Wind Pants for Hiking & Backpacking
We view hiking pants separately from wind pants. Hiking pants typically have cargo pockets, a zipper fly, and belt loops, and are made to be more breathable and less wind resistant than windbreakers. Thru hikers, fastpackers, and ultralight backpackers might consider adding a pair of ultralight windbreaker pants if they plan to do a majority of their hiking in shorts. Windbreakers are the lightest possible mid-layer for situations where it’s too chilly for shorts but too warm and/or dry for rain pants. They can also act as a mosquito barrier. Consider treating them with insect repellent permethrin.
Wind Pants for Adventure Travel
The modern, high tech fabrics used in premium athleisure windbreaker pants are incredible comfortable, stretchy, breathable, and make for great all-purpose adventure pants. They are comfortable for air travel, walking around a foreign city, cycling around a mountain town, going on a short hike or chilly sunrise run, or whatever else you might ask of them
Wind Pants for Running
A good pair of windbreaker joggers can be comfier than shorts and tights and are perfect for brisk, chilly, cold weather runs. They prevent the front of your legs from freezing, while the stretch offers a full range of motion. And because they trap dead air pockets around your legs, they insulate better than tights and can be worn over top of shorts.
