Best Winter Hiking Pants for Women (by an outdoor guide!)

November 17, 2024

Looking for the best pants for winter hiking? Jumping into winter hiking can be super exciting, but it’s hard to know where to start. Here are the best hiking pants for colder temps:

Why this blog? Hi there! I’m Maddy, and I’ve been spending the last six or so years exploring the midwest as a wilderness guide! I’ve worked as a sea kayaking guide and in outdoor retail both, and I’m committed to helping you find the best gear for you. Winter hiking is one of my favorite things to do when the temps drop, and I’m happy to give you brutally honest gear info.

oh hey there! this blog uses affiliate links. That means if you choose to make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

Best Women’s Winter Hiking Pants:

The key to a solid pair of winter hiking pants is a good layering system. In general, you’ll want a good pair of baselayers, either wool or synthetic, and an outer layer with some amount of water-resistance. Depending how active you’ll be and how cold it is, you may want to add a midlayer of fleece pants.

The best pants for winter hiking depend on what type of winter hiking you’re doing. For example, when it’s -40 in Minnesota and I’m going for a sunrise hike on the shore to take photos of ice, I wear a lot of layers because I’m not moving a lot. However when it’s about 20 degrees and sunny and I’m going for a hard, six-mile hike for speed and to get to the top of a mountain, I’ll sometimes wear shorts and a baselayer top, and pack my other layers to throw on at the top.

The key with layering for winter hiking is to remember to minimize moisture from both snow and sweat. The wet leads to hypothermia more quickly than the cold alone.

1) Fjallraven Keb Curved: Best Women’s Winter Hiking Pants

For the best winter hiking pants for resilience, semi-waterproofing, ventilation, and custom women’s fit, the Fjallraven Keb Curved are probably unbeatable. These pricey pants are arguably well-worth the money with able pockets, zip-down vents, and the capacity to be waterproof.

image of hiker hiking above the apostle islands ice caves in bayfield, WI in the winter

Overall, Fjallraven Kebs make for some of the best winter hiking pants for women on the market.

Should I wear snowpants winter hiking?

In my opinion as an avid winter hiker and outdoor guide, no, snowpants do not generally make sense for winter hiking. Usually, they are too hot to wear for hiking. Basically, you want to focus on layers and waterproofing and avoid anything that causes you to sweat. Remember! Dry is best.

2) Kari Traa Sara Base Layer Pant

One thing that will make your winter hiking outfit better is a solid pair of wool or synthetic baselayers. Baselayers will sit next-to-skin and keep you warm, even when damp with sweat!

Baselayers are also useful for as you get hot when you hike, you can remove an outer layer and just hike in a baselayer instead.

3) Stio Frenos Insulated Pant

These insulated pants are pretty much perfect for winter hiking, jogging, and cross country skiing. They’re simultaneously insulating and breathable.

The Stio Frenos pants are designed for cross country skiing and available both as a long pant and a knicker, that cuts off mid-calf to show off your super cute ski socks 🙂

4) REI Co-Op Activator Pant

These hardy pants are wind and water resistant and the perfect pant to throw over your baselayers in the winter! The REI Activators are a budget-friendly alternative to some of the pricier winter hiking options.

5) Stio Turpin Fleece Pant

The Turpin Fleece Pants are my go-to midlayer pant for extra cold days outside. I’ll throw these on between my base layer and rain pants when its extra cold out instead of snowpants; that way it’s both insulated and water proof, but easy to pull off the rain pant layer and head out to breakfast with a friend after a morning hike without feeling too bulky.

Fleece pants are also a good winter hiking pant in general, with a little bit of waterproofing and warmth. Personally, I’m also a huge fan of the Turpin fleece wide leg as something super cozy and fashionable to wear around the house.

6) Fjallraven Abisko Tights

Last but not least, if you’re really just looking to hike in leggings year-round the Fjallraven Abisko tights will scratch that winter hiking itch. These have just a little more meat to them than the typical hiking legging, and paired with a baselayer underneath (or not at all; you know the best temps for you!), they make for a great pair of winter hiking pants.