets are great! They work well in warm and cool weather - I’ve worn them in winter and summer here in Colorado and they do great! More fun colors please like burgundy!

These pants are great, the fabrics nice, super stretchy, the colors are fabulous. Onto the fit: I am 5'9, with larger legs and a smaller waist. Size medium fits well in the legs for me, but has about 5 inches of room in the waist. Even with the belt tightened until it starts to bunch the fabric in the back, it's still too big in the waist. The length is good for me. The fit isn't so bad that I won't wear them, I just wish they weren't so large in the waist. Size small would not have fit my large legs, as these are already much more fitted on me than the models show because of my body type.

I was so pleasantly surprised by these pants. I bought them for when it's a little too cold for my fav pants, the Ferrosi's. They don't feel too much heavier than the Ferrosi's but definitely block the wind better and are very water resistant. I wear usually wear a 16W in the Ferrosi's and the 1X fit the same in the waist and thighs, with lots of forgiveness. These are more form fitting in the calves but not restrictive because they're nice and stretchy. I could easily fit a wool baselayer under both. These are generously high wasted and sit right at my belly button. I like the zippered bottoms - I zip them for cycling but unzip them for hiking in rain or snow to act as a gaiter. I hope they make more fun colors!

I have always wanting plus hiking pants that weren’t leggings and these have delivered. I wear a 4x and these fit so comfortably. I truly love them.

Wish they got a little looser and less like a legging, but they are a good sturdy material. Been wearing these for a few years now and they’ve held up well.

This summer there have been lots of prickly plants covering our trails in southern cal and I was looking for pants that would be nice and stretchy, but a little thicker than the ferossi leggings and pants I usually wear to hold up to the poking plants. The cirque lite pants are perfect! They have a nice stretch, they are a little high waisted, which is great for curvy girls like me, they hold up to the stinging plants, and are lightweight enough for the hot hot weather. In short, they are perfect. My only request is to make them in more colors!

I liked these pants when I first tried them on, and found them to have a good amount of stretch for hiking. However, they didn't hold up on even one trip scrambling over boulders. I did a short slide on my butt and ripped a decent sized hole on the seat of the pants. The part of the seat that did not rip was also pilling after that first trip wearing them. Was super disappointed in the quality of these pants, especially for the price. I also wish this came in different length options. At 5'4" the cuffs bunched quite a bit around my ankles