The Best Women’s Hiking Pants & Shorts I Wore All Summer

Finding women’s hiking pants & shorts that last has always been a bit tough for me. I’ve tried the Vuori Ripstop pants, which ripped again and again in under two months. There’s been Columbia, which fit but was always uncomfortable in the waistband.

I’ve been working in the outdoor industry for over a decade, and I’ve been through more hiking pants than I’d like to admit. But this season, I tried a women’s-only brand and put it to the test. And let’s just say I think I found the Holy Grail of women’s hiking pants.  

Meet Title Nine, an activewear company owned and run by women, not Wall Street. They sent me a handful of pieces this spring, and I didn’t go easy on them. Here’s just a snippet of where that gear went this summer:

• 45 miles through the Yellowstone backcountry 
• 30 miles through the Wind River Range
• 9 Colorado 14ers in one week 
• 7 days hiking through the French and Italian Alps 
• Bushwhacking in Alaska 

And here’s what happened: every single clothing item survived the season and is still in tip-top shape in my closet. These are my favorite hiking pants & shorts from Title Nine that have become staples in 2026: 

My Top Picks for Women’s Hiking Pants & Shorts From Title Nine 

Quick history lesson: Title IX is a 1972 federal law that bans sex-based discrimination at any school receiving federal funding. Before it passed, girls had few chances to compete. Afterward, their participation skyrocketed. Many of the women you’ll meet on the trail today, myself included, grew up with doors open that our mothers and grandmothers never had. Lacing up my hiking boots in their gear feels a little like a thank-you note.

1. Recycled Clamber 2.0 Hiking Shorts 

I slept in these shorts for the first part of the summer. I preferred their Recycled Clamber 2.0 hiking pants. But once I started wearing the shorts, I instantly knew that they were the winner of the season. I put them through everything: bushwhacking, scrambling, backpacking, you name it. At the end of the season, they still looked brand new. 

2. Recycled Clamber Cargo Pants

I love these pants for their versatility. I’ve worn them on the streets of Florence and the mountains of Wyoming. You can dress them up for dinner or take them into the rugged wilderness on a five-day backpacking trip. Also, additional perk: they make your butt look great!! 

3. Recycled Clamber 2.0 Hiking Pants

These are the exact same style as the shorts, just in the pant version. And as I said previously, they were my go-to before I switched to the shorts halfway through the season. I like the pants for more rugged adventures to cover my legs and provide an extra layer of protection. Even during the height of summer, they kept me cool and flexible. 

4. Slaycation Straight Leg Pants

These are my everything pants. They are comfortable enough to sleep in, but also can be worn to summit a mountain. If we’re in a tent and know it’s going to be cold in the morning, I’ll wear them to bed and on the hike the next day. My lazy girl hiking hack! 

5. Scout Cargo Shorts 

I got tons of compliments on my Scout Cargo Shorts this summer! They are great for a beach day, trail day, or bike ride. I really like the length: not too short, not too long. Hiking shorts are where I notice the biggest gap between Title Nine and the average outdoor brand, and the Scout shorts prove it. Comfortable, flexible, and practical. 

BONUS: My Other Favorite Pieces of Women’s Hiking Clothing from Title Nine 

1. Open Lane Sports Bra

I actually want to buy this one in Daybloom next and added it to my cart while grabbing the link for this blog. You can tell this is a sports bra that is made by women for women, and I think that’s all that needs to be said. I also sometimes use it as a swim top on backpacking trips! 

2. Upland Long Sleeve Sun Shirt

Long sleeve sun shirts are one of my must-haves when it comes to women’s hiking clothing. If you’ve done many hikes and backpacking trips in the past, you know just how much sun exposure can happen on the trail. I struggle with feeling too hot and constricted in some sun shirts, but not this one! Lightweight, breathable, and somehow magically still smelled great after 7 days in the Alps on a recent group trip: 

These items have traveled continents and crossed hundreds of miles of trail with me. Only one pair of pants has a small hole because I wore them to play volleyball, and I got a gym-floor burn because I didn’t wear kneepads. MY FAULT. 

Want a list of ALL my favorite hiking gear across all brands? Here is a blog on my favorite clothes to wear while hiking, which includes some of these Title Nine favorites! 

Shop all Title Nine clothing here. 

Shop Title Nine hiking pants. 

Shop Title Nine’s new fall collection.