Which women’s hiking trousers should I choose for winter?

The QUEBEC has a fleece-lined softshell and a 10,000 Schmerber membrane to block strong winds when winter hiking or snowshoeing. For ski touring, choose the BORNAND, with side vents and reinforced lower legs. In very cold weather, add thermal leggings underneath.

Which hiking trousers should a shorter woman choose?

If you’re under 1.62 m tall, choose a COURT version, made with a shorter leg: LEVANNA, PLARET, CARLITA and CLARET for summer; BALMAZ and EXPLORE for the mountains; QUEBEC and HOGGAR for winter and rain. That saves you from hemming them, which can compromise the sealed seams on waterproof trousers.

Leggings or trousers for hiking?

The GRIVOLA leggings (220 g in size S) fit close to the body and have reinforced knees and seat: a choice for spring and autumn. On rocky terrain, in rain or in very cold weather, switch to trousers: the reinforced EXPLORE, waterproof HOGGAR or fleece-lined QUEBEC.

Which women’s hiking trousers should I choose for summer?

Choose a lightweight, stretchy pair that dries quickly: the OCHE weighs 199 g in size S, while the LEVANNA and PLARET weigh 270 g and have a water-repellent treatment. If the day starts cool, the CLARET converts into shorts without you taking off your shoes.

Women's hiking trousers

Cimalp women's hiking trousers cover every mountain condition: lightweight for summer, warm for winter, versatile or waterproof for all-round use — each model is designed for active women on the trail.

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Which women’s hiking trousers should you choose for each season?

On an autumn morning, frost still covers the car park; by midday, you’re climbing in full sun. Choose your trousers for the season you head out in most. In summer, lightweight stretch styles dry quickly: the OCHE weighs 199 g in size S, while the LEVANNA and PLARET weigh 270 g. From spring to autumn, the BALMAZ (320 g) combines a water-repellent face with a stretch face and blocks sustained winds of 40 to 60 km/h. Reinforced at the knees and seat, the GRIVOLA leggings (220 g) suit spring and autumn.

For summer, aim for trousers weighing no more than 300 g; for damp spring or autumn conditions, look for a water-repellent outer face like the BALMAZ.

Women’s hiking trousers for winter and rain

For winter, the QUEBEC combines a fleece-lined softshell with a 10,000 Schmerber CIMASHELL membrane. It blocks strong winds of 60 to 90 km/h, whether you’re winter hiking or snowshoeing. For ski touring, the BORNAND (470 g) has side vents and protects your lower legs from ski edges and crampons.

In the rain, the HOGGAR keeps you dry with its 10,000 Schmerber membrane, heat-sealed seams and a high-rise waistband that shields your lower back from the wind. The TORRENT overtrousers (310 g), made from 20,000 Schmerber Ultrashell, open along the full length of each leg with a two-way zip, so you can put them on without taking off your shoes. In very cold weather, add thermal leggings under your trousers, particularly the QUEBEC, BORNAND and HOGGAR. See our women’s thermal base layers, our warm trousers for winter and our waterproof trousers.

Women’s trekking and travel trousers: 2-in-1 styles and secure pockets

On a multi-day trek, your trousers need to dry between stages and keep your documents safe. The CLARET (300 g) converts to shorts in seconds without taking off your shoes. The JOHANNESBOURG does the same and has eight pockets, including two concealed pockets for bank cards and documents, plus a microfibre cloth for cleaning your sunglasses. At 255 g, the CARLITA has two cargo pockets, one with an additional zipped pocket.

For a trip where days shift from cool to warm, choose a 2-in-1 style. Find all the convertible styles in our convertible 2-in-1 trousers.

Women’s hiking trousers for shorter heights: the COURT versions

If you’re under 1.62 m tall, choose a COURT version: the legs are made shorter from the outset. Avoid hemming waterproof trousers: altering the HOGGAR COURT could compromise the watertight seams. The COURT range covers summer with the LEVANNA, PLARET, CARLITA and CLARET; the mountains with the BALMAZ and EXPLORE; winter with the QUEBEC; rain with the HOGGAR; and travel with the JOHANNESBOURG.

If you’re between sizes, the advice depends on the model. Most of our women’s trousers run slightly large, including the LEVANNA, CLARET and FAST, while the CARLITA and JOHANNESBOURG run large: choose the smaller size. The GRIVOLA runs slightly small: choose the size up.

What to check in women’s hiking trousers

On rocky trails, the EXPLORE (400 g) stands up to abrasion with Kevlar reinforcements at the knees and guards against ski edges; its gusset gives you freedom of movement on steep climbs. Compare these too:

Stretch: the EXPLORE’s CIMAFLEX bi-stretch fabric stretches in every direction.
Reinforcements: knees and seat on the GRIVOLA; lower legs on the FAST.
Waistband: high at the back on the HOGGAR; partly elasticated on the BALMAZ.
Pockets: three zipped pockets on the BALMAZ; a zipped thigh pocket on the LEVANNA.
Weight: from 199 g for the OCHE to 470 g for the BORNAND, in size S.

On rocky ground, choose a reinforced style such as the EXPLORE. Find the full men’s and women’s range in our hiking trousers ; for summer, see our ultralight trousers and our women’s hiking shorts and skirts.

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