Travelers Say These $39 Hiking Pants Are Better Than High-end Styles

Travel + Leisure

15 hours ago

You know you've found a pair of quality hiking pants when they cost more than $100; when it comes to outdoor gear, a higher price point usually indicates higher quality. But we've uncovered a pair of under-$40 hiking pants that are an exception to that rule, with thousands of travelers comparing them to fan favorites that cost several times more.
Boasting over 14,000 perfect five-star ratings, Amazon's top-selling Baleaf Hiking Pants have shoppers saying they're a close competitor for higher-end alternatives from Outdoor Research, The North Face, Kühl, and PrAna. According to reviewers, they're as lightweight as any hot-weather hiking pants on the market, though they've also proven just as suitable for wet and cold conditions, making them a reliable, seasonal staple.
These Baleaf Hiking Pants, on sale for just $39, are the No. 1 best-selling hiking pants on Amazon, racking up almost 20,000 ratings within the two years they've been listed. They're made of a stretchy, lightweight blend of 90 percent polyester and 10 percent spandex and provide a UPF rating of 50+. The sweat-wicking material is designed to breathe, dry quickly, and protect your skin from the sun while clocking thousands of steps on the trail. The elastic waist is has an adjustable drawstring, and the ankle cuffs have drawcords that can be tightened shut, keeping bugs and twigs at bay. These joggers also have four roomy zippered pockets to keep your essentials safe: Two on the hips, one on the rear, and one on the left thigh.
Despite their budget-friendly price point, many have called them the best pants they've ever owned for hiking or travel. One impressed reviewer said that they're comparable to the $89 Splash Roll-up Pants by Kühl, while another shopper reported that their 'high quality' rivals that of a pair they've previously purchased from Outdoor Research. After testing them out on the notoriously wet, 11-mile Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park, one hiker said they liked their Baleaf joggers better than a $90 version from The North Face. They liked them so much, in fact, they now own five pairs.
In addition to sporting them on hiking trails and backpacking trips lasting up to three weeks, reviewers have also worn them while riding all-terrain vehicles in Canada, climbing over lava rocks in Costa Rica, mountain biking in Colorado, kayaking in Utah, and traversing freezing, snow-covered Alps in Switzerland.
One customer who lives on a sailboat said they bought these hiking pants after they were recommended by other sailors. 'I didn't realize what I was getting myself into,' they wrote. 'We left the dock on a long trip on August 4, and it's now Thanksgiving, and I have worn these pants almost every single day since,' they continue, sharing that they're easy to rinse out and hang to dry while onboard.
These best-selling Baleaf hiking pants have been tested on African safaris and the ice sheets of Antarctica alike by Amazon shoppers, and they continue to receive emphatic praise for their durability, breathability, stretch, and water resistance. As for their comfort? Reviewers say that they're so comfy, you could sleep in them.
Have an outdoor adventure on the horizon? Read on for more highly rated hiking pants, all under $40 at Amazon.
At the time of publishing, the price started at $39.
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