Would you agree that leggings are known to be a women’s attire and mention of a man in leggings may conjure images of characters from Shakespeare plays or Peter Pan? However, this is no longer the norm and there are leggings designed for both men and women to be layered or to wear independently.
Leggings, especially hiking leggings, are one of the most comfortable types of clothing one can ever own. They are often made with soft stretching material designed to give your body all the comfort and flexibility while looking stylish. They can either be worn on their own or under other garments for layering when the conditions call for it. They are becoming more and more popular as appropriate hiking gear, for both men and women.
In this article, we will take you through the tips that are important to know when looking for a pair that is the most suitable for your needs. And, we will also show you some of the best models on the current market. By the end, you will know how to choose them, and what is more important, you will have a chance to pick the best of the best.
Our Top Picks
| Product Name | Material | Gender | Specific Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duofold Thermal | 60% cotton, 40% polyester | Women’s | Pull-on closure, moisture-control, double-layer thermal, chafe-resistant seams. | Check price on Amazon |
| Columbia Luminescence Spacedye | 88% polyester, 12% elastin | Women’s | Omni-wick, 4-way comfort stretch, flatlocked construction, stash pocket. | Check price on Amazon |
| Under Armor UA Base 2.0 | Charged cotton | Men's | 4-way stretch fabric, traps hot air, anti-odor, moisture transport system. | Check price on Amazon |
| Cuddl Duds Flex Fit | 88% polyester, 12% spandex | Women’s | Hollow-care fiber technology, Comfortech fabric, 360-degree stretch, body-hugging fit. | Check price on Amazon |
| Under Armor UA Base 4.0 | Blend of elastin and polyester | Women’s | Thermal grid fabric, quick-dry, 4-way stretch construction, anti-microbial. | Check price on Amazon |
| RBX Active Capri Pants | 95% polyester, 5% spandex | Women’s | Quick sweat-wicking materials, adjustable waistband and ankle closure, four-way stretch. | Check price on Amazon |
Important Features to Know Before Buying
As we already mentioned, we are here not only to show you the best models, but also teach you how to know to pick the model that will best suit your personal needs. This section will show you which features are crucial when it comes to picking out the perfect model.
Moisture-absorption
The best leggings for hiking are those that have moisture-wicking features. As your body heats up from hiking, it will start sweating and soon get uncomfortable.
Wearing moisture-wicking leggings ensure that the sweat is immediately drawn off your body, leaving you to continue your hike in dry comfort.
Length
The length of leggings varies from ankle-length, capri, knee-length and stirrup. Be sure to pick the ones with the ideal length for your trail and the weather.
It would be wrong to wear knee-length leggings if you are hiking in cold weather or if you have to move through lots of brush, but the same leggings will be perfect for a hot day on smooth terrain.
Weather
The type of weather matters a lot when picking leggings to go hiking in. For example, legging made for wearing in cold weather, are designed to trap hot air and provide warmth, and even with these the degree of warmth provided will differ so make sure you pick the right leggings to suit your hiking weather.
If you end up wearing hot-air-trapping leggings while hiking in the summer, then you are in for a long, sweaty and uncomfortable trek.
Anti-Odor
The best leggings are made with anti-odor technology to keep your body fresh, so be sure to look out for this before making the purchase. Hiking will cause your body to heat up and this may at times produce some odor. Anti-odor leggings are the perfect solution to this problem.
Best Products on Today’s Market
Now that you know which features to keep an eye on, it’s time to check which models are the best on the market, and to make the right choice.
Duofold Thermal Leggings 
Price: $10 – $20
Material: 60% cotton, 40% polyester
Color: Frost, white, black, ice cake
Specific features: Pull-on closure, machine wash, moisture-control properties, double-layer thermal, chafe-resistant seams.
Best use: Hiking, winter backpacking, running, walking, outdoor games
Description: The Duofold Thermal Leggings are made for outdoor life. They are designed to provide warmth and comfort on the trail, around the campsite or in everyday life, with moisture control properties to ensure enhanced comfort. They have good stretch and perfect fit for flexibility on the trail and warmth in cold winter weather.
These leggings are opaque and not see-through so they can be worn on their own without any worry or they can be worn with jeans and other clothes for extra warmth during cold weather. They are so formfitting you could comfortably fit under most winter clothing.
A combination of the thermal design, two-layer protection barrier, close-to-body fit, and moisture control make these great for comfort and warmth in cold weather. They, however, may be too thick to wear under tight fitting skinny jeans or under another pair of leggings, but they are perfect for wearing under most winter clothes.
PROS:
- Warm
- Comfortable
- Moisture controlling
- Stretchy
CONS:
- A bit too thick for wearing under skinny jeans
Related: If you are looking for something to pair these leggings with, Duofold makes nice thermal shirts like the Mid Weight Double Layer Shirt, the Heavyweight Double-Layer Shirt, and the Mid Weight Wicking Shirt to go with them.
Columbia Luminescence Spacedye Legging 
Price: Approx. $33
Material: 88% polyester, 12% elastin
Color: Black spacedye, beacon spacedye, bluebell spacedye, iron spacedye, nightshade spacedye, red orchid
Specific features: Omni-wick technology, 4-way comfort stretch, flatlocked construction, stash pocket, gusset detail.
Best use: Hiking, yoga, gym, walking, camping
Description: Made with 4-way comfort stretch fabric, the Columbia Luminescence Spacedye Legging are designed to provide comfort and maximum flexibility, making them ideal for hiking. The stretching material allows your body maximum flexibility on your hiking trail and for other outdoor activities.
The leggings have sweat-wicking technology, which makes them ideal to keep your body dry and fresh on long sweaty hiking trips. Because they are opaque, these leggings can be worn independently with just a top, but they are also very form-fitting so one could choose to wear them under other clothes for maximum warmth in cold weather.
They are ideal for winter backpacking, and can be worn on the trail, around the campsite or even at night for extra warmth while you sleep. They even have a stash pocket where you can keep small items like keys or a phone.
The 4-way comfort-stretch fabric, Omni-wick technology, stash pocket, gusset detailing and galactic print make these leggings both practical and stylish enough for those who prefer some detail in their hiking gear.
PROS:
- Warm
- Comfortable
- Flexible
- Sweat wicking
- Can be worn independently
CONS:
- Sizing not accurate
Related: Leggings are important for hiking, but you also need something comfortable for your upper part of the body. Therefore, we recommend checking out the Columbia Trail Shaker Hoodie. Comfortable, moisture wicking, breathable, this hoodie will go great with your new leggings.
Under Armor Base 2.0 Leggings 
Price: Approx. $23
Material: Charged cotton
Color: Black, black battleship, school bus
Specific features: 4-way stretch fabric, traps hot air, anti-odor technology, moisture transport system.
Best use: Hiking, yoga, camping, walking, exercising, outdoor games
Description: The Under Armour Base 2.0 Leggings are made for today’s man who loves to stay warm in cold outdoor weather. The leggings are made with 4-way stretch fabric to allow your body maximum mobility and flexibility, which makes them ideal for hiking even on tricky trails.
Their interior is specifically designed for the cold days with a soft brushed negative grid that traps hot air, enabling amazing warmth on cold days. Their moisture transport system wicks sweat away and keeps you dry while the anti-odor technology keeps you smelling fresh.
Their anti-odor technology, moisture wicking system, 4-way stretch fabric and negative grid interior make these perfect for the cold weather both on and off the trail. Additionally, they are very lightweight so they will not add any unnecessary weight to your backpack or your body.
Be careful when choosing between the different versions of these leggings as there is a significant difference between the level of warmth provided.
PROS:
- Warm
- Flexible
- Sweat wicking
- Anti-odor
- Lightweight
CONS:
- Sizing chart is off
Related: Now that you have your legs safe from the cold, it’s time to think about the upper body. We recommend pairing your leggings with the matching model, the Under Armor Base 2.0 Crew Base Layer. This combo will definitely keep you warm during your winter outdoor adventures.
Cuddl Duds Flex Fit Legging 
Price: $25 – $36
Material: 88% polyester, 12% spandex
Color: Navy space dye, Aegean space dye, plum space dye
Specific features: Hollow-care fiber technology, Comfortech fabric, 360-degree stretch, body-hugging fit.
Best use: Hiking, gym, running
Description: The Cuddl Duds Flex Fit Leggings are made with hollow-care fiber technology, which is specifically developed to give your body adequate warmth.
Furthermore, the Comfortech fabric used for this model, absorbs the moisture exceptionally and leaves your body dry and fresh, regardless of the strength of your activity. The stretch material of the leggings ensures good mobility, allowing you to move comfortably even on a difficult trail.
The leggings are comfortable enough to be worn on the trail, around the campsite, at night as pajamas, and for outdoor games in cold weather. They can be worn alone or under other clothes for extra warmth, depending on your desired purpose and style.
All things considered, this legging model is high-quality, and it will definitely keep you warm, comfortable, and dry during your outdoor adventures regardless of the cold weather around you. The price is relatively fair, and they are definitely worth considering.
PROS:
- Warm
- Comfortable
- Moisture absorbing
- Relatively fair priced
CONS:
- Sizing is not regular and you need to be careful when ordering
Related: If you want a warm and comfortable top to pair these leggings with, then you can try the Women’s Flex Fit Top or the Flex Fit Huddle up Turtleneck Top, all from Cuddl Duds.
Under Armor Base 4.0 Legging 
Price: Approx. $39
Material: Blend of elastin and polyester
Color: Black, cortez
Specific features: Thermal grid fabric, quick-dry construction, light weight, 4-way stretch construction, anti-microbial technology.
Best use: Hiking, camping, walking, winter outdoor games, ultralight backpacking
Description: Made with Mega-grid thermal fleece, the Under Armour Base 4.0 Legging is designed to provide exceptional warmth on extreme winter days. The fabric has tiny pockets that are there to trap the heat, and give you long lasting warmth in the outdoors on brutal winter days. At the same time, their quick-dry natural properties wick the moisture to keep you dry on the trail.
The leggings are also made with a 4-way stretch material, that is designed to allow your body maximum mobility and flexibility, and you have to agree that this is really important for an outdoor attire. Additionally, the leggings are extremely lightweight and will add very little weight to your body or backpack.
All this, coupled with antimicrobial technology that fights the odor, makes these leggings the ideal extreme weather leggings perfect for hiking in winter, and adding this to your winter hiking gear would be a really smart decision.
PROS:
- Provide exceptional warmth even in extremely cold weather
- Comfortable
- Great design
- Breathable
CONS:
- Sizing is not regular and you should probably order a bigger size than usual
Related: Naturally, when you are in the outdoors during freezing temperatures, you want full body insulation, right? Well, the perfect match for these leggings would be the same series Base 4.0 Crew Top Base Layer. A perfect combination that will keep you warm despite the minus.
RBX Active Capri Pants
Price: $30 – $38
Material: 95% polyester, 5% spandex
Color: Charcoal gray, black, navy blue
Specific features: Quick sweat-wicking materials, adjustable waistband, adjustable ankle closure, four-way stretch, machine wash.
Best use: Hiking, camping, running
Description: The RBX Active Capri Pants are made with ample room so that your body can freely sweat while the quick sweat-wicking material absorbs all the sweat.
The combination of these properties allows your body to stay free, fresh and dry during physical activities, with great mobility from the 4-way stretch fabric. The waistband is designed to give you the freedom to adjust the pants to your chosen fit for comfort and the ankle closure can be adjusted to your preferred fit as well.
These capri pants fit just well enough without being too tight. The adjustable qualities, the 4-way stretch, sweat-wicking material and relaxed fitting make these pants ideal summer hiking attire for ladies who prefer to show a little leg on the trial.
They are machine washable, but you have to wash them with cold water, so keep this in mind as the hot water might damage them and they could lose some of the moisture wicking properties.
PROS:
- Lightweight
- Made with ample room
- Moisture and sweat wicking
- Comfortable
CONS:
- Need to be careful when choosing the size
Related: If you want to pair these Capri pants with a hiking T-shirt, we can recommend the Vapor Appeal Short –Sleeve T-shirt. Not only that it will keep you dry due to its wicking properties, but it will also keep you safe from the sun as it offers high UV protection as well.
Wrapping It Up
With these Capri pants, we have reached the end of our article. We hope that you found our post interesting to read and informative.
Remember that if you are going hiking in cold weather, for example, be sure to buy leggings whose material traps air to give your body the needed warmth and if you are planning for summer backpacking, then get leggings that will serve you accordingly.
Also, since you are most likely going to sweat, be sure to get leggings that are sweat wicking. The ideal leggings you chose for hiking should have 4-way stretch fabric to allow you maximum mobility. After you are sure of those basic features, then you can look at other factors like style.
If you liked our article, feel free to share it with your friends, and you can also leave a comment in the comments section, and share your experiences with our readers and us.
I wear leggings almost every day so I’m always looking to add to my collection. What a great list! I already have a pair of the Cuddle Duds Flex Fit leggings and would definitely recommend them for hiking. They have good stretch. The Duofolds at the top of the list look good too, anyone have experience hiking in them?
They are definitely comfortable and will keep you going on the trail. Check them out!
Superb list here. I like to carry a backup pair of leggings on my more woody hikes, since there’s a chance they could get ripped. Someone recommended the Duofold leggings and Under Armour, since they both tend to look as good as they work. I think this article finally convinced me to splurge on Under Armour!
What a great brand! Good luck shopping.