Salomon Women’s Wayfarer hiking pants review: featherlight pants for the steepest of slopes

Salomon Women’s Wayfarer hiking pants: first impressions 

On the rack, these featherlight hiking pants look well suited to hiking in cool to warm temperatures and even some wet weather hikes. The active fit is unencumbered with bells and whistles, so they take on a sleek, classic look.

Their biggest boast is the stretchy yet durable fabric, so they won’t restrict your movement no matter how steep the slope, but they’ll last a long time if you put them to that test. Because they are windproof, they’re warm on cold days but with ultra breathability they work for for milder days too.

They come in three leg lengths and the addition of belt loops and ankle adjustments make them extra versatile, plus they feature four pockets, two with zips, to stash your keys and credit cards.

Overall, these make a great addition to your hiking kit so long as you’re not planning on hiking in heavy rain, snow or freezing temperatures.

Salomon Women’s Wayfarer hiking pants: on the trails 

I was instantly impressed with the quality of these hiking pants. They are featherlight and so soft they have a “barely there” feel to them, but the seams are well stitched and the waistband is extra reinforced so you can tell they are as durable as they are comfortable and will last a long time.

I was additionally pleasantly surprised by how versatile they are for such a simple pair of pants. They are really no frills and as a result have a flattering, active fit, but they manage to squeeze in barely noticeable ankle adjustments to keep you from tripping, belt loops and two roomy pockets for hands or gloves plus two more zipped pockets on the thigh and rear for keys and credit cards.

I put them to the test on a warm and reasonably steep hike and the breathability is superb. They don’t feature any venting zips but you won’t need them with this fabric. They’re so stretchy that I didn’t even notice them when I was stair-stepping up the steep parts. They may not be what you want for really wet days but they held up against some light rain and they dry quickly.

They’re also not insulated which is why they’re so light and comfy, but because they're windproof they are very warm and they're ideal on cold days and if you like a simple but effective approach to your hiking pants.

At the end of the day, they still smelled fresh and were so comfy I had no problem wearing them on the drive home and kicking around the house in them too.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing 

These fit true to size. The UK 8, regular length should fit me like a glove without need for a belt or braces, and they did. Belt loops and different leg lengths buy you a little wiggle room on this if you’re in between sizes. 

Fit 

These are Salomon’s active fit, which is one fit looser than their skin fit, but snugger than the regular fit. Expect them to be sleek but not skin tight. 

Comfort 

These are among the comfiest hiking pants I’ve worn. The combination of lightweight material, soft, breathable, stretchy fabric and simple design means you’ll be as happy climbing steep slopes as you will vegging out on the couch in them. 

Temperature regulation 

These aren’t insulated or windproof, so don’t expect them to keep you warm on cold windy days, but they will keep you cool on warm days. 

Breathability 

No ventilation zips but with this breathable fabric, you won’t need them. If you get sweaty, you’ll dry out quickly in these. 

Durability 

These are high quality hiking pants and promise good durability despite the stretchiness. Well-stitched seams and a reinforced waistband will make sure these last, so long as you don’t use them for crawling over rough rock faces on your knees. 

Here’s where we tested the Salomon Women’s Wayfarer hiking pants: 

Ben Venue meaning "the miniature mountain" in Scottish Gaelic is a mountain in the Trossachs area. A fine climb to the rocky summit yields outstanding views of beautiful Katrine