A good pair of hiking pants can make a world of difference in the comfort department, especially on multi-day backpacking trips. Merrell’s Belay Pants for women are designed for exactly that.
Read more for our review.

At first glance, the Belay pants look like a pretty basic pair of lightweight hiking pants. However, that is exactly what sets them apart from other styles. The pants are made from a lightweight, stretchable nylon/elastane blend and feature UV protection (50+ UPF). The pants dry quickly, thanks to Merrell’s use of their Opti-Wick moisture management technology. And although the pants do have belt loops, testing found that the hidden, internal stretch waistband eliminated the need for a belt and the double snap closure remained secure.

The pants only have three pockets (two front and one side) and they all close completely with zippers, preventing small items from falling out of your pockets on the trail. The straight-leg cut of the pants eliminated bulk and did not get caught in low brush encountered during testing, but didn’t reduce the range of motion, thanks to the slight stretch provided by the fabric.

They pack down quite nicely, taking up a minimal amount of space in a pack (perfect for carrying a spare on longer treks). Plus, the putty color camouflaged dust kicked up from the trail well (important for any in-town stops on the way home from the trail).

Overall, the Belay Pants are comfortable and at an MSRP of $75, well-priced against the competition.

Product sample provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.