It's a common debate between hikers now, do you wear hiking leggings or hiking trousers? Well the answer depends on different factors - what's the weather going to be like? Is it a single or multi day hike? What will the terrain be like?

This guide is going to talk through the features you should be looking out for in each different style of walking trousers and how you can decide which is right for your next adventure.

Walking leggings tend to be made from softer material and fabric than walking trousers. They have a closer, more 'sportier' or casual style fitting than traditional hiking trousers. They can be worn for a range of activities not just hiking and walking. The extra stretch allows them to be worn for climbing, cycling and more. The difference between gym or yoga leggings and hiking leggings is the material. Walking and hiking leggings have been created using a tougher fabric than gym leggings. They also come with other features including extra pockets and reinforced sections (knee patches, thighs) so that you won't get wear and tear on those sections like you might if you were wearing other leggings.

Walking trousers are the go to when it comes to hiking and walking. They are created using lightweight fabrics that have some form of waterproof or water repellent coatings. The stretch fabric allows for an increased level of movement than standard trousers or jeans. Hiking trousers also come with multiple pockets that all have zips to help stop any rain etc entering the pockets. They also come with articulated joints which again help to provide unrestricted levels of movements.

One common feature you need to look for when deciding between hiking leggings or trousers whether or not the bottoms have UPF shielding. UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor and this indicates the levels of sun protection the piece of clothing can provide, and the higher the number the higher the levels of protection, in the same way you would put SPF 50+ on your face, you would look for hiking clothing that has UPF 50+. You can find out more about UPF fabric in our blog here.

If full length walking pants and leggings aren't for you, you also have the option of walking shorts, 3/4 length shorts/capri style walking pants and even walking skorts. But if you do choose any of those other styles of hiking bottoms, be mindful of the environment you will be walking in. If you're planning on trekking through the undergrowth or in an area with a high midge or insect count, then you'll want to ensure you're covered to avoid any scratches, bumps or bites.

You can shop our full Torrek the Mountain Series collection

Our Mountain collection here. has some of our most technical hiking clothing, this collection introduces our ARED 30/30 fabric tech which provides industry high levels of both waterproofing and breathability.