Hiking trousers are an important part of your outdoor gear wardrobe, if uncomfortable or ill-fitting they can really ruin a good hike. We've been on multi-day trips with big heavy packs where the pants ride up or fall down, chafe, rub and pull and it definitely isn't a pleasant experience! Of course, what will suit you depends on your body shape as well as the climate and personal preference but we can still generalise about comfort and build quality as well as suitability for the task in hand.
The latest Wayfarer pants are slightly looser than previous models, which is no bad thing, especially in hot weather. The cut is now unrestrictive but not too baggy, sitting firmly in the athletic but good freedom of movement camp. Articulation is great across the board, all this means in practice is that you won't be unduly restricted in your movements, whether you're hiking, scrambling or even climbing. In fact, the Wayfarers are some of the best trousers we've tested in this regard, probably helped somewhat by a good amount of four-way stretch in the material.
The material doesn't just have stretch though, it also keeps the sun away from your legs with a certified UPF50 level of protection and is highly breathable, making these a great option for hot weather hiking. We used the Wayfarers on a recent backpacking trip in 30-degree heat with plenty of hard, sweat inducing ascents and our legs stayed as dry as you could have expected given the conditions.
Initially we thought that the light material might lead to premature failure, but based on our period of testing so far, including the rough and tumble of hiking, scrambling and camp life we've found the Wayfarers to be a robust pair of trousers that you can fit and forget and treat with flagrant disregard for longevity.
Waistband detailing is comfortable and supportive, with a popper closure, zipped fly and belt loops as well as elasticated sections and Velcro adjusters which allow you to wear the trousers without a belt. On the front of the legs you'll find two hand pockets with mesh liners for extra ventilation and a cargo pocket, there's also another small pocket on the bum. All pockets are zipped to keep belongings safe, you won't be keeping much in them though as they're all on the small side but the front hand pockets will still accommodate a modern smartphone nonetheless.
For hiking use the Wayfarers are a great success, we've found them to be comfortable, durable and practical and if hiking isn't your thing then they could just as successfully be put to good use as a travel trouser or a straight up utility pant for general outdoor use.
