The 10 Best Cheap Hiking Pants

Our top pick is the Silver Ridge Convertible Pants from Columbia. As its name implies, these hiking pants have zip-off legs for quick switching between pants and shorts. That’s only one of the many features that have surprised us with this pair of cheap hiking pants, which also happens to be one of the most popular hiking pants in the market today.

To start off, Columbia offers a huge range of different sizes and fits for the Silver Ridge. The partially elastic waistband gives it a bit of added flexibility in terms of fit, as does the Nylon and polyester material blend. The Silver Ridge Convertible line is also available in women’s sizes.

Not only does the material provide good moisture-wicking that keeps sweat off your skin, but it also comes with Columbia’s signature Omni-Shade sun protection technology. Sun protection is something that hikers tend to take for granted, so it’s nice to have a pair of hiking pants that has our back on that department.

The Silver Ridge Convertible has pockets for miles: two on the sides, another two at the back, and two more cargo pockets, one of which has a zippered closure. The pockets aren’t that large, but there’s more than enough for them to keep small items within easy reach. The articulated gusset provides good room for movement, which kind of makes up for the lack of articulated knees.

The only major issue with the Silver Ridge Convertible is the fact that Columbia isn’t exactly a budget brand. The small to medium sizes of the Silver Ridge Convertible may cost just below $60, but larger sizes can cost $70 and above. At this range, the Silver Ridge Convertible may no longer qualify as a “budget” option.

2. Toomett Women’s Convertible Outdoor Pants

At only slightly above $30, these convertible hiking pants from Toomett are some of the popular and best-selling today. The pair we’re highlighting here is designed for women, but Toomett also sells the same model for men.

To start off, these hiking pants are made of 100% nylon – a departure from most hiking pants that are made with a combination of different synthetic materials. This gives these hiking pants a bit of an advantage in the durability department and helps it get dry quickly. However, this comes at the price of less than ideal flexibility and moisture-wicking properties. Thus, this isn’t exactly the type of hiking pants we’d wear when hiking on hot and humid days. For rainy hikes on damp environments, though, they are perfect.

To be fair, the convertible nature of these pants means you can use them as shorts if the weather is particularly hot.

The loss of flexibility actually isn’t that pronounced, considering these hiking pants come with an articulated gusset. We also like how all the pockets – two cargo pockets, two at the side, and one at the back – come with zippered enclosures. This means you no longer need to worry about finding debris inside your pockets at the end of a hike.

The fit of these hiking pants is a bit more loose rather than tight-fitting. This might not be a negative for some people – it depends on your preference. What is more problematic about the Toomett hiking pants is that their sizing is inconsistent with standard sizes, resulting in many buyers ending up with pants that are too tight. It’s easy enough to remedy such a problem, so if you don’t mind any potential delays due to unsuitable sizes, then these Toomett hiking pants are a great low-cost addition to your gear.

3. MIER Men’s Tactical Cargo Pants

The MIER Tactical Cargo Pants are a convertible version of the MIER Quick-Dry Hiking Pants, which we have also included in this list. That pair was particularly lauded for its flexibility and freedom of movement, and we’re happy to report the same can be said for the Tactical Cargo Pants version.

The nylon and spandex material allows for a four-way stretch, which is then further augmented by a gusseted crotch and articulated knees. True to its name, this set of features makes the MIER Tactical Cargo Pants one of the most “tactical” pants to wear on a challenging hike. More so, the fabric is very breathable and has good moisture-wicking.

The pockets of the MIER Tactical Cargo Pants are quite generous – two front pockets, two rear pockets, and three cargo pockets. Having seven pockets is a luxury when it comes to hiking pants, and this feature is only slightly undermined by the fact the pockets are a bit on the small side. Still, it’s very hard to complain about a product that has been created with this level of excellence.

4. MIER Men’s Quick-Dry Hiking Pants

These hiking pants from MIER use a nylon-spandex material blend to create a four-way stretch material that is hardly equaled in terms of freedom of movement. Combine the fabric with the gusseted crotch and the articulated knees, and you have one of the most flexible and stretchy hiking pants available today.

MIER seems to have hit the perfect blend of nylon and spandex to give these hiking pants just the right amount of stretch without compromising on its durability and moisture-wicking properties. The pants come in women’s sizes as well. The hem of the pants come with an elastic drawcord for adjusting it to your personal fit, although this is a poor consolation for the lack of a convertible feature.

Another thing we like about the MIER hiking pants is the addition of another layer of nylon-reinforced patches on the knees to reduce damage from abrasion. The knee area is typically the part of hiking pants that are more quickly worn down, so we’re glad that MIER has come up with a way to extend the useful life of this affordable and practical pair.

The MIER hiking pants come with five pockets, three of which are zippered. While the number of pockets isn’t an issue, we find that the pockets themselves are a bit too small. Your phone and a few snacks would be fine, but don’t expect that you can stuff a camera or a GPS receiver in there.

5. prAna Men’s Stretch Zion Convertible Pants

The Stretch Zion hiking pants from prAna are made with 100% nylon. This isn’t just standard nylon, though. The ripstop nylon material makes the Stretch Zion one of the most durable hiking pants in this price range. If you’re looking for cheap hiking pants that can withstand several miles of hiking, then the Stretch Zion from prAna is certainly worth your consideration.

Perfect for both hiking and general travelling, the Stretch Zion hiking pants are lightweight, compact when folded up, have good moisture-wicking properties, and even provide an ample level of UV protection. The fabric is breathable and comfortable in all types of weather and has enough abrasion resistance for trekking in the wild. The hiking pants come with standard zip-off legs for converting them into shorts.

One of the more impressive parts of these hiking pants from prAna is the number and the size of its pockets. The pants come with standard six pockets at the rear and at both sides, but prAna certainly overdoes the storage space that these pockets provide. This certainly isn’t a bad thing – we love having huge pockets for our snacks and hiking gear.

However, at a price tag slightly above $60, the Stretch Zion hiking pants may be pushing the boundaries of what is considered to fall within the “budget” category. If you can afford it, though, then this pair isn’t likely to disappoint. It’s tough, comfortable, lightweight, and offers lots of storage. Price aside, there’s little else that we can ask for.

6. UNIONBAY Men’s Rainier Lightweight Chino Pants

A functional pair of hiking pants is one thing, but how about getting something that’s a bit more fashionable? This pair from UNIONBAY defies the standard of what hiking pants are supposed to look like. Indeed, this is one of the best hiking pants we’ve seen, which is perfect for when you want a pair of pants that can double as both hiking and casual wear.

The nylon and spandex material provide sufficient flexibility while keeping the pants comfortable and breathable enough for hiking in hot weather. Being very lightweight, these hiking pants are absolutely perfect for travelling. The relaxed fit is perfectly complemented by the choice of a button enclosure instead of the usual snap-fit belt.

With a focus on aesthetics, the UNIONBAY Chino Pants are far from being the best pants for hiking. It does not have articulation on the crotch or knees, which might be enough for some people to not even consider it. Another weak point of this pair is its pockets. Although there are a lot of them, they are way too small and shallow – barely deep enough to fit a smartphone without having it stick out a bit.

The saving grace of the UNIONBAY is that it’s quite cheap – only around $40. That’s a great deal for hiking pants that are a bit more versatile than usual.

7. Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Cargo Pants

This pair is a variant of our top pick – the Silver Ridge Convertible Pants. This version is NOT convertible but is slightly cheaper. Aside from that small difference, the Silver Ridge Cargo Pants come with all the strengths of its more expensive big brother.

Without the benefit of zip-off legs, the Silver Ridge Cargo Pants make up for it with articulated knees. Combined with the gusseted crotch, these hiking pants provide good freedom of movement despite a fabric that is 100% nylon. The lack of flexible spandex is compensated by an increased ruggedness factor and a more breathable fabric – perfect for hiking in hot days.

The Silver Ridge Cargo Pants come with Columbia’s signature premium Omni-Wick and Omni-Shade technologies. This means that it has better than average moisture-wicking properties and even provides a good amount of UV protection. These features are enough to make the Silver Ridge Cargo Pants stand out among dozens of other hiking pants in this price range.

The Silver Ridge Cargo Pants are available in a range of sizes and are available in both men’s and women’s variants. However, it still falls prey to the tricky sizing standards of Columbia. For best results, we recommend ordering a pair that is one size higher than your usual – the pants tend to come with tighter waists than expected. This is a minor quibble, though, and it shouldn’t discourage you from trying out this pair.

8. Frogg Toggs Pro Action Water-Resistant Rain Pants

If you are planning to go hiking on a rainy day or in a place where you have to wade through rivers, then the usual water-resistant hiking pants would leave you woefully under-equipped. For extremely wet conditions, we highly recommend these rain pants from Frogg Toggs. Not only are these excellent for keeping you dry, but they are also exceptionally cheap – quite surprising for a pair of hiking pants of this level of quality.

You’ll have to manage your expectations with these rain pants, though. They were built for durability and waterproofing. In this regard, they are amazing. Despite a fabric that feels thin, these will not rip easily even when scrambling over rocks and vegetation. However, these aren’t the type of pants that you would want to use in hot and humid weather unless you want to sweat more than usual. The fabric also feels stiff and can be very noisy as you move about.

The singular focus on function also means that these pants have no pockets. Perhaps it only makes sense to keep your valuables inside a waterproof bag if you’re planning on hiking in rainy weather.

All in all, we won’t be giving any points for versatility to the Frog Toggs rain pants. They are made for one thing and one thing only – for trekking in wet conditions. In this context, the Frog Toggs are absolutely one of the best and cheapest pants you can get.

It might be tough to look for a pair of hiking pants suitable for trekking in cold weather if you’re working on a tight budget, but these thick outdoor pants from TBMPOY is proof that it’s not impossible. Beneath the windproof and water-resistant shell of these pants is an internal fleece lining to help keep you warm without weighing you down.

The TBMPOY Outdoor Pants are built extremely rugged. The shell material is rip-stop and even has a reinforced patchwork at the knees to prevent them from getting prematurely worn down. These pants were designed for all types of outdoor sports, so you can certainly count on it to have a gusseted crotch and articulated knees. No matter if you’re going to do some serious climbing, casual hiking, or camping in winter, these pants will keep you from getting cold – even down to zero-degree weather.

True to its rugged design, these pants come with four zippered pockets, so you need not worry about your stuff falling out no matter how much you move. There’s also something to be said about the pants’ visual appeal – we really like how the streaks of colour in the pocket zippers contrast with the neutral colour of the rest of the pants.

The one thing that hurts the usability of these pants in extremely cold weather is that the outer shell isn’t made of completely waterproof material. This means that the inner fleece lining is still prone to getting wet from ambient moisture. When you’re camping in cold weather, this could be bad news – losing body heat through wet clothes is typically how people get hypothermia.

In the end, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend the TBMPOY fleece-lined pants for hiking in very cold or wet conditions. It’s great for keeping away the chill, but just keep in mind that it’s still not waterproof.

10. Jessie Kidden Men’s Hiking Pants

Rounding up the list is this pair of 100% Ripstop nylon hiking pants from the Jessie Kidden brand which costs just a little above $30. This pair of pants seemingly hits all the right notes when it comes to comfort. The fabric is very thin and light, is breathable enough for hiking in hot weather, and has a zip-off leg for when you’d rather hike in shorts. It also offers a good deal of water-resistance and protection against UVA and UVB radiation.

Enhancing the comfort factor of the Jessie Kidden hiking pants is the elastic waist with removable belt, the hem with a drawstring lock, gusseted crotch, and articulated knees. Similarly, Jessie Kidden did not hold back on the pocket provisions – all of the front pockets, rear pockets, and cargo pockets are large enough for any gear or supplies you’d like to keep within reach.

Something you’ll notice at first glance with the Jessie Kidden hiking pants is that they are plain as they could possibly be. The available colours – grey, khaki, and army green – are very unremarkable and unmemorable. If you’re looking for something with a bit more flair, then you’re going to have to look somewhere else.

A drawback of the Jessie Kidden hiking pants having a very thin fabric is that many buyers have come to question its durability. This is just natural, and something that you’re not bound to notice until you have the product in your hands. We wouldn’t exactly wear these hiking pants on hiking trails that we expect to be particularly rough, but they should do well enough for casual treks.