OutdoorGearLab Announces 2014 Awards for Women's Hiking Pants

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - June 30, 2014 - PRLog -- OutdoorGearLab, a reputable website known for detailed comparison reviews of outdoor equipment and clothing, has published the results of their 2014 tests of women's hiking pants. This review updates one previously published in 2012, and covers many new models and brands, including products from well respected companies such as Kuhl, ExOfficio, Columbia, Marmot, and The North Face. Lead test editor, Briana Valorosi, evaluated eight pairs over the course of several months, and took them on treks through scenic and varied locations such as Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Yosemite National Park in California, and Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Valorosi also enlisted the help of other gear testers to provide feedback for her review, and sent two pairs with a thru-hiker heading northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail to evaluate the performance of the pants over the course of a long-term backpacking trip. The best pairs were the ones that had multiple ways of wearing them, and could allow for modifications with changing temperatures. Each pair was scored on the metrics of comfort, breathability, weather resistance, mobility, and features. After many miles hiked in each pair, winners were chosen from the field in the categories of Editors' Choice, which is the best product overall, Best Buy, which is the stand-out budget option, and Top Pick, which is notable for its performance in a specific application.

The Award Winners:

Editors' Choice Winner: Marmot Lobo's Convertible Pant

These slim fitting Marmot pants earn accolades from Valorosi for fitting well, having a sleek feminine look, and for providing essentially three pairs of pants in one. These convertible pants can be worn as long pants, rolled up into capri length pants, and zipped off into shorts. This makes them versatile, functional, and comfortable in a wide range of weather conditions and environments. Valorosi found this pair to be stretchy and comfortable, decently water resistant, and lightweight. She concluded that they would be the perfect pair for a day hiker, a weekend backpacker, or a long term thru-hiker since they are multi-functional, comfortable, and stylish.

Best Buy Winner: The North Face Paramount II Convertible Pant

Valorosi determined that The North Face Paramount II pant presents the best value of all the products she reviewed because they are durable, multi-functional, and relatively inexpensive. These convertible pants can also be worn in three different styles: long pants, rolled-up into 3/4 length pants, or zipped off into 6” shorts. Valorosi found that the shorts on this model were her favorite of all the zip-off pants tested, and she would choose these over any other pair if she intended to wear shorts frequently. The Paramount II was not the most inexpensive pair in her test, but Valorosi feels that the multiple wear options increase the value of these already reasonably priced pants.

Top Pick Winner for Multi-Purpose Styling: Prana Halle

These pants are slightly thicker and heavier than most of the other models in Valorosi's test, but according to her, are also the best fitting and mostly stylish. They have a more casual and less technical look, which leads Valorosi to believe they can cross over into everyday wear more easily than any of the zip-off designs. These pants have a roll-up feature to allow for more ventilation when the temperatures climb, and they are part spandex which allows for comfortable mobility. The heavier weight makes them less desirable for a backpacking trip, but the flexibility and feminine style makes them an ideal pant for climbing, short hikes, or running errands around town.

Valorosi's full review compares all eight tested pairs against one another, and provides more details about each individual product. The review is accompanied by a free buying guide to help steer customers toward making the proper product selection. It addresses whether or not people need zip-off convertible pants, standard long pants, or pants with a roll-up feature, and when each style is most desirable. This is one of the most detailed comparisons of women's hiking pants currently on the internet.

OutdoorGearLab, LLC is based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and produces the world’s best outdoor gear reviews through tough hands-on comparison. The website, www.outdoorgearlab.com, is a free resource for those devoted to the outdoors and who engage in activities such as hiking, backpacking, camping, climbing, running, cycling, skiing, and yoga. The review team performs thorough side-by-side tests of top-selling gear and publishes the results in comprehensive comparison reviews. Each product is scored across a range of weighted metrics, competing products are ranked against one another, and winners are selected from the highest scoring models.