Hiking Pants Vs. Shorts: Which is Better?
Considering what you’re going to wear for a day out on the trail can be a tricky process, especially if you’re new.
You won’t know exactly what’s best or what you prefer yet, which can really just add to the challenge.
There are so many options and benefits to each, so how do you choose when faced with the question, hiking pants vs. shorts?
In this post, I’ll go over the pros and cons of wearing hiking pants and hiking shorts out on the trail.
After you’re done here, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s the best choice for you.
What’s Best: Hiking Pants Vs. Hiking Shorts
I know that you wish I could just tell you that X is better than Y.
But as with everything in life, there is no definite answer, because each person is going to have their differences.
So when we look at all of the pros and cons of each, we can gather all of the information that we’ll need to decide.
Plus, all of the considerations that we should look at before deciding to wear a pair of shorts on a 25-degree F day.
(That’s obviously a big no-no!)
What I can tell you is this;
On warmer days where you’ll be on a shaded trail with minimal brush along the path and no reason to ‘protect’ your legs, shorts are the clear winner.
But on colder days when you may need to brush past trees or the sun is out in full force, I would pull out your favorite pair of hiking pants.
As you can see, the answer really just depends on the circumstances that you’re put into.
And if you’re anything like us ( 👆 ), you might even wear a different choice than those that you’re with.
Pros of Hiking Pants
Below you’ll find a few of the best pros that come with wearing shorts or pants for hiking.
Leg Protection
A big reason why hiking pants are the top contender is that they offer a lot more protection for your legs.
When I say protection, I mean in all ways.
If you have to do a bit of bushwhacking and are pushing trees and branches off of the trail, pants will keep your legs from getting scraped.
They’ll also help prevent you from rubbing your skin on any poisonous plant like poison ivy or oak.
They’ll help prevent bugs like mosquitos from treating your legs like it’s their afternoon snack and ticks are less likely to attach to you.
If you’re out on a day when the sun is beating down on you, pants are going to keep your legs protected from getting a painful sunburn.
In the desert, you may come across dangerous creatures such as rattlesnakes, and wearing pants can help protect you from a bite.
They’ll also prevent you from chafing if your legs rub together when you’re out on the trail.
Overall, pants are just more protective and are going to be better in keeping you safe from these annoying things in nature.
Warmth
Of course in the winter months, wearing a pair of pants is going to provide you with much more warmth than shorts.
They have better insulation, which helps keep your body temperature warm when hiking in the cold.
You can even buy pairs that are fleece lined or waterproofed to keep you dry and warm in rainy or snowy conditions.
More Storage
I won’t lie… I’m definitely the type that gets super excited when I see a dress with pockets…
And it’s no different with hiking pants.
And if they’re zipper pockets… TAKE MY MONEY! 😆💸
I find that hiking shorts just don’t have enough storage for the few things that I like to keep in my pockets rather than my pack.
I just need simple things like tissues, my phone, and a snack, but those are all important when I’m hiking!
Cons of Hiking Pants
Although there are plenty of pros when it comes to wearing pants, there are also a few cons that we should address.
Here are a few of the reasons why you should question whether to wear shorts or pants for hiking.
Heat
On the flip side of keeping you warm, hiking pants will also hold in the heat when you’re out in the summer.
Some people like to wear their hiking pants in the summer because they protect them from the sun, bugs, etc.
But I personally can’t because I just get too darn hot!
So if you’re like me and get really warm when you’re hiking, then you might consider skipping the pants when the sun is out.
Hold Moisture
While you can get hiking pants that are fast-drying (in fact, most are!), you’re still going to have a little bit of moisture in them.
If it randomly starts to rain, your pants are going to get wet and you’re definitely going to feel it for at least a little bit.
I especially don’t recommend wearing jeans when you’re on the trail because these will really hold in moisture!
Whereas if you were wearing shorts, it would just be your legs that get wet, and those can dry a lot faster.
Noisy
Another downfall of hiking pants is that they can be noisy and that can annoy some people.
I personally don’t really notice it that much when I’m hiking, but some people do.
This just means that annoying “swish, swish, swish” noise that you hear when your legs rub together.
This doesn’t happen as often in hiking shorts.
Pros of Hiking Shorts
Now that I’ve given you all there is to know about why hiking pants are a great choice, let’s think about some of the pros of wearing shorts while hiking.
Stay Cool
One of the biggest reasons that I personally prefer shorts over pants is because they allow me to stay cool on the trail.
I’m a pretty hot hiker and always find myself ditching layers.
So when I wear shorts, I don’t need to do that and just stay cool as it is.
More Movable
Shorts also allow you to move more because they aren’t covering as much of your leg, therefore being restrictive.
While most hiking pants are very flexible and stretchy, it just feels better to move in shorts.
My favorite shorts for hiking are either biker shorts, or the adidas Pacer Training shorts. They’re super flexible and allow me to move freely so I don’t feel restricted while on the trail.
Whether it’s stepping over a huge fallen tree, jumping over rocks, or doing a heel click to celebrate making it to the top, I can move around in shorts.
They just feel so free!
Good in Rain
When summer rain starts to come down, I would much rather be in shorts than pants!
This way, my legs are what is going to get wet, rather than my pants.
My pants then seem to suction to my legs, leaving me uncomfortable.
With shorts, I don’t have to worry about any of that and can just take a small hiking towel and wipe the water off of my legs.
Lightweight & Breathable
Shorts are lighter than pants, making them easier to pack in a bag or wear when you’re trying to go ultralight.
Because of this, they’re also more breathable because you don’t have anything restricting airflow to your legs!
I love feeling the breeze and wind on my skin when I’m on the trail, so having nothing on my legs feels so great!
Cons of Hiking Shorts
Going along with all of those pros are of course a few cons that you’ll have to deal with when you’re choosing hiking pants vs shorts.
Bug Bites
One of the worst parts about summer is the mosquitos and gnats… You can’t change my mind.
So it’s really awful when you’re out on the trail wearing a pair of shorts and the bugs start to swarm you!
A quick fix for this is a spray of bug spray, so at least getting eaten alive is not the end all be all.
Ticks
Ticks are another huge concern for hiking wearing shorts because pants tend to protect you better.
It is important to note that just because you’re wearing pants doesn’t make you invisible and you’ll still need to check for ticks.
But, shorts make you more susceptible to them and this can be dangerous because some may carry Lyme Disease.
Sunburn
I love wearing shorts, especially during the summer months when it’s hot out, but boy did I learn to always sunscreen my legs. (see below. ouch.)
Sunburn is a real thing and can really damage your skin if you aren’t careful, so pants definitely win in the sun protection category.
Scratches
If you’re going to be walking through a lot of brush or past branches, pants can protect you from getting scratches.
If your legs are exposed in shorts, you’ll be more likely to get scrapes and cuts.
Be sure to carry a first-aid kit to take care of these if you get them.
Cold
In the winter months, you likely aren’t going to be wearing shorts, because you will get too cold.
So that’s definitely a major downfall of theirs.
Things to Consider
If you’re still on the fence about which you’d prefer, I have a few things that you can consider before making the choice.
All of these will come down to your personal situation and the circumstances in which you’ll be wearing them in.
Temperatures
The outside temperature can affect whether you choose to wear pants or shorts.
If it’s going to be cold outside, you’ll likely want to opt for shorts to make sure that you stay warm.
But if it’s hot outside, you may reach for the shorts to ensure that you stay cool on the trail.
Weather Forecast
Looking at the weather forecast can also help because it’ll help you figure out if it’s going to rain or snow.
Depending on what you prefer, you can choose to wear either hiking pants or shorts in the rain.
But if it’s going to snow, I would definitely opt for the pants, preferably a fleece-lined pair.
Bugs
One of the best ways to determine if there are going to be a lot of bugs on the trail is to read trip reports on All Trails.
People will typically mention if there were swarming bugs, and this can help you plan.
If nothing else, it will remind you to pack some bug spray!
Trail Conditions
As I mentioned above, having to go off-trail or whack through a bunch of brush can be painful when you’re wearing shorts.
Having an idea of what the trail conditions are can help you understand what’s best for you.
Again, using All Trails is a really good way to do this, because most people will warn other hikers of obstacles.
Personal Comfort
Lastly, it just comes down to your personal comfort.
Do you get really hot when you’re hiking and would just do better in shorts? Or are you the opposite and are always freezing?
In the end, it doesn’t matter what anyone else is wearing, as long as you’re comfortable out on the trail.
FAQ: Hiking Pants & Shorts
Is it Better to Hike in Shorts or Pants?
Whether you choose to hike in pants or shorts can depend on quite a few factors, along with just your own personal comfort.
The temperature, trail conditions, weather forecast, and more all play roles in which is better.
And whichever you like better, is a huge part also!
So there really is no solid answer as to which is better to hike in.
Are Shorts Bad for Hiking?
Absolutely not!
Shorts can be great for hiking, and in fact, I do most of my hiking in a pair of shorts.
I prefer them to pants because I feel freer and I also stay cool a lot easier.
If you like shorts, rock those shorts on the trail!
What Kind of Pants Should I Hike In?
If you’re going to hike in pants, wear a pair that is lightweight, brehatable, fast drying, and comfortable.
These are all features that will make your time on the trail much more enjoyable!
Are Hiking Pants Necessary?
It isn’t totally necessary to have a specific pair of hiking pants, but it’s sure helpful!
Hiking pants are breathable, stretchy, quick-drying, and comfortable.
Which is why I typically recommend having a pair of hiking pants.
What are Convertible Hiking Pants?
Convertible hiking pants have to be some of the coolest inventions in the hiking world.
Basically, they’re a pair of pants that zip off at the knees, allowing you to turn them into shorts.
They’re so awesome because you don’t have to choose between whether you wear pants or shorts.
What Should I Not Wear Hiking?
While you can technically get out on the trail in whatever the heck you want, there are definitely a few things I recommend avoiding.
You can read about all of them in my post about what not to wear hiking!
But in the end, I recommend avoiding cotton, denim, flip flops, and anything that you’re uncomfortable in.
All of these tend to be a recipe for disaster and are just better to avoid altogether.
Wrap-Up: Hiking Pants Vs. Shorts
There is much debate on which piece of hiking attire is best suited for the trail, hiking pants vs shorts.
But with so many great benefits for each and a few downfalls for each as well, it’s really tough to choose which comes in first place.
Considering weather, your own personal comfort, and trail conditions are great ways to determine which to wear.
Personally, I prefer shorts, but someone else may say the complete opposite, because we are all different.
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