Slim-fitting hiking/travel pants
February 13, 2011 5:31 PM Subscribe
Do slim-fitting men's hiking/travel pants exist?
My hunt has been stymied. I'm looking for a slim-fitting pair of men's heavyweight twill pants. They'd be for hiking, plus some upcoming international trips where I'll be outdoors a lot and I'm only taking a couple pairs of pants. I'm surprised at how hard I've had to look to find a pair of pants that are slim, rugged, and low-maintenance. I've tried on pants from The North Face, Mountain Khakis, Patagonia, and Columbia (although admittedly not every model in every brand), and the closest thing I've been able to find are the Lander pants from Columbia. Even those are much baggier around the thighs, calves and ankles than every other pair of pants I own.
I want these to be functional, so I'm not looking for something constrictive - just something that fits properly. I would actually call it less of a style concern than a functional/comfort thing. Failing all else, I can just ask a tailor to slim down the pants I have, but I find it hard to believe that there isn't something off the rack.
My hunt has been stymied. I'm looking for a slim-fitting pair of men's heavyweight twill pants. They'd be for hiking, plus some upcoming international trips where I'll be outdoors a lot and I'm only taking a couple pairs of pants. I'm surprised at how hard I've had to look to find a pair of pants that are slim, rugged, and low-maintenance. I've tried on pants from The North Face, Mountain Khakis, Patagonia, and Columbia (although admittedly not every model in every brand), and the closest thing I've been able to find are the Lander pants from Columbia. Even those are much baggier around the thighs, calves and ankles than every other pair of pants I own.
I want these to be functional, so I'm not looking for something constrictive - just something that fits properly. I would actually call it less of a style concern than a functional/comfort thing. Failing all else, I can just ask a tailor to slim down the pants I have, but I find it hard to believe that there isn't something off the rack.
My lovely boyfriend points out some "stupidly expensive" commuter bike pants that he saw on Bike Snob the other day. Apparently Bike Snob is all over that expensive tailored clothing because he also mentioned another company that does more pants.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:54 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by sciencegeek at 5:54 PM on February 13, 2011
They aren't rugged in the sense of "thick" but I love my ExOfficio pants. They work for backpacking and normal outdoor activity.
No matter what be sure whatever you buy has metal and not plastic as a clasp/button
posted by zombieApoc at 6:00 PM on February 13, 2011
No matter what be sure whatever you buy has metal and not plastic as a clasp/button
posted by zombieApoc at 6:00 PM on February 13, 2011
As a skinny guy and a hiker, I've had some decent luck with pants from Mountain Hard Wear and Mountain Equipment Co-op, but none of it could actually be called slim-fitting. You might be better off going with a high-end pair of Dockers - I'm a fan of the Khaki Wader - and running them into the ground.
posted by ZaphodB at 6:10 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by ZaphodB at 6:10 PM on February 13, 2011
Response by poster: I hadn't even thought about cycling pants (which is odd, given that I ride to work 300 days a year)! This pair from SWRVE look like they might be just about exactly what I'm looking for.
posted by brozek at 6:13 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by brozek at 6:13 PM on February 13, 2011
Do you intend to use these pants for backpacking? 'cause, if so, you don't want cotton. Backpackers call it the "death fabric".
I did outdoor ed through my 20's and can confidently say that cotton's absolutely appropriate for many conditions and has the added benefit of not making you look like a jerk when you wear the clothes off the trail. However, I think you've tapped into popular sentiment and "serious" cotton pants are going to be next to impossible to find.
Outfitters make all their snug, active pants in synthetics now because the consumers who buy them want to feel all "Man Versus Wild" and know that if they encounter blizzard conditions in midsummer at 2500 feet, they're not going to die of hypothermia. Columbia, Patagonia, EMS et all sell twill, but those pants are all "relaxed" fit. They're for reminding people that you're totally the Outdoors Type when you're not hiking. They're generally sold as "camp pants"-- because you're really going to spend the extra weight on comfy pants to wear around the hut.
I think netzapper's general sentiment is right-- you're going to need to look for synthetics to find the fit you want.
On preview: cycling pants never would have occurred to me and that seems like an awesome solution. But there are some nylon pants from REI/EMS/etc. that don't look ridiculous and the idea of being able to wash them well in a sink is pretty attractive.
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:31 PM on February 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
I did outdoor ed through my 20's and can confidently say that cotton's absolutely appropriate for many conditions and has the added benefit of not making you look like a jerk when you wear the clothes off the trail. However, I think you've tapped into popular sentiment and "serious" cotton pants are going to be next to impossible to find.
Outfitters make all their snug, active pants in synthetics now because the consumers who buy them want to feel all "Man Versus Wild" and know that if they encounter blizzard conditions in midsummer at 2500 feet, they're not going to die of hypothermia. Columbia, Patagonia, EMS et all sell twill, but those pants are all "relaxed" fit. They're for reminding people that you're totally the Outdoors Type when you're not hiking. They're generally sold as "camp pants"-- because you're really going to spend the extra weight on comfy pants to wear around the hut.
I think netzapper's general sentiment is right-- you're going to need to look for synthetics to find the fit you want.
On preview: cycling pants never would have occurred to me and that seems like an awesome solution. But there are some nylon pants from REI/EMS/etc. that don't look ridiculous and the idea of being able to wash them well in a sink is pretty attractive.
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:31 PM on February 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
I recently went to the Flagship REI store in Seattle to try to find some nylon pants that wouldn't scream "I want everyone to know I am a hiker" if I wore them in the city. These Royal Robbins nylon canvas pants were the best, in my opinion, but REI doesn't sell them in 32W. If you want something thinner, Royal Robbins sells them on their web site. They are still baggier in the leg than the trousers and jeans I usually wear, though, so the cycling pants might be a better idea.
posted by grouse at 6:54 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by grouse at 6:54 PM on February 13, 2011
Though they're not heavyweight — indeed, they derive much of their toughness from being thin where they need to be — Rohan Bags are very slim fitting.
posted by scruss at 6:55 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by scruss at 6:55 PM on February 13, 2011
I fucking love my SWRV knickers.
I think you're not finding too many tight-fitting pants, since sometimes tight-fitting = chaffing and that could really suck on a long hike. People who really really like tight fitting things on hikes kind of opt for lycra tights at that point and look like throwbacks from 1980's-era Chamonix. Nothing wrong with that, though.
Try looking for rock climbing pants as well, which should be pretty snug, yet flexible enough to well, rock climb in. You'll find them in cotton as well as more technical garments. Most people on a trail that have tight pants and look sexy are wearing something like that.
posted by alex_skazat at 10:44 PM on February 13, 2011
I think you're not finding too many tight-fitting pants, since sometimes tight-fitting = chaffing and that could really suck on a long hike. People who really really like tight fitting things on hikes kind of opt for lycra tights at that point and look like throwbacks from 1980's-era Chamonix. Nothing wrong with that, though.
Try looking for rock climbing pants as well, which should be pretty snug, yet flexible enough to well, rock climb in. You'll find them in cotton as well as more technical garments. Most people on a trail that have tight pants and look sexy are wearing something like that.
posted by alex_skazat at 10:44 PM on February 13, 2011
About 10 years ago, I had the pre-cursor to these trousers from Mountain Equipment (UK). They were excellent, but seconding recommendations for MEC or Mountain Hardwear for good kit.
I found some organic cotton rafting trousers in MEC that are great, a little baggy for your needs, but not screaming outdoors at people.
posted by arcticseal at 1:20 AM on February 14, 2011
I found some organic cotton rafting trousers in MEC that are great, a little baggy for your needs, but not screaming outdoors at people.
posted by arcticseal at 1:20 AM on February 14, 2011
Nthing long bike knicks. When I'm moving fast and light in cool weather, they're great. They've got the same advantages as on a bike (breathable, stretchy, dry fast, etc), and they can also be used as an extra layer of night wear during an unexpected cold night.
That said, I get some funny looks when I wander into a town in them..
posted by Ahab at 7:16 AM on February 14, 2011
That said, I get some funny looks when I wander into a town in them..
posted by Ahab at 7:16 AM on February 14, 2011
I have a couple of pairs of Mountain Hardwear's piero pants for climbing/hiking/traveling and love them. I find that Mountain Hardwear pants in general seem to have a slimmer cut than many other brands.
posted by doctord at 6:56 AM on February 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by doctord at 6:56 AM on February 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
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I find a zillion hits for "slim fit nylon men's pants".
posted by Netzapper at 5:54 PM on February 13, 2011