By: Ask Bill
Submitted: 2010-04-22 04:48:15 | Word Count: 568
Hiking pants are one of the essential items for a hiker. Unlike any ordinary pants, these pants are comfortable, versatile and highly functional. Designed especially for such tedious and rigorous activities, they can maintain the thermal equilibrium and protect your body against outdoor threats. They are also made to lightweight, tear resistant, breathable, durable and able to dry quickly and they often have many pockets for your convenience during the hiking process. There are many types of hiking pants available and a good hiker should get one that is suitable for his or her journey.
For a short hike and one that is not too rigorous, you can easily go in a pair of hiking shorts. It is better to wear hiking shorts as they are faster drying, breathable and offer better ventilation than ordinary shorts like canvas or cargo shorts. Choose a pair that provides you with a snug fit so you can have more freedom. The Bliss Knickers from Prana are lightweight and quick drying capris. They are made from wrinkle resistant fabric and also offer 40 UPF protection, which you'll need for the sun exposure since more skin is exposed when wearing shorts.
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But the shorts are only good to wear during good weathers and with reasonable temperatures. Avid hikers would benefit more if they get the convertible long-short pants. These are long pants that can be converted into shorts by easily unzipping it at the thigh or calf. They are considered to be suitable for three seasons and often combine multiple of the Three Layer functions in one light fabric. Mountain's Hardwear Corsica Convertible Pants are full-featured backpacking pants with a flattering fit and a clean look. But more than that, it provides you the ultimate comfort; its conical waist is lined with a soft micro-chamois for extra padding and smooth comfort. Reinforcements are also added at high abrasion areas for greater protection.
Otherwise, get the shell pants. They are usually water resistant and breathable but not insulated, and you can also opt to get the outer shell pants, which forms the third layer in the Three Layer System. To form the full Three Layer System, you need to also get the base layer and an insulation pants. Check out the Trailhead Convertible Hiking Pants from L.L. Beans, one of the most technical pants ever offered. They are breathable, abrasion resistant, lightweight, and dries off easy; the Supplex nylon fabric can wick moisture. They are also very convenient to carry around with their packability that allows you to fold them up in a small fit. They are not only very functional, but are designed with trendy details too.
But if you're going into extreme conditions, you need a more powerful gear such as the mountaineering pants, otherwise known as expedition pants. With them, you can even climb up the dangerous Everest Mountain. More often than not, they have a baffle system to guarantee equal and good insulation. The pants usually resemble sleeping bags. Marmot's Midweight Bottom has a combination of Cocona fibers and Polartec Power Dry Fleece to reduce odors. The fabrics are designed to keep you warm and moisture free at all times. In addition the pants also include a gusseted crotch for freedom of movement and flatlock seams to avoid chafing.
Now that you are familiar with some of the hiking pants, are you ready for the adventure?
