Published October 20, 2017 12:00AM
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The Best Pants for Women
After a full summer of testing, we found great-fitting bottoms that come in short and long lengths and play just as hard as we do
5.11 gives cargo pants get a much-needed update with the Defender-Flex Slim.
When it comes to women’s pants, the hip and waist fit is just the beginning. Leg length is also critical, and companies truly committed to making great-fitting pants typically offer a range of inseam sizes. Here are some trail-tested options for training, hiking, traveling, skiing, and just hanging out.
Nike Sculpt Lux ($95)
Best for: Training
Offered in: Short, Regular, Tall
Long-legged women are often forced to wear capris for running and crossfit workouts, but cold weather calls for full-length tights. These compressive training pants come in 33.5-inch versions that actually cover tall women's shins and ankles.
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LL Bean Comfort Trail Pants ($60)
Best for: Hiking
Offered in: Petite, Regular, Tall, Plus sizes
These lightweight, quick-dry nylon pants feature a gauzy strip of sweat-mopping fabric along the waist that I found eliminates chafing. The longest length (33 inches) fits most women 5’9” and shorter.
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Duluth Trading Co. Flexpedition Pants ($80)
Best for: Bike Commuting
Offered in: Four lengths, from 29 to 35 inches
The reflective band built inside these stretchy, water-repellant pants makes them a solid choice for cool-weather commuting. Four inseam options ensure that the articulated knee seams fall at just the right spot for maximum mobility.
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Kuhl Mova Pant ($89)
Best for: Traveling
Offered in: Three lengths, from 30 to 34 inches
These are basically jeans built from a stretchy knit fabric, which makes them comfy loungers that can also handle light hiking. A broad range of sizes fits a lot of difference body types, including a tall size 2.
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5.11 Women’s Defender-Flex Slim Pant ($70)
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Best for: Working in the Yard
Offered in: Regular, Long
Cargo pants get a much-needed update with these skinny-fit bottoms in cotton/poly twill. A streamlined smartphone pocket on the upper thigh provides a secure and flattering garage for electronics, and the extended length (33.5 inches) suits tall women.
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Arc’teryx Sentinel Pant ($499)
Best for: Skiing and Snowboarding
Offered in: Short, Regular, Tall
Internal gaiters and durable kick patches on the cuffs can screw up the fit of alpine pants. But the Sentinel’s three inseam lengths give women way more options for a great-fitting bottom. Zippers on the outer thigh vent heat on the uphills, three-layer Gore-Tex construction sheds all kinds of weather, and a women’s-specific fit provides freedom of movement without excessive bagginess.
