Womens Petite Hiking Pants:
Some Great Options

By Diane Spicer

Who better to describe the perfect pair of womens petite hiking pants than a petite woman hiker who has been hiking for decades?

My top petite hiking pants recommendations for women hikers are coming right up.

And keep reading to discover what the word "petite" really means, and how you can avoid frustration when you are shopping for women's petite hiking pants.

Recommendations for womens petite hiking pants based on experience

Finding the best brand(s) for your hiking pants, regardless of your height (or, as "they" would say, your lack thereof) and weight, can turn into an epic quest.

I say this based on extensive experience with petite hiking pants quests.

• As a woman who proudly stand five feet three inches tall (in my hiking socks), I have tried just about every brand of hiking pants available.

Outdoor clothing manufacturers have been slow to acknowledge the existence of women who are outside the tight range of sizes they manufacture.

Some companies are beginning to get it right, and I want to call them out here with their offerings for plus and extended sizes in womens petite hiking pants.

The pants I wear on the trail are made of high quality durable fabric, and hopefully will deliver a perfect fit for you.

My top pick for womens petite pants, with explanation: Columbia

Let's start with this pair of hiking pants that give you shorts, too.  Hikers love multi tasking clothing, don't we!

• Columbia convertible pants like these
• Be sure to select the "short" version in your size
  

I know, I know, these zip off hiking pants can fall into the "dorky" (unfashionable) category.

Their saving grace?

No pockets on the outside like some zip off pants!

Less bulky pockets = more able to blend in with "real" pants!

These petite hiking pants are loaded with features

Please look at these features and tell me you won't use them while hiking:

• They convert quickly to shorts when the day warms up and you're sweating like the delicate flower that you are.
• There is a zippered (i.e. secure) pocket for your car keys, drivers license, or precious lip balm.
• Lots of freedom of movement, thanks to the articulated knees.
• Stain and water repellent nylon fabric, priceless for "butt belays" down steep sections of rocky trail.
  
• The tiny amount of elastane in the fabric guarantees that these pants are capable of moving with you, not against you, when you lift your legs to step over trail debris.

Note: These run a bit small, so don't be offended if you have to order up a size or two. It all depends on your waist size and inseam length, so experiment a bit.

I find small sizing to be true in general with Columbia regular size gear.

On the positive side, they are one of the few outdoor clothing companies to provide extended sizes for women.

• Read about options here
  

Another good choice for women's petite hiking pants: Baleaf

Try these Baleaf quick dry, lightweight and water resistant hiking pants with elastic waist. They work well for dayhikes in good weather on established trails.

The relaxed cargo style makes it easy to cinch the bottom of the legs to accommodate your hiking socks and footwear.

• Available in sizes XS - 3XL
• 27 inch inseam
  
• Multiple color options

They also have these shorter inseam jogger style hiking pants, suitable for day hikes. Be sure to focus on the color choices and sizes with 25.5'' inseams.

Need womens petite convertible hiking pants?

REI offers these petite convertible hiking pants in both regular and petite (28.5 in. inseam) lengths.

I've been a fan of their type of convertible pants for over twenty years, and still have one pair that is holding up to tough usage.

Read my review of REI's Sahara convertible pants here.

Here's why I choose these petite hiking pants

Lots of features any hiker will love:

• Side zippers so you can quickly peel them off while standing. Sometimes it's impractical (or dangerous) to sit down in the outdoors. Plus, your muddy boots won't stain your pants legs.
  
• A color code on the zippers that tells you immediately (unless you are color blind, which is less likely for females) which bottom leg goes with which top leg.
• Adjustable waistband to accommodate multiple clothing layers.
• Fast drying, thanks to the nylon fabric.
  
• Lots and lots of pockets. I'm a pocket lover, so I really  love this feature. Lip balm, trail candy, car keys, trail directions...
  But you will have to work out a system for which items go in which pocket!

Tip: These pants have a more relaxed fit than the Columbia pants above, with a customizable "button" waistband.

That's good for hikes with lots of elevation gain and loss because you'll be able to move easily both before AND after lunch, or at certain times of the month.

Lots more options for REI womens petite hiking pants

Here's one more pick that is built to stand up to hiking: the Activator pants available in petite sizing.

Want to peruse even more options for petite pants from a reputable hiking clothing store with great return policies?

REI Co-op, that is. Inseam sizing starts at 27 inches.

There are pants for more than just summer hiking, so you can choose the exact trail and weather conditions you'll face.

• Here they are

Enjoy the hunt for the perfect petite hiking pants. It's worth the investment of time.

Be sure to join the co-op to scoop up dozens of membership benefits!

Another trusted name in women's petite hiking clothing: Kuhl

Kuhl has been offering great outdoor clothing for women hikers for decades.

Here's the pair of petite hiking pants I wear on the trail a lot. It's great to be able to switch between capri length and full length hiking pants when the weather, bugs and the trail demand flexibility.

I reviewed these Freeflex roll-up pants, to give you all the details.

Here's another place to shop, giving you more selection for colors and sizes if you're not an REI member.

Think outside the box to find petite hiking pants for women

If you need an inseam under 25 inches, you'll need to take a look at hiking pants for kids.

REI makes these Sahara convertible roll up hiking pants for kids, with a 23" inseam.

Many petite hikers have found them to work well.

A worthy pair of womens petite rain pants

Rain pants can be tricky to find in shorter lengths, but these are my go-to pair.

Heads up: As with any REI item, it may be replaced with a newer version. That usually means a new name, as well as updated features. No worries, my description will still be useful.

Why does this pair of womens petite hiking pants work over my regular hiking pants?

• Absolutely bomb proof in windy rainy conditions, or when sitting on wet ground. The seams are tightly sealed!
  
• Durable material - I've had mine for over 4 years and there is no sign of wear or tear, even after some rugged backcountry hiking trips.
• Pull on easily, with elastic and drawcord at waist to accommodate layers
  
• Fairly good mobility, due to articulated knees. But be realistic: these go on over another pair of pants, so don't expect miracles. (I sometimes wear these by themselves for snowshoeing, and it improves my mobility.)

Recently I did this review of a different pair of REI rain pants, available in both petite and regular lengths.

Spoiler alert: loved 'em!

Petite hikers can wear a hiking skirt

If you really can't find a reliable pair of womens petite hiking pants to fit your inseam as well as your waist, why not try hiking in a skirt?

You can pair a longer skirt with leggings for cool weather hiking, or go with a shorter hiking skirt or skort in warmer seasons.

Note: This skirt contains cotton, so is not suitable for wet conditions.

And there are trail dresses worthy of consideration, too.

Like this Toad & Co skirt.

Not sure if a hiking skirt is for you?

• Everything you need to find the best hiking skirt or trail dress is right here.

What exactly does petite mean?

Let's define "petite" the way a clothing manufacturer uses the term.

A petite woman hiker is shorter than "average", when "average" is defined as 5'4" (162 cm) and above.

Just for the record, the term "petite" doesn't mean that a female hiker has to be teeny tiny in terms of weight..

No Tinker Belle Syndrome for most of us women hikers, thanks anyway. 

• Petite hikers need some meat on their bones to power up those steep hills with our short(ish) legs.

What does the label of petite really mean for a hiker?

Being called petite might sound cute, but it boils down to this:

• A petite woman's legs are not as long as "expected" for an adult female.

Short rant/bad pun

Who makes up these rules?

Why can't we use 2 numbers like the guys do, just waist size and length, to simplify our lives?

Why these silly descriptive labels?

Okay, rant over...

Petite hiker pants Problem #1

Which brings us to the first problem for petite hikers:

• finding the right length of pants if you don't "measure up" to these pre-ordained standards

Hiking pants for petites is all about not tripping over the hem, right?

This is especially important for safety on a hiking trail.

So let's tackle this length-y challenge.

Womens petite hiking pants: length

I think we can agree that petite is just another way to say short.

• Or, as I prefer to think of it, small but mighty.

According to our friend Wikipedia, 40% of American women are 5'3" or shorter.

That's a lot of petite women!!

If you're a short hiker and you try on "regular" length hiking pants, you will trip over the excess pant leg material.

• This is to be avoided at all costs on a hiking trail.

Thus, your desire to locate pants of the appropriate length is a safety issue, as well as a style concern.

Pants should fit and flatter.

You're a smart hiker!

Hidden Problem #2 in finding petite hiking pants

You want pants for hiking that are long enough, but not too long.

In other words, you desire pants for hiking which are perfectly proportioned.

• Your pants legs should cover the tops of your boots, to keep trail debris out of your socks.
• You want pants that are long enough to cover the back of your boots without bunching.
• And you need enough "clearance" between your hiking pants legs and your sandals to allow mosquitoes free access your ankles.
• Also, you don't want to look like a dork with "high waisted" pants that pull the legs up above your ankles.
• But you want enough fabric at the the waist to cover your skin when your backpack hip belt is in place, with enough left over for leg coverage.
  

Inseams & why they matter on womens petite hiking pants

This brings us to a third problem: inseam measurements for the best womens petite pants for hiking and backpacking.

The inseam measurement is exactly what it sounds like, and you can measure it by following these steps (including a video).

If you're lucky enough to already have a pair of womens petite hiking pants that fit well, simply measure the inside seam.

• Petite pants have inseams ranging from 25 to 31 inches, with no standards across the clothing industry.
  
• This means each brand will have its own interpretation of "petite" lengths.

So picking a brand and staying loyal to it is one winning strategy for wearing the best womens petite hiking pants.

Under five feet tall?

If you are under five feet tall, the inseam problem is even more complicated because you are in the category of "extra short" petite women. (I am not making this up!)

And if you don't fit into the "accepted" weight categories for petite sizing, you're a "plus" petite.

Yikes!!

Which brings us to the next problem in womens petite hiking pants: size inclusivity.

Womens petite hiking pants can be found!

I have felt discouraged and frustrated when shopping for hiking pants, so I know how it feels to see pants legs puddling around your ankles.

Or having the length be right but the waistline is a mess.

Take heart, and take my shopping tips to heart so you can hit the trail in the best hiking pants for petite hikers.

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Best Womens Petite Hiking Pants