The rise of technology has made our lifestyle lazy. To recharge ourselves we often opt for recreational activities like hiking. Hiking pants are the most important part of any essential hiking gear. They protect us from cold, wind, rain, ultraviolet rays, and many more things. The fitting of pants plays important role in terms of safety and style while hiking for petite sizes.
A petite hiking pant is the best investment in your petite hiking gear. If you are short (below 5’4”) activities like hiking is more natural to you than others.
At the same time, your requirements are a bit different than normal sizes as well. Hiking is an activity that depends on your legs. So protecting your legs and giving them maximum comfort should be your priority. A normal hiking pant should protect your legs from weather, bushes, insects, and canyoning hazards.
Why do you need petite hiking pants specifically?
Hiking pants for short sizes are all about style and comfort. Just because you are on a recreational trip, doesn’t mean you should compromise in style. Fitting is important for style as well as comfort. Petite legs are shorter than regular legs. It’s hard to manage hiking with baggy or extra lengthy pants in normal terrains. When terrains are treacherous and difficult, your safety should be your highest concern. Tripping over and slipping due to the extra size of the pants in treacherous terrain is very risky, anything can happen. Your pants should be fit and long enough to cover your hiking boots.
To make your hike a pleasant experience it’s important to choose the right gear for you. Multiple variables affect your choice of hiking pants for short height. We will discuss them below and will try to understand their importance in hiking.
15 Important factors for choosing the best petite hiking pants
Thinking about how to choose your petite hiking pants? Well, it depends on multiple things. Like what kind of terrain you are planning to visit. What is the condition of the weather, What are all things you are planning to carry with you? Based on these questions, there are at least 15 factors that will impact your choices.
1. Fabric Material
The comfort of your hiking pants depends on the fabric material used in them. Cotten materials should be avoided because they take a lot of time in drying out. The fabric can be a blend of other materials like nylon, polyester, spandex, elastane, etc.
Durability, lightweight, wrinkle proofing are some of the features you should be looking for in your hiking pants. It should be weather-resistant and comfortable at the same time. If it protects you from ultraviolet rays, it’s an even better choice.
2. Color and print
For petite women hikers understanding the impact of color, print, and design of the pant is very important. The good thing is hiking pants come in plain colors. But here is the catch, many hiking pants come in designs consisting of more than one color. That’s not a preferable design for Petites.
Using more than one color in such designs shortens your height. It makes you look even shorter than you are. Instead of it, look for one color pant which matches your hiking gear like tees or jackets.
3. Inseam
For Petites inseam is the most important part of pants. It defines height and fitting. Inseam is the length from your inner thigh to your ankles. For average petite, the average inseam is 27 inches.
But it varies from person to person and brand to brand based on your actual height. Inseam also varies in different types of pants. But on hiking pants, you can assume 27 inches is average.
4. Weather Compatibility
First thing you are going to face while hiking is the weather. So your hiking pant should be able to protect you from them. Cold chilled air and rain are two challenges which your hiking pant should be able to resist.
For cold air look for windproof or insulated pants. They will keep you warm enough. For rain look for pants that are waterproof or at least water repellent. If pockets are waterproof it’s even better for hiking in rainy seasons.
5. Insect protection
Insects, mosquitos, ticks, ants, flies, and many more bugs are another challenge if you plan to visit any tropical area or in bug season (Summer). Bug repellent pants are the best way to counter them. These pants have permethrin, an insecticide bound in the clothing fiber. These are washable clothes, and the bug repellent treatment lasts for at least 70 washes.
6. Bushwhacking protection
If you are planning to hike through dense forests you need protection from thorny bushes. The name bushwhacking comes from the process where bushes whack back. It often tears down your clothes and even draws blood from exposed vulnerable areas of your petite body.
Tin clothes are best for such cases but they do not offer breathability. So anything a blend of nylon and spandex is the optimum choice for such hiking. These blends are quite breathable and they dry out fast when getting wet.
7. Canyoneer protection
In canyoneering protection, you need something which can protect you from thorns of bushes as well as rocks. Nylon blends are good options as they provide enough stretch and durability.
Convertible pants are also good options as with them you can cover both thrones and wet parts in them. If you can get extra padding on your knees for bruise protection it’s even better.
8. Fitting
For petite hiking pants, fitting is an important part of our decision. Fitting is important for two reasons. The first is safety. While hiking you want a pant which is fit and comfortable. You don’t want to trip over the excess fabric of the pant in treacherous terrain. The second reason is your height. A bigger size pant adds extra bulk to your lower part of the body and makes you look shorter than your real height.
9. Pockets for storage
Pockets are important for hiking. You need to keep a lot of things with you. Yes, there is a backpack on your shoulders for storing essentials. But there are things of immediate use which you can’t keep in your bag because you need them at regular intervals. Things like your lip balm, driving license, GPS, mobile, or cash should be kept in an accessible place like pockets. If pockets are waterproof it’s even better.
10. Breathability
While hiking or doing any physical work our body produces heat and depending on the weather sweats as well. The air circulation or ventilation cools down your body and dries out the sweat.
In petite hiking pants breathability is either achieved by using materials like Gore-Tex or by adding mesh pockets in design. Convertible pants also fix the problem of breathability. In most cases, it performs way better than pants with mesh pockets.
11. Fabric type and Qualities
Hiking is done in a long range of terrain and weather. So you need a range of qualities in your hiking gear.
a. UPF rating
Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) ratings measure the ability of a fabric to block sunburn-inducing ultraviolet rays. A fabric having a 20 UPF rating means if 20 units of UV fall on the fabric, only 1 unit will reach to skin.
| UPF Rating | Protection category | % UV radiation blocked |
| 15-24 | Good | 93.3-95.9 |
| 25-39 | Very good | 96.0-97.4 |
| 40-50+ | Excellent | 97.5-98+ |
b. Spandex
Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fabric that is well known for its elastic properties. Spandex is wind resistant and somewhat water-resistant as well. These properties make it an ideal fabric for different sportswear.
Such fabrics are generally blended with nylon and polyester fabric depending on what kind of hiking pant is needed, to be precise what properties (wind and water resistance) you are looking for in your petite hiking pants.
c. Ripstop Nylon
Ripstop nylon fabric is woven nylon fabrics with a special technique in a crosshatch pattern to make them ripping and tearing resistant. These fabrics are best for bushwhacking and other canyoneering adventures.
The fabric is lightweight and when coated with polyurethane it becomes waterproof as well. Ripstop Nylon fabric is strong and sturdy. It’s strong enough to be used in parachutes, wingsuits, hot air balloons, and hovercraft skirts as well.
d. Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex is a waterproof, breathable fabric membrane that repels liquids like water from outside and allows water vapor to pass through from inside. There are many water-resistant and waterproof fabrics on the market. It’s the breathability that makes Gore-tex stand different in the crowd.
While hiking, waterproofing your gear is important. Equally important is sweat control. It keeps your body temperature in control and saves you from discomfort caused by sweating. Gore-Tex is used in petite ski pants as well.
12. Weight
The weight of your petite hiking pants is one of the most overlooked factors. For Petites, the weight of your pants is important, after all, you are going to carry that weight on your body. In normal weather and terrains, lightweight pants are the best choices. However, if you are going in extreme weather or rugged terrain, you should not mind adding some extra weight for weather protection and durability.
13. Design
Most petite tend to miss the design factor, just because of the solid color option availability. Avoid anything which will make you look smaller or gain weight like baggy cargo or two-color designs. For sturdy terrains, gussets are perfectly fine. Slim-fit pants are one of the best options in general.
14. Waist style management
The waistline creates the illusion of more length if managed properly. For Petites defining their waistline is important. At the same time while hiking the pants shall never lose their grip on the waist. There are hiking pants that come with waist adjustment velcros. You also need to pay attention to the elasticity of waistbands.
15. Comfort and mobility
Comfort and mobility are important for your hiking pants. Comfort becomes even more important when you are planning to wear your hiking pants for the whole day. There are many factors like venting, stretching, design, fabric, etc, which make your pants comfortable altogether.
Types of petite Hiking Pants
There are many ways to categories petite hiking pants. Based on design we can divide petite hiking pants into three categories.
Convertible petite hiking pants
Convertible petite hiking pants can be converted into hiking shorts within seconds. The pants from around the knee are attached with a zip. It gives you protection from bushwhacking, scorching sun, and canyoneering challenges, at the same time gives you the freedom to enjoy is a stram in summer.
Rollup petite hiking pants
Not everyone is a fan of zip attachments. It adds some weight and bulk to your lower body, which is not always good for Petites. Due to this, roll-up hiking pants are becoming more popular day by day. All it takes is some buttons and a design to secure the rolled-up pants. And it becomes as cooler as convertible pants.
Simple petite hiking pants
Simple petite hiking pants for the largest popular segment in all these three types. For normal Petites, it’s advised to go for slim-fit hiking pants in petite size unless you have something specific in your mind.
Best Petite hiking pants
For Petites choosing pants that fit you is hard. It becomes even harder when you don’t know where to start. Our team of researchers interviewed more than 300 petite hikers and shortlisted 15 petite hiking pants which are the best in the market.
Top 15 Hiking pants for Petites
| Name | URL | Minimu Inseam | Best for | Type Of Pant | Fabric |
| Columbia Saturday Trail Stretch Pant | https://amzn.to/2XAggPO | 29.5 | Summer, trail, and jungle hiking | Mid-rise, straight leg pant | 96% Nylon, 4% Elastane |
| Jessie Kidden Hiking Fleece Lined Insulated Pant | https://amzn.to/3gbSct4 | 28.8 | Rainy days | Slim Fit, straight leg pant | 94% Polyester and 6% Spandex |
| Women’s Ripstop Pant | https://bit.ly/3z82YIl | 29.5 | Canyoneering | Ripstop pant | 98% Organic Cotton, 2% Elastane |
| The North Face Women’s Aphrodite 2.0 Pant | https://amzn.to/2VZ7sCs | 28.5 | Rainy days, rainforest | Straight leg pant | 95% Nylon, 5% Elastane |
| Little Donkey Andy Winter Hiking Pants | https://amzn.to/2XtigsV | 28.75 | Cold and rainy weather | Straight leg, softshell pant | 95% Polyester, 5% Spandex |
| Women’s Saturday Trail™ Stretch Pants | https://bit.ly/3CPS38p | 29.5 | Trail and Sunny weather | Mid-rise, straight leg pant | 96% nylon, 4% elastane |
| REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Pants | https://bit.ly/3xZIpwk | 29.5 | Rainy and warm weather | Mid-rise, Convertible pant | 94% nylon, 6% spandex |
| prAna Women’s Halle Straight | https://amzn.to/2XDgrdj | 28 | Warm and Rainy weather | Relaxed straight leg pant | 97% Nylon, 3% Spandex |
| Women’s Ferrosi Pants – Short | https://bit.ly/3k7eQ78 | 29 | Warm, rainy, and windy weather | Flare pant | 86% ripstop, 14% spandex |
| Arc’teryx Sabria Pants – Women’s | https://bit.ly/3maSlAQ | 28.5 | Sunny and rainy weather | Slim fit, straight leg pant | 87% nylon, 13% elastane |
| Mountain Hardwear Women’s Dynama Ankle | https://amzn.to/3k3gpCO | 30 | Warm weather | Slim fit ankle pant | 94% Nylon, 6% Elastane |
| prAna Women’s Sky Canyon Jogger | https://amzn.to/3xZJdRS | 28 | Warm, rainy weather | chic cropped leg, knit cuffs ankle pant | 97 % Nylon, 3 % Elastane |
| The North Face Paramount Hybrid Tight | https://amzn.to/3iTbAwt | 30.5 | Hot climate | High rise, tight pant | 80% Polyester, 20% Elastane |
| Arc’teryx Gamma LT Pants | https://bit.ly/3jZUAnM | 28.5 | Cold and hot climate | Slim, Straight pant | 88% nylon, 12% elastane |
| Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pant | https://bit.ly/37M9sAx | 29 | Warm weather trail | slim fit, cinch cuff pant | 86% ripstop nylon, 14% spandex |
Below are some petite hiking pants for specific weather and terrain.
Best petite hiking pants for winter and cold weather – Little Donkey Andy Hiking Pants
These pants are windproof, waterproof, and warm enough to be used as petite ski pants. They are proven effective in cold terrains like Alaska. The fitting is perfect for Petites. It is quite comfortable in movements as well.
Best petite hiking pants for rainy days – Jessie Kidden Hiking pants
Jessie Kidden hiking pants are perfect for Petites who want to hike on rainy days or wet climates. It’s a softshell pant made with water-resistant material and has 100% polyester fleece lining. It has four zipper pockets to keep your essentials safe from rain. The warm polar fleece is very effective in heat retention.
Best petite hiking pants for hot climate – Columbia Saturday trail stretch pants
Columbia Saturday trail stretch pant is a mid-rise straight-leg roll-up pant that also can convert into a Capri. It’s your best choice for summer hiking in hot or warm weather where the temperature can go up to 50 degrees. The pant has UPF 50 sun protection advanced water repellency. The design includes articulated knees and a detailed gusset keeping mobility in mind.
Best petite hiking pants for rainy days – The North Face Aphrodite 2.0 pants
If you are planning to hike in the rainy season, your best choice as a petite is going with the north face aphrodite 2.0 pants. These pants are equipped with FlashDry technology, which keeps you drier and comfortable for a long period.
Conclusion
Choosing the best petite hiking pants is now easy for you. All you need to do is finalize the terrain and weather. And then based on both you can easily choose the best option from the table provided above. You can also use the table and the guide as a base to figure out what kind of pants you need and then explore the options available.
