What are the best pants for hiking Kilimanjaro? For those of you wondering what to wear on the trail, don’t worry we are here to help. Kilimanjaro, which is the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain on earth, is an incredibly punishing journey that requires a lot of preparation. The appropriate clothing choices can make or break your experience up there.
The weather up at 5,895m is unpredictable and often severe; it could be cold one minute and hot another. In fact, the temperature can drop below zero at night. The best hiking pants for Kilimanjaro should be comfortable, durable, water resistant and offer good ventilation to avoid excessive sweating.
First, we’ll walk you through the different types of hiking pants and base layers that are available out there. We’ll help you know what to pick and wear for your trip, which will make all the difference!
What exactly are hiking pants?
Well, most people are familiar with them from wearing them on a night out. They’re usually made out of a thick but soft material that’s resistant to the elements. Many of these are also resistant to abrasion and some even water due to the important parts being made out of Gore-Tex or some other waterproof material. They are usually form fitting and can be worn with a variety of different shirts, ranging from flannel to t-shirts and everything in between.
Hiking pants are very versatile and can be worn as both hiking pants and also as just normal casual clothing. They are made for hiking so that you can wear them in most weather conditions and throughout your outdoor adventures.
Hiking Pants vs Casual Pants: What’s the Difference?
You may have heard the terms ‘hiking pants’ and ‘casual pants’ before, but what exactly is the difference between them? Usually casual pants are made for lounging around your home or work rather than being sturdy enough to protect you from the elements outdoors.
Hiking pants are made for hiking and are designed to protect you from all the elements. They can be either form fitting or loose and comfortable. They offer you a snug fit, warmth, breathability and other important features to warm up from the cold that may occur during your outdoor excursions.
Hiking Pants vs Jogging Pants: What’s the Difference?
A lot of people confuse hiking pants for jogging pants because of their function and purpose to wear. However, jogging pants are made with stretchy materials like spandex so that you move freely throughout your day, rather than holding you close to the ground and making it hard for you to get around.
Hiking pants are designed to provide a snug fit and high levels of comfort, warmth and protection for the wearer. They usually come in form fitting fashion either as tight-fitting or loose-fitting versions. These pants will be made of a wicking material, meaning that they will pull moisture away from the body so you stay cool and dry during your excursions.
The pants are also resistant to abrasion, meaning they won’t wear or tear easily and are capable of withstanding a lot of wear and tear. There’s also the fact that these pants provide plenty of warmth to the wearer, keeping them warm during windy conditions for example.
What are the best pants for climbing Kilimanjaro?
Below, we’ve put together a list of four types of pants that you can wear for your Kilimanjaro trip:
1. Fleece Pants
Fleece pants are the best for climbing Kilimanjaro because of their high levels of comfort and warmth. They provide plenty of breathability to keep you cool under the sun, while also keeping you warm at night, which is just what you need!
Fleece pants come in both form fitting and loose-fitting versions. They’re usually made out of a thin but soft material that is resistant to heat as well as cold weathers. They are lightweight and you can fold them up and store them easily into your backpack when you’re not using them.
Fleece pants also come in a variety of different colors and designs, meaning that you can select the best one to suit your style. Also, there are both short and long versions of these types of pants.
These pants come in different types such as fleeces that are just long enough in the leg to keep cool or ankle-length, which will provide you comfort by keeping your legs close to the ground without making it difficult for you to walk. This may be a little difficult during hiking periods due to its form fitting nature but they’re very warm so that’s not necessarily an issue.
Check out these 11 hiking pants that are dependable for Kilimanjaro.
2. Waterproof Pants
Waterproof hiking pants are the most protective type of pants on the market. They provide a snug fit and are often made out of layers of different materials, with the inner layer always being wicking.
Waterproof hiking pants are designed to keep you cool at all times by pulling moisture away from your body so you stay dry and comfortable during your hikes. They’re also resistant to wind and cold weather, meaning that you won’t get too hot or too cold during your journey.
These pants can be either form fitting or loose, depending on what you’re looking for. The loose-fitting versions are designed to sit high up on your legs and will provide you with plenty of comfort and warmth as well as protection from the cold.
They’re also resistant to abrasion and water, making them ideal for any outdoor excursion. They’re generally lightweight and don’t take up a lot of space in your backpack when you’re not using it.
The form fitting versions are usually made out of a heavy material that helps to protect you from the cold, wind and abrasion. These are also kept snug to your legs, keeping your feet and legs warm. They’re usually resistant to abrasion and water so that you stay protected from the cold during your trek up Kilimanjaro.
3. Convertible Pants
Convertible pants are a great alternative to hiking pants. They’re designed for comfort and protection, even during harsh weather conditions. They’re not too expensive and are very versatile in their nature. You can convert them into shorts if you need to hike in warmer weathers or even convert them into long pants if it’s cold outside.
These types of pants are very lightweight because they’re made out of materials that aren’t too thick or heavy. They’re great for hiking because they’re designed to provide you with plenty of comfort and protection. They’re very versatile, in that they can be used both in wet and dry conditions.
These pants are also ideal for any outdoor excursion you have planned because they’ll protect you from harsh weather conditions during the day and will keep you warm during the night by pulling away moisture from your body. They’ll also provide a snug fit and are usually made out of durable materials that won’t wear or tear easily.
There are both form fitting and loose-fitting versions. The form fitting version of these pants are generally made out of a thick material and will provide you with plenty of warmth during your excursion. They’re also resistant to abrasion, water and wind, so you stay protected from these harsh environments without sacrificing too much comfort.
The loose-fitting ones, on the other hand, are made out of materials that aren’t thick and tend to be more lightweight because they don’t need to provide you with great levels of protection. They’re designed to be worn while doing sports or while doing other low intensity outdoor activities. They provide a snug fit so they won’t get in your way, even when you’re doing sports.
4. Shorts
Shorts are very casual in their design and are a great alternative to hiking pants. They’re made to provide you with all the comfort, warmth and protection that you need during your excursions. They’re also lightweight and come in different types of fabrics like merino wool, cotton and polyester to name a few.
Shorts are usually a great choice if you need to wear something that’s casual and comfortable but isn’t as protective of your body as hiking pants. They’re perfect for outdoor excursions because they’re designed to be quick to put on and take off in case they get wet or dirty by accident.
They can be found in both form fitting and loose versions. Form fitting shorts will keep you snug against the ground but will provide you with plenty of warmth and protection against the cold and wind. Loose-fitting shorts are usually worn while doing sport like running, cycling and others.
They’re designed to allow you to move around freely but still keep you quite comfortable at the same time. You should also make sure that you wear shorts that aren’t too long in length because it may be a little hard for you to walk while wearing them.
Conclusion
That’s the end of our rundown on each type of hiking pants, what they are and what they can offer you.
I hope that our article on the different types of hiking pants, their purpose, how you should select them and how they will benefit you on your Kilimanjaro trip.
For more hiking guides and tips visit our blog. Also, check out our home page for even more content about hiking. Happy Trails!
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